"IRD Lottery Nepal Is Real, And Your Rs. 100 Receipt Could Win You Rs. 1 Million"

Confused about whether this government scheme is legit? We break down what the IRD Lottery (Taxpayer Incentive Gift Program) actually is, who launched it, and why it's not a scam. Read more to find out. 

Someone in Nepal right now is standing at a shop counter, typing their bill details into their phone. They're not filing an expense report, they're entering the IRD Lottery, a government scheme that pays out real cash every month, just for asking for a bill.

Sounds too good to be true? A lot of people thought so too, especially after stories of a Rs. 100 purchase winning Rs. 1 million started spreading. But the IRD Lottery Nepal is real, official, and run directly by the Inland Revenue Department. Here's what it actually is and how it works.

What Is the IRD Lottery Nepal?

The IRD Lottery is the common name for a scheme officially called the Taxpayer Incentive Gift Program. Nepal's Inland Revenue Department (IRD) runs this program, as a lottery that rewards consumers for collecting official PAN or VAT bills when they shop.

In simple words: every time you get a real, official bill for something you buy, that bill becomes a lottery ticket. The only catch is that your purchase needs to exceed Rs. 100.

Now you might be wondering: why is the government even doing something like this? Wouldn’t it cause a huge loss to the government? Is it because they have too much money to spare? 

Well, none of the above are correct. 

When a shop sells you something, it is their obligation to record that sale and eventually pay tax on it. But if a shop never issues bills, what's stopping it from under-reporting sales to reduce its tax burden? On the contrary, if every single customer starts demanding a VAT bill, every sale gets recorded and it becomes impossible for any transaction to slip through. That's how the government could pull a large share of the informal economy into the formal system. And as more businesses report their actual sales instead of a lowballed figure, tax revenue goes up as well. So, it's a win from all sides. 

Instead of only punishing shops that skip bills, the IRD decided to reward customers who ask for one. If enough people insist on VAT bills, shops are forced to record their sales properly without the government needing an inspector standing in every store.

This program was announced by Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle in the national budget for the 2026/27 fiscal year. Soon after, the IRD launched its own website for the scheme, called prize.ird.gov.np, where people can register their bills and check the rules.

How Do You Actually Enter the Lottery?

Not every purchase enters the draw the same way. It depends on how you pay:

If you pay digitally using a QR code, mobile wallet (like eSewa or Khalti), or bank transfer, you're entered into the lottery automatically. You don't need to do anything else other than to make sure you have the VAT numbers of each of the vendors you paid to 

If you pay in cash and the purchase is over Rs. 100, you have to manually register your bill yourself on the IRD's website (prize.ird.gov.np). This just means typing in a few details from your bill, nothing complicated.

Anyone who has paid cash for something since mid-July 2026 and got a bill with the vendors VAT number on it can take part, according to IRD officials.

How Much Can You Win, and How Often?

As per the Ministry of Finance, here's how the prizes work:

Note: windfall gains such as lottery and prizes are subject to a windfall gains tax of 25% in Nepal (Section 88A of Tax Act 2058)

How to Register Your Bill Step by Step

If you paid cash and want to enter the draw, here's what you'll need:

• The bill number printed on your receipt
• The seller's PAN number (PAN stands for Permanent Account Number, it's a unique ID every registered business has)
• The amount you paid and the date of purchase
• Your own contact details and bank account information, so the IRD can pay you if you win

Keep the original paper bill safe, if you win, you'll need to show it to actually claim your prize. The system checks your entry against the seller's own tax records, so make sure your bill number and PAN details are entered correctly. A small typo is the most common reason entries get rejected.

What Happens If You Win?

If your prize coupon is selected as a winning coupon, you will be contacted by the government via email and/or phone. Then, you will have 15 days to show up to your nearest IRD office with the prize-winning bill with the vendor’s VAT number clearly mentioned. Along with that, you will also need to carry one of your official IDs with yourself (NID, Citizenship certificate, Passport or Licence)

IRD will then verify your documents and award you with your prize after accounting for 25% windfall gains tax, of course. 

