Hemraj Joshi of Kanchanpur wins Rs 1 million bumper prize

KATHMANDU: Hemraj Joshi of Kanchanpur was unaware he had won Rs 1 million in the government’s new taxpayer incentive lucky draw program until he received a phone call on Friday evening.

The caller was none other than Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle. Wagle phoned Joshi on Friday to inform him that he had won Rs 1 million in the government’s taxpayer incentive lucky draw.

The government unveiled the winners of the first fortnight of Shrawan (mid-July to mid-August) of the taxpayer incentive program, announced through this year’s budget, at a press conference organized by the Inland Revenue Department at the Ministry of Finance earlier on Friday.

Wagle drew the winners, selecting one recipient of the Rs 1 million bumper prize and 15 winners of Rs 100,000 each.

Purchases made between July 17 and 31 by consumers, who bought goods and services online or paid in cash and subsequently registered their VAT or PAN bills in the Inland Revenue Department’s system, were eligible for the lucky draw.

Joshi had purchased goods worth Rs 250 on July 23 from Shiva Krishna General Stores and paid using the store’s QR code.

“Congratulations, Hemraj. This is Swarnim Wagle, the finance minister,” Wagle told Joshi over the phone. “You have won the Rs 1 million bumper prize under the government’s taxpayer incentive program, which aims to encourage consumers to ask for and businesses to issue bills. Officials from the tax office will contact you.”

The finance minister also called Sapana Kharel of Rupandehi, who won Rs 100,000. Kharel had purchased vegetables worth Rs 900 from Shubhasiddhi Suppliers in Devdaha Municipality on July 25.

Although Wagle attempted to call other winners, he was unable to reach them.