Chandigarh: Punjab finance, planning, excise and taxation minister Harpal Singh Cheema announced on Sunday that 3,592 winners had received prizes worth Rs 2.11 crore for uploading their purchase bills under the Bill Liayo Inam Pao scheme.
Cheema said the scheme, launched in Sept 2023 to promote tax compliance and reward honest taxpayers, had successfully encouraged consumers to upload 1,27,509 bills since then.
He said that prizes worth Rs 1.59 crore had already been distributed to 2,752 winners, while 247 people, who have won prizes worth Rs 15.02 lakh have been announced for Nov 2024.
While highlighting the impact of the scheme in curbing tax evasion and increasing state’s revenue, Cheema also lauded the scheme for its effectiveness in promoting transparency and accountability in tax collection.
He emphasised that the initiative not only incentivised consumers to participate actively in the tax system but has also played a crucial role in identifying and penalising irregularities.
“A fine of Rs 8.21 crore has been levied on 749 bills that were found to have discrepancies, showcasing the govt’s commitment to ensuring tax compliance and fairness,” said Cheema.
The finance minister said the govt had implemented several progressive measures to enhance revenue generation and ensure the efficient utilsation of public funds. Bills related to the sale and purchase of petroleum products as well as B2B transactions are excluded from the scheme.