Kathmandu. Nepal Oil Corporation has implemented a system to make VAT bill mandatory for the purchase and sale of LP gas cylinders for cooking. The Corporation urges consumers to get an official VAT bill when purchasing gas. The bill will confirm the authenticity of the gas and help in claiming legal remedies and compensation in case of accidents or other problems.
Manoj Thakur, the spokesperson of the corporation, has issued a video message and has asked the consumers to get in the habit of taking the bill while purchasing gas. According to him, various distortions have been seen in the market due to the tendency of consumers not to collect bills.
Thakur said that the official VAT bill would help him to prove that the gas purchased by him came from an official dealer or company. He