Now, billed shopping in Punjab can make you eligible for Rs 50,000 reward
Every billed shopping can make you eligible for a cash reward up to Rs 50,000, but only if the owner of the shop you made your purchase from is dishonest!
Every billed shopping can make you eligible for a cash reward up to Rs 50,000, but only if the owner of the shop you made your purchase from is dishonest!
In its bid to check tax evasion by traders, the Punjab government has introduced monetary incentives for customers who help the excise sleuths in checking the violation through a mobile app that was launched here on Tuesday.
Through the app, ‘Apna Tax’, the excise and taxation officials can keep a check on unscrupulous traders who evade tax despite charging the same from the customers.
Deputy excise and taxation commissioner (DETC), Ludhiana, JK Jain said, “at times, traders, at the time of billing, charge tax from customers, but do not deposit the same with the department. This is a very serious offence. The department wants to connect directly with the customers through the app.”
“All they (customers) need to do is upload a copy of the bill (amount exceeding Rs 100) using the Apna Tax app,” said Jain.
“Once the bill is submitted through the app, the customer will be automatically eligible for the cash prize. The name of the winner will be announced after a monthly lucky draw,” he said.
“If the department gets hold of a particular bill for which tax has not been paid by the trader to the department, the customer shall stand a chance to win a cash prize five times the value of the bill (excluding VAT and tax-free goods). The maximum value of the cash prize will be Rs 50,000 and entries from the first to the last day of the month shall be considered,” said Jain.
He said dealer to dealer bills and those related to petrol, diesel, automobiles, LPG, bakery, plywood and brick kilns will not be eligible.
The lucky draw will be held on the 15th day of the month and a minimum of 10 cash prizes will be given away every month, he said, adding the first draw will be held on August 15.
Jain urged the people to make use of this facility and contribute their bit in checking tax evasion. He said every person should insist on proper bills at the time of buying something and people should understand that the amount collected from taxes will ultimately be spent on their welfare.
The ‘Apna Tax’ mobile app can be downloaded free of cost from Google Play Store or from www.pextax.com.
How will it work
Collect bills against your shopping exceeding Rs 100.
Upload the copy through ‘Apna Tax’ app.
If the shop-owner is found evading tax, you are eligible for a cash reward up to five times the bill (maximum Rs 50,000).
The lucky draw will be held on the 15th day of the month.
Minimum 10 cash prizes will be given away every month.
First draw to be held on August 15.