IEP Chandigarh, August 21
In a bid to annihilate the practice of tax evasion from its roots, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday launched “Mera Bill App” under “Bill Liyao Inaam Pao Scheme” (Bring a bill and get a reward) to bolster revenue collection in the state.
During the launch of the App at his office here, the Chief Minster informed that the scheme is aimed at enhancing the compliance under GST and thereby the revenue of the State. The scheme is targeted at motivating the consumers to obtain bills from the dealers for their purchases made within the State and thereby forcing the dealers to issue the bills for their sales. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the consumers will be encouraged to upload the bills for their purchases on the “Mera Bill App” after they will automatically become eligible to participate in the lucky draw, which shall be held at 7th of each month.
The Chief Minister said that there will be maximum 10 prizes per Taxation district (29 taxation districts in the state), taking the tally to 290 rewards each month. The reward would be equivalent to five times the taxable value of goods/services declared in the bill with maximum capping of Rs. 10,000/- each reward. He said that the list of winners will be displayed on the website of the Taxation Department and the winners will also be informed by mobile app. Bhagwant Singh Mann informed that the sale bills of petroleum products (crude oil, petrol, diesel, aviation turbine fuel and natural gas) and liquor as well as B2B (business to business) transactions shall not be eligible for participation in the scheme.
Encouraging the people to get the bills of their purchases, the Chief Minister said that the people of the state must participate vigorously in this scheme so that the message of tax compliance can reach each and every door step and the state will get its due share of revenue for the various social welfare schemes. Bhagwant Singh Mann emphasized that this scheme is for the people and will enable the Government to check tax evasion and at the same time motivate them to move towards a tax compliant society and thereby become the biggest stakeholder in the development of the State.
Finance, Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema was also present in the event
