KATHMANDU, Aug. 2: Nepal's Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has launched its long-awaited taxpayer incentive portal, inviting consumers who pay in cash to upload their purchase bills for a chance to win cash prizes.
In a notice issued on Saturday, the department urged consumers to register original VAT or PAN invoices for eligible purchases made in cash.
According to IRD Deputy Director General and Joint Secretary Janak Raj Sharma, consumers who have purchased goods or services worth more than Rs. 100 in cash since July 17 (Shrawan 1) and obtained an original VAT or PAN bill are eligible to participate in the taxpayer reward scheme.
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"We have launched a new website, prize.ird.gov.np, from Saturday," Sharma said. "Consumers who make cash payments of more than Rs. 100 for personal purchases within Nepal can upload their original bills through the portal to enter the reward program."
The department clarified that consumers who make payments through bank or digital wallet QR codes do not need to upload their bills. Those transactions are automatically recorded in the reward system, and the transaction number generated through the QR payment will serve as the eligible entry.
However, consumers have been advised to safely retain their original VAT or PAN bills, as they will be required to claim any prize they win.
The IRD also urged shoppers to always ask for an official VAT or PAN invoice when making purchases and to report businesses that fail to issue bills.
The department is preparing to announce the first set of winners next week, covering the program's first 15 days.
"Technically, we are ready. If no major technical issues arise, we expect to publish the first results next week," the department said.
Under the scheme, 15 daily winners, one for each of the first 15 days, will receive Rs. 100,000 each after applicable tax deductions. One bumper prize winner will also receive Rs. 1 million for the same period.
The taxpayer incentive program was announced by Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle in the budget for the fiscal year 2026/27. The initiative aims to encourage consumers to demand official bills, improve tax compliance, and curb tax evasion by bringing more transactions into the formal economy.
The Ministry of Finance approved the program’s operating procedures in the final week of the previous fiscal year. Under the guidelines, one consumer will win Rs. 100,000 every day, while a bumper prize of Rs. 1 million will be awarded every 15 days, creating two bumper winners each month.
