Taxpayer incentive scheme: Rs 3,000 purchase wins Rs 1 million bumper prize

Santamaya Tamang of Nuwakot has won the bumper prize worth Rs 1 million in the taxpayer incentive gift scheme.

She had taken a bill after buying goods worth Rs 3,000 from SS Fancy House in Nuwakot during Dashain.

The Inland Revenue Department held the fortnightly lucky-draw program for the period of Asoj 16 to 31 on Sunday at Bishal Bazar in New Road, Kathmandu.

After she was selected as the winner, artists Deepak Raj Giri and Deepashree Niraula called Tamang to inform her. She initially thought the call was a prank, but the artists confirmed it was a genuine government program.

According to the department, 16 daily winners -- one for each day of the period -- were also selected. Each of them will receive Rs 133,334, which comes to Rs 100,000 after tax deduction.

The department said about 3.78 million transactions, both those entered manually with bills and those registered automatically through QR payments, were included in the draw.

Director General Dr Bhishma Kumar Bhusal said the program was being run to build the habit of taking bills among consumers. Consumers purchasing goods or services worth more than Rs 100 are eligible to participate.

According to the department, all winners must bring the original purchase bill to the Inland Revenue Office and claim the amount by Kartik 15.