Announcing “strong performance” of Punjab’s “Bill Liao Inam Pao” scheme, Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Sunday said since its inception, 1,76,832 bills were uploaded on ‘Mera Bill’ app and 5,644 winners received a total of Rs 3,35,80,215 in prize.
Penalties worth Rs 9,07,06,102 were imposed on entities found guilty of irregularities in issuing bills to consumers, the minister said, adding, ” Of which Rs 7,30,92,230 has already been recovered.” In the July draw, 257 winners shared Rs 15,30,015 in prize money, he said, adding the drive also facilitated 135 new tax registrations.
Launched in September 2023, the “Bill Liao Inam Pao” (Bring Bills, Get Rewards) scheme encourages citizens to demand purchase bills and strengthen tax compliance.
The minister urged residents to keep uploading bills, noting that every entry supports the state’s anti-tax-evasion efforts and offers citizens a chance to win. “Bills for petroleum products, liquor, out-of-state purchases and B2B transactions are ineligible, and only bills from the preceding month qualify for the draw,” he clarified.
Under this scheme, consumers are encouraged to upload bills of their purchases on the “mera bill app”, after which they will automatically become eligible to participate in a lucky draw, which is held on the seventh of each month. The reward will be equivalent to five times the taxable value of goods or services declared in the bill, with a maximum cap of Rs 10,000 for each reward.
Cheema said the department promptly transfers the prize amount to winners’ bank accounts upon receipt of the necessary details, including account numbers.
“The success of this initiative stands as a testament to the power of citizen-driven governance and reflects the AAP government’s resolve to build a more accountable and participatory fiscal ecosystem,” he said.
“The scheme’s dual impact is not only rewarding vigilant consumers but also tightening the state’s tax enforcement mechanisms,” the minister added.
