Kathmandu: The government has come up with the ‘Taxpayer Incentive Gift Programme Operation Procedure, 2083’ aiming to develop a culture among consumers to obtain invoices ( bills ) while purchasing goods and services, enhancing tax compliance and promoting the records of actual transactions.
The Ministry of Finance has endorsed the procedure exercising the authority granted by the Economic Procedures and Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2076.
According to the Ministry of Finance, such procedure has already come into effect.
The Internal Revenue Department will, in accordance with the Procedure, implement the programme being subject to the approved annual budget and programmes.
If deemed necessary, the Department can make arrangements to choose an event organizer for the operation and management of the programme.
With the implementation of the programme, the government aims to encourage consumers to demand and receive the bill compulsorily while purchasing and promote the e-payment system, discourage tax evasion by strengthening transparent transactions system.
As per the procedures, consumers who purchase goods or services worth more than Rs 100 at a time for personal purposes within Nepal will be eligible to participate in the programme.
One gift ticket will be generated by the system for each eligible transaction supported by a valid bill or made through electronic payment. Each valid bill is eligible for participation in the programme only once. One bill is valid for the participation in the programme only once.
Bills issued from purchases through e-payment from the first day of the month until the end of the month will be automatically included in that month’s gift hamper programme.
Eligible purchases made through electronic payment through using payment service providers will be automatically entered into the programme.
For purchases made in cash or other payment methods, the purchasers are required to enter details such as the bill number, the seller’s PAN, the bill issue date, the total amount, the payment method, and the purchaser’s name and mobile number into the Department’s system within the prescribed time. Such bills will be eligible for the inclusion in the programme once the Department’s automated system verified the submitted information.
The procedure has considered some types of purchase bills ineligible for participation in the scheme. Bills for business purchases, those issued in the name of government bodies or public institutions, and receipts for telephone, internet, electricity, vehicle and transportation, airline tickets, as well as purchases made by individuals without a Permanent Account Number (PAN), will not be included in the programme.
An individual cannot participate more than once using the same bill or the same electronic payment, it is stated.
For selecting the winners, the department will conduct a ‘draw’ through an automatic system on the 1st and the 16th of every month.
In the first phase, the winner will be selected from participants based on transactions from the 16th of the previous month to the end of the month, and in the second phase, based on transactions from the 1st to the 15th of the same month.
According to the procedure, one winner will be selected each day and one bumper winner every 15 days. Arrangements have been made in which senior officials, representatives from various organizations, and journalists can be invited during the winner selection.
The winner will be informed via mobile number and email, and their name will be made public through the department’s website and social media.
Daily winners will receive a gift worth Rs 133,334, while the bi-weekly bumper winner will receive Rs 1 million.
When distributing the prize amount, a 25 tax will be deducted on the incidental profit according to the Income Tax Act, 2001. To receive the prize amount, the winner must submit an application to the nearest Inland Revenue Office within 15 days from the announcement date, either personally or through a representative, along with the original bill, receipt, citizenship or other official ID, bank account details, and permanent account number.
The office will verify the submitted documents within 10 days and directly deposit the prize amount into the winner’s bank account through the department. If the submitted documents are found to be false, fake, or forged, the matter will be referred to the concerned authority for action according to the prevailing law, as per the procedure.
Similarly, if the prize amount is not claimed along with the necessary documents within the specified 15 days, the procedure states that such money will be deposited into the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund.
The government has stated that it has promoted this programme as an important step to increase voluntary participation in the tax system, encourage consumers to get bills, expand electronic payments, and control revenue leakage.
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