VAT dept recovers over Rs 2 crore from dealers in Delhi

200 dealers were doing business 'illegally' with the help of 'Bill Banvao Inam Pao Scheme'

The Delhi government has recovered over Rs 2 crore from more than 200 dealers who were doing business "illegally" in the national capital with the help of its 'Bill Banvao Inam Pao Scheme'.

VAT Commissioner S S Yadav said the bills uploaded by people under the scheme have helped in detecting more than 200 people doing business on cancelled TIN or evading tax.

"The department has recovered more than Rs 2 crore from the tax evaders caught through the bills uploaded by people. After collecting evidence, the department is now planning to file criminal cases against them in the court of law. On conviction, these evaders may be sentenced to imprisonment for a period of six months," he said.

Under the scheme, DVATBILL app was launched in January this year to encourage people to upload the bills of their purchase.

Yadav said till May, over 55,000 bills were received under the scheme and in May, over 11,000 bills were uploaded out of which 8,200 bills were found eligible for prize.

Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Taxes has conducted draw of lots to decide the winners of its 'Bill Banvao, Inam Pao Scheme' for May and 82 participants will get cash awards.

A department's release said the awards will be given by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia later this month.

It said the award amount under the scheme is five times the amount of bill subject to a maximum of Rs 50,000 and this time, a record nine participants have won the maximum amount of Rs 50,000.

It also said since its launch 330 participants have received cash prizes under the scheme and an amount of Rs 20 lakh has been distributed as prize.

"By doing this, people of Delhi can not only win attractive cash prize but also contribute to the development of the city by catching tax evaders and increasing tax compliance," Yadav said.