Updated 8 August 2026 (Shrawan 23, 2083). Based on the Taxpayer Incentive Gift Program Procedure 2083, IRD announcements, and the first draw results declared on Shrawan 22. Rules and dates can change — confirm on prize.ird.gov.np or with the Inland Revenue Department before relying on them.
Nepal’s government bill lottery is no longer a plan — it is paying out. In the first draw of the करदाता प्रोत्साहन उपहार कार्यक्रम (Taxpayer Incentive Gift Program), held on Shrawan 22, sixteen ordinary shoppers won cash prizes — and the Rs 10 lakh bumper went to someone who bought Rs 250 of groceries at a neighbourhood general store.
The official portal prize.ird.gov.np is now live for registering cash bills, digital payments are being entered automatically, and draws now repeat every fortnight. This guide covers the whole machine — how entry works, how the prize money is actually calculated after tax, how to check your coupons in eSewa, and exactly what to do within 15 days if your number comes up.
The Whole Program in One Screen
The idea borrows from Taiwan’s Uniform Invoice Lottery, running since 1951: instead of chasing shops that under-bill, make millions of customers demand the bill themselves — because every bill is a lottery ticket. Nepal attempted a version around FY 2064/65 that faded away; this revival has the one thing the old attempt lacked — automatic digital-payment integration.
The First Draw Already Made 16 Winners
Those 15 twelve-digit numbers each won the daily prize of Rs 1,33,334. The point worth absorbing is the bumper: it did not go to someone who bought a fridge. It went to a Rs 250 bill from a general store. Entry weight does not scale with how much you spend — a Rs 101 bill and a Rs 50,000 bill are each one coupon.
The Prize Math: Why Rs 1,33,334 Is Really Rs 1 Lakh
The odd-looking Rs 1,33,334 figure is deliberate — it is the gross amount that nets exactly Rs 1 lakh after the 25% deduction. You do not need to file anything for this tax; it is withheld before payout.
Are You Eligible? The Four Requirements
No personal PAN yet? It is free and takes minutes through IRD’s online system — our original guide to the program walks through PAN registration step by step.
Bills That Do NOT Count
How to Enter: Two Paths
One more automatic route: department stores with annual turnover above Rs 10 crore are wired into IRD’s Central Billing Management System, so purchases there enter the draw regardless of how you pay.
This is now the strongest everyday argument for paying by QR in Nepal — the same Rs 500 shop run carries a free lottery entry with zero paperwork. If you are still setting up digital payments, see our comparison of eSewa, Khalti, connectIPS and Fonepay and the NRB transaction limits that apply to them.
How to See Your Coupons in eSewa
Won? Here Is the 15-Day Claim Procedure
The deadline is real: 15 days from the announcement. If your coupon number is on the winning list, you must appear at the nearest Inland Revenue Office within 15 days to claim. Miss the window and the prize is gone.
That first item is the one that will bite people. It is entirely possible to pay by QR, get an automatic coupon, win — and lose the prize because you threw away the paper bill. From today, keep every bill above Rs 100 until that fortnight’s results are out. A shoebox works.
When the Draws Happen
| Purchases made | Draw covers | Winners declared |
|---|---|---|
| 1st to 15th of the Nepali month | First fortnight | On the 16th |
| 16th to month-end | Second fortnight | On the last day of the month |
Per the procedure, each fortnight’s results are announced right after it closes — one daily winner for every day of the window, plus the fortnightly bumper. Results appear on prize.ird.gov.np and are covered by the press; the first announcement was made in the presence of the Finance Minister.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is prize.ird.gov.np?
It is the official Inland Revenue Department portal for the Taxpayer Incentive Gift Program 2083. Cash payers register their bills there to receive draw coupons, and results are published through it. It went live around Shrawan 16, 2083.
How do I enter Nepal’s bill lottery?
Make a personal purchase above Rs 100 inside Nepal while holding a personal PAN. If you paid digitally (QR, wallet, mobile banking), you are entered automatically. If you paid cash, take the genuine bill and register it at prize.ird.gov.np before the fortnight ends.
How much can I win, and how much do I actually receive?
The daily prize is Rs 1,33,334 gross — Rs 1,00,000 after the 25% windfall tax. The fortnightly bumper is Rs 10,00,000 gross — Rs 7,50,000 net. Tax is deducted at source, so there is nothing for you to file.
Do I need a PAN to participate?
Yes — a personal PAN is mandatory. It is free and can be obtained quickly through IRD’s online registration. A business PAN does not qualify, because commercial purchases are outside the program.
Does spending more give me a better chance?
No. Each qualifying bill is one coupon regardless of amount. The first bumper winner spent Rs 250. Many small bills give you more entries than one large one — which is exactly the behaviour the program is designed to encourage.
Which bills are excluded from the draw?
Business purchases, bills issued to government or public institutions, telephone, internet and electricity bills, vehicle/transport and airfare bills, and purchases from merchants who have no registered PAN.
I pay by QR — do I still need to keep paper bills?
Yes, and this is the program’s least-understood rule. The original physical bill is mandatory at claim time even for digital payers. Keep every bill above Rs 100 until that fortnight’s results are announced.
How do I check my coupon numbers?
eSewa users can search “Taxpayer Incentive Prize Program” in the app or find it at the bottom of the app menu — automatically generated coupons are listed there. NRB has instructed other wallets and banks to surface the same information. Cash payers receive their coupon number when registering at prize.ird.gov.np.
What happens if I win?
Visit the nearest Inland Revenue Office within 15 days of the announcement, carrying the original bill, official ID, your PAN card and bank account details. The net amount is transferred after the 25% tax deduction. Miss the 15-day window and the claim lapses.
Why is the government giving away money for taking bills?
Every demanded bill forces the seller to record the sale, which pulls the transaction into the tax net and squeezes under-invoicing. Taiwan has run the same model since 1951. It is cheaper for the state to reward consumers than to audit every shop — the prize money is the enforcement budget.
Has anyone actually been paid yet?
The first draw was announced on Shrawan 22, 2083, with 15 daily winners and one Rs 10 lakh bumper winner — a customer of Shiva Krishna General Store with a Rs 250 purchase. Draws now repeat every fortnight.
Related Reading
- Taxpayer Gift Program: the full rulebook, PAN registration and entry strategy
- eSewa vs Khalti vs connectIPS vs Fonepay
- Mobile banking and wallet transaction limits in Nepal
- Freelancer payment and tax guide for Nepal
Sources: Taxpayer Incentive Gift Program Operating Procedure 2083 (IRD), first-draw announcement of Shrawan 22, 2083, and reporting by TechPana and Nepali business press. Winning numbers above are as published for the first draw — verify your own coupons against official announcements on prize.ird.gov.np.
Rabin Paudel
Rabin Paudel is the Founder of Digital Solution, a Content Creator, and an AI Trainer. He shares practical and easy-to-understand content on Artificial Intelligence, Digital Literacy, Online Services, FinTech, and Technology. His mission is to make technology simple, accessible, and useful for everyone.
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