Banking News – Consumers in Nepal will soon be able to participate automatically in the government’s VAT bill lottery scheme when making QR code payments, as the system is set to go live from Shrawan 21 (Thursday) under the directive of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).

With the new arrangement, Payment System Operators (PSOs) and Payment Service Providers (PSPs) will be officially integrated into the lottery program. Every eligible QR payment made at registered merchants will be automatically linked to the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) system, allowing consumers to participate in the VAT receipt lottery without any additional process.

According to PhonePe Nepal CEO Diwas Kumar Sapkota, all technical preparations required from the PSO side have been completed. The company has established a system that automatically transmits QR payment details to the Inland Revenue Department’s platform.

Sapkota noted that some practical challenges may arise during the initial phase if merchants’ Permanent Account Number (PAN) details or other required information are incomplete. However, he emphasized that there are no technical issues with the payment infrastructure or data transmission system.

Similarly, IME Khalti CEO Praveen Regmi said the company has completed its technical integration with the Inland Revenue Department in line with NRB’s implementation timeline. Following extensive coordination with the department’s technical team, the service is ready to launch on Thursday, Shrawan 21.

Under the new system, consumers making payments through QR codes or digital wallets will receive an official lottery number directly on their digital payment receipt. If a customer wins the VAT lottery, the payment service provider will notify the winner through its mobile application and other communication channels.

The initiative is a joint effort of the Inland Revenue Department, Nepal Rastra Bank, and Nepal’s digital payment service providers to promote digital payments, improve tax transparency, and encourage consumers to request VAT bills while making purchases. The system is also expected to strengthen revenue collection and further accelerate Nepal’s transition toward a digital economy.