Delhi govt launches Bill Banvao Inaam Pao App to increase VAT collection

Delhi government launched Bill Banvao Inaam Pao Scheme(Collect a Bill, win a prize) to increase VAT collection,the scheme will empower the citizens to become the part of the governance and to check menace of tax evasion. 

How does it work ?

• The customer can upload the picture of cash memo not below 100 rupees in the mobile and send the snapshot of the bill on the application or through WhatsApp.

• The bill must have Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) which confirms that the seller is registered in the VAT department.

• After that, an unique ID would be generated for each bill. The winner would be selected through a computerised lucky draw on 15th of every month.

• The VAT department has about 20 teams, assisted by civil defence volunteers, to conduct checks on traders whose VAT filing evokes suspicion of evasion.

• If the bill issued to a customer is not reflected on the online server of the VAT department, it would mean that the outlet is evading tax.  

What is the prize?

The prize amount would be five times the value of goods purchased. The bill should have the registration number of the dealer, full name of each item purchased and the rate of tax charged.

Statistics:

• Out of the total tax revenue of Rs 34,661 crore in 2015-16, the VAT department was tasked to collect Rs 24,000 crore – 69 per cent of the total revenue collections.

• Despite a 30 per cent augmentation in surveillance in VAT evasion, the department has only managed to collect Rs 15,000 crore.

• VAT is supposed to contribute 69 per cent, excise 12 per cent, stamps and registration 11 per cent, tax on motor vehicles 6 per cent and luxury, entertainment and betting tax 2 per cent.

What is VAT?

A type of consumption tax that is placed on a product whenever value is added at a stage of production and at final sale.
Example: when a television is built by a company in Europe the manufacturer is charged a value-added tax on all of the supplies they purchase for producing the television. Once the television reaches the shelf, the consumer who purchases it must pay the value-added tax that applies to him or her.