SCHEME LEADS TO 9.07 CRORE PENALTIES, 135 NEW REGISTRATIONS, 257 WINNERS WON 15,30,015 IN JULY 2025 DRAW OF SCHEME
(MOREPIC1) Face2News/Chandigarh
In a major boost to citizen engagement and tax transparency, Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Sunday announced the remarkable success of the state’s flagship “Bill Liao Inam Pao” scheme. Launched to encourage responsible consumer behaviour and strengthen tax compliance, the initiative has witnessed enthusiastic public participation, with a total of 1,76,832 bills uploaded on the ‘Mera Bill app’ from its launch in September 2023 to July 2025. This surge in engagement has resulted in 5644 winners receiving prizes amounting to ₹3,35,80,215.
In a press communique issued here, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema revealed that the scheme's focus on encouraging citizens to demand bills has had a profound impact on tax enforcement. He said that penalties worth ₹9,07,06,102 have been levied against entities found guilty of irregularities in bill issuance. “Of this, ₹7,30,92,230 has already been recovered, marking a significant step forward in ensuring fiscal accountability”, said Finance Minister Cheema while adding that the scheme has further expanded the tax base by facilitating 135 new registrations.
The Finance Minister also shared details of the latest lucky draw for July 2025, held on August 7 at the department’s head office in Patiala. The draw, which involved 6,345 bills uploaded on the 'Mera Bill' app in July 2025, resulted in 257 winners being selected and collectively receiving ₹15,30,015 in prize money. He emphasised that the department promptly transfers the prize amount to winners’ bank accounts upon receipt of the necessary details, including account numbers. Urging winners to submit their information at the earliest, the Finance Minister reiterated the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Punjab government’s commitment to transparency and efficiency.
Encouraging continued public participation, Finance Minister Cheema appealed to the people of Punjab to actively engage with the “Bill Liao Inam Pao” scheme by demanding bills for their purchases. He underscored that every bill uploaded not only offers a chance to win but also contributes meaningfully to the state’s efforts in curbing tax evasion and promoting a culture of compliance.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema clarified that bills pertaining to petroleum products (including crude oil, petrol, diesel, aviation turbine fuel, and natural gas), liquor, out-of-state purchases, and B2B transactions are excluded from the scheme's eligibility criteria. He stressed that only bills for purchases made in the preceding month are considered for the draw, thereby ensuring the scheme's fairness and operational effectiveness.
The Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the success of this initiative stands as a testament to the power of citizen-driven governance and reflects the AAP-led Punjab Government’s resolve to build a more accountable and participatory fiscal ecosystem. He said that the scheme’s dual impact is not only rewarding vigilant consumers but also tightening the state’s tax enforcement mechanisms.
