DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Friday announced a significant crackdown on vendors issuing invalid bills under the 'Bill Liyao Inam Pao' scheme, with penalties totalling Rs 7.63 crore imposed and Rs 5.87 crore already recovered.

Highlighting the success of the scheme in a press communiqu? issued here, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that out of 1604 notices issued to vendors for billing discrepancies, 711 have been resolved, and the scheme has led to 123 new GST registrations, indicating improved tax compliance.

"The scheme, launched by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on August 21, 2023, encourages consumers to upload purchase bills via the 'Mera Bill App' and has seen a robust response, with 91,719 bills uploaded to date", said Cheema while adding that prizes worth Rs 1.37 crore have been awarded to 2353 'Bill Liyao Inaam Pao' scheme winners winners to date.

The Finance Minister urged the state residents to continue participating, retaining purchase bills, and supporting the state's tax infrastructure, with monthly prizes up to Rs 10,000 available. He clarified that bills for petroleum products, liquor, out-of-state purchases, and B2B transactions are ineligible, and only bills from the last month are considered for the draw, ensuring fairness and effectiveness.

The Finance Minister said that the enforcement actions by the Taxation department have marked a significant milestone in Punjab's efforts to promote tax compliance and transparency, with the 'Bill Liyao Inam Pao' scheme playing a vital role in this endeavour. "By encouraging consumers to upload bills on Mera Bill mobile app, this initiative of the Punjab Government foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and compliance, ultimately strengthening the tax ecosystem", said Cheema.
(editor@dailyworld.in)