Chandigarh: Punjab’s ‘Bill Lao, Inam Pao’ scheme has identified 533 incorrect bills out of the total received by February 8. Those found guilty of issuing inaccurate bills face a hefty penalty of three crores, as revealed by Finance Minister Harpal Cheema. Approximately 2.12 crores have already been collected from firms in various districts.
Under the scheme, by uploading purchase bills on the ‘Mera Bill’ app until December 2023, 918 winners claimed rewards totaling ₹43,73,555. Finance Minister Cheema mentioned that out of the total 59,616 bills received by February 8, confirmation has been made for 52,988, with validation pending for the remaining 6,628 bills.
In response to these discrepancies, 1,361 notices have been issued to relevant vendors. Firozpur district reported the highest number of 189 incorrect bills. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema urged the state’s residents to upload bills for all purchases of goods and services and participate in the scheme monthly, with the chance to win rewards up to ₹10,000. He emphasized that the scheme sends a message at the grassroots level to promote tax compliance and eliminate the practice of tax evasion.
Bill Lao Inam Pao’s initiative targets businesses where shopkeepers collect GST while selling goods. When customers upload bills on the ‘Mera Bill’ app, the system checks the GST number. The recent revelation of 533 bills with GST discrepancies highlights instances where businesses deducted GST but were not registered for it.
This development reinforces the government’s commitment to promoting transparency, tax compliance, and discouraging malpractices. As the scheme progresses, its impact on tax accountability and consumer participation remains noteworthy, marking a step toward fostering a culture of honest tax practices in the state.
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