Government Launches Consumer Incentive Program for Bill Receipts

Kathmandu. The government has launched an attractive gift program for consumers to further systematize and make internal revenue mobilization effective. The Ministry of Finance has issued the 'Taxpayer Incentive Gift Program Operation Procedure, 2083' and has made arrangements to give cash gifts to consumers who compulsorily take receipts (bills) when purchasing goods and services. This procedure, created by exercising the authority of the Economic Procedure and Financial Accountability Act, 2076, aims to develop a culture of taking bills in the market and to document actual transactions. To participate in this program, consumers must have purchased goods or services for their personal use within Nepal for at least more than one hundred rupees. Purchases for commercial purposes, bills from government agencies, and purchases like telephone, electricity, vehicle, and air tickets will not be included in this gift program. To participate in the gift program, arrangements have been made for consumers to be automatically included in the system if they transact through electronic payment. However, in the case of cash transactions and taking bills, consumers must enter details such as the bill number, the seller's permanent account number (PAN), the bill issue date, and the amount on the web portal or mobile application operated by the department. A single bill or electronic payment cannot be used to participate in the program more than once. Under this program, the department will select winners on the 1st and 16th of every month. The procedure states that one daily winner and one bumper winner every 15 days will be selected transparently through an automated system. Regarding the gift amount, the daily winner will receive Rs 133,334, while the bumper winner selected every 15 days will receive Rs 1,000,000. However, according to the Income Tax Act, only the remaining amount will be paid after deducting 25 percent tax on such accidental gains. After the winner is announced, the department will inform the concerned person via mobile or email, and the name will also be published publicly on the website and social media. To claim the gift, the winner must submit an application to the nearest Inland Revenue Office within 15 days with the original bill, identification, and bank account details. The government has also stated that if the bill is found to be false or fake during the verification process, the concerned person will be prosecuted according to the prevailing laws. If any winner does not claim the gift within the stipulated time or if the claim is not valid, the amount will be deposited in the Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund. The Ministry of Finance believes that this program will encourage consumers to ask for bills and bring transparency to the tax system.