Punjab FM Introduces Scheme ‘Bring a bill, Get Reward’ to check Theft of Tax Revenue

Punjab Finance Minister - Theft of Tax Revenue - Tax Revenue - bill - Reward - Taxscan

Harpal Singh Cheema, the finance minister for Punjab, announced the commencement of a new programme on Friday to prevent dishonest retailers and traders from skimming tax money. Cheema stated that the government is working to increase tax receipts from sources such as GST, excise, stamp duty, and others.

When he presented the state budget for 2023–24 in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Cheema made the announcement about the “Bill Leyao, Inaam Pao” (Present a bill, Receive Prize) programme.

“I propose to adopt the “Bill Leyao Inaam Pao” Scheme in FY 2023–2024 in favour of formalising financial transactions, informing the client, and collecting GST (goods and service tax). Monthly awards would be awarded to people/customers who submit their bills to the Revenue Department based on a lottery, Cheema stated in his budget address.

Furthermore, anyone who purchases goods or services, should obtain a bill from a retailer and register that bill on a government website. Action will be taken against the vendor if it turns out that the bill was fraudulent and that the GST was not paid on it.

The same programme will encourage consumers to pay attention to their GST bills and inform them of their importance. Also, it will undoubtedly stop the suppliers who are supplying the same without a bill from evading taxes.

The state’s budget for 2023–24 was presented to the parliament on Friday by Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, with an emphasis on agriculture, education, and health.

In the state budget that prioritises agriculture, health care, and education, no new taxes have been enacted. The Finance Minister unveiled a number of significant initiatives, including Rs 13,888 crore for agriculture and related industries, a new agriculture policy, Rs 1,000 crore for crop diversification, and a risk-mitigation crop insurance programme.

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