Nepal Announces First Taxpayer Incentive Lottery Winners, Rs. 1 Million Grand Prize Awarded

Nepal's Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has announced the winners of the first-half of Shrawan taxpayer incentive lottery under the government's Taxpayer Incentive Reward Scheme. The results were revealed through a lucky draw held at the Ministry of Finance on Friday. The grand prize of Rs. 1 million was awarded to a consumer who purchased goods worth Rs. 250 from Shiva Krishna General Store in Punarbas Municipality, Kanchanpur, on Shrawan 7. The winning coupon number is 007 315 254 493, and the prize will be paid after deducting applicable taxes, according to IRD Director General Bhishmaraj Bhusal. In addition to the bumper prize winner, 15 other consumers each won Rs. 100,000 under the scheme. The identities of these winners have been withheld to protect their privacy. Introduced through the FY 2083/84 budget by Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle, the program aims to encourage consumers to request official VAT/PAN invoices and promote tax compliance. Consumers making payments through bank or digital wallet QR codes are automatically entered into the lottery, while those paying in cash must upload their VAT or PAN invoice to the Inland Revenue Department's website to obtain a coupon. The department has also advised participants to retain the original purchase invoice to claim any prize. Lucky draw results under the scheme will be announced twice every month—on the 16th day and the final day of each Nepali month.