What if you don’t show up to claim your reward within 15 days of announcement? That amount will be deposited into the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund. 

Basically, all you need to do is keep your bills safe because you really will need it. 

(For the latest prize-claim requirements and procedures, always check the official IRD Taxpayer Incentive Gift Program portal.)

How to Check Your IRD Lottery Result

The Inland Revenue Department publishes the names of selected winners through its official website and social media channels. Winners are also notified through their registered mobile number and email address.

To check your result, visit the official IRD Taxpayer Incentive Gift Program portal at prize.ird.gov.np and look for the Winner List section. You can check whether your prize coupon has been selected as a winning coupon.

If you are selected as a winner, keep your original bill/invoice safe and follow the official prize-claim and verification process. You will need to provide the required details and supporting documents to claim your prize.

Why This Matters Beyond Just Winning Money

This program connects to something bigger happening in Nepal called CBMS; the Central Billing Monitoring System. This is a separate system that requires larger businesses to send their bill information straight to the government electronically, in real time.

Put both programs together, and you can see the bigger picture: on one side, the government is requiring bigger businesses to bill electronically. On the other side, it's paying regular customers to demand proper bills everywhere else. Together, these two efforts push the whole economy toward more transparent, properly recorded transactions.

For a business owner, this means something simple: customers now have a real, cash reason to insist on getting a proper bill. A shop that skips giving bills isn't just risking a tax audit anymore; it risks losing customers who now expect a bill every time.

Will This Program Actually Change Anything?

It's too early to say for sure. Government programs like this can lose steam once the excitement fades. Whether the IRD Lottery keeps working long-term will depend on things like: does the website stay easy to use, do winners actually get paid on time, and do enough customers keep asking for bills to make a real difference?

Even so, this program shows a smart, simple idea in action: instead of only punishing rule-breakers, you can also reward the people who hold the capacity to hold said ‘rule-breakers’ accountable. Sometimes that works better.

So next time you're paying cash for something over Rs. 100, don't forget to ask for a VAT bill. That is quite literally your lottery ticket.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the IRD Lottery Nepal real?
Yes. The IRD Lottery, officially known as the Taxpayer Incentive Gift Program, is a government initiative operated by Nepal’s Inland Revenue Department (IRD). For the latest rules and updates, check the official IRD prize portal.

How do I enter the IRD Lottery in Nepal?
If you make a payment digitally through methods such as QR, mobile wallets, or bank transfer, your transaction is entered automatically. For eligible cash purchases, you need to manually register your bill through the official IRD prize portal.

How much can I win from the IRD Lottery?
The program includes a daily prize of Rs. 1,33,334 before tax, which amounts to Rs. 1,00,000 after 25% tax. There is also a bumper prize of Rs. 10,00,000, with Rs. 7,50,000 received after 25% tax.

Do I need a PAN number to register my bill?
The requirements may vary depending on the current rules of the program. Check the official IRD prize portal for the latest registration requirements before submitting your bill.

What happens if I win the IRD Lottery?
If your coupon is selected, you will need to complete the prize verification and claim process. You will need to submit your original bill/invoice and other requested details. Keep your original bill safe until the verification process is completed.

Where can I check the IRD Lottery results?
You can check the latest winner information and prize-related updates through the official IRD Taxpayer Incentive Gift Program portal. Always rely on the official IRD source for the most accurate information.

Update (September 1, 2026): Today's Winner Draw Postponed

The IRD has postponed today's scheduled winner-selection draw for the Taxpayer Incentive Gift Program. The department cited severe flooding and landslides affecting Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and other districts as the reason.

The postponed draw will now be combined with the next regular draw, scheduled for Ashwin 1 (mid-September 2026). That combined draw will select both daily and bumper prize winners from coupons and bills covering the entire month of Bhadra.

If you've already registered a cash bill or made a digital payment during this period, you don't need to do anything differently, your entry carries over automatically. For the latest updates, check the official portal at prize.ird.gov.np.