The excise and taxation department has served notices to 324 traders and shopkeepers on suspicion of evading tax and violating GST norms.
The GST violations and tax evasions came to the fore when customers submitted bills and receipts of their purchases to the department under the ‘Bill Leyao, Inaam Pao’ (produce the bill, get rewarded) scheme.
Customers also submitted complaints in cases where shopkeepers had not given bills and receipts to them.
On Aug22 las year, the excise and taxation department had rolled out the scheme to check evasion of goods and service tax (GST), with an aim to enhance compliance and bolster state revenue. The scheme was aimed at encouraging customers to obtain bills from shopkeepers and traders for purchases.
Ludhiana deputy commission for state taxes (DCST) Darvir Raj said they detected irregularities in 324 cases while reviewing receipts and bills received from customers. “A total of 324 notices were issued after varifying the bills since the scheme was initiated. Out of these notices, we have already imposed penalties amounting to Rs. 1.03 crore in 35 cases, while other cases are being processed,” She added. She said the department had recovered Rs. 67.24 lakh from the total penalty imposed.
The department has received 13,533 bills so far and 12,240 of them have been verified, resulting in issuance of notice to the traders and shopkeepers concerned. The department also found four firms which were not registered under GST Act. Action was taken against them and they were made to register under it.
Raj added the scheme also offered case rewards up to Rs. 5000 to customs. Any customer who has a receipt for a purchase worth Rs. 200 or more is eligible to register under the scheme and submit the receipt online to participate in the draw.
The winner is entitled to a reward five times the taxable amount of the product. Maximum limit of the reward amounts is Rs.50,000. The department has also launched Mera Bill app for the purpose, where customers can and upload bills and receipts of their purchase.
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