Topeka ? Kansas says its tax collections in December fell $15 million short of expectations and the state’s top revenue official is blaming lower-than-expected corporate income tax revenues.

The Department of Revenue reported Wednesday that the state collected $553 million in taxes during the month when it expected to take in $568 million. The difference is 2.7 percent.

Corporate income tax collections in December were $56 million, or nearly $20 million short of expectations. Revenue Secretary Nick Jordan said such tax collections are volatile.

For the fiscal year beginning in July, tax collections were $12 million, or four-tenths of 1 percent, less than anticipated. During those six months, the state has collected $2.7 billion in taxes.

The December tax-collection shortfall could complicate efforts to address state budget shortfalls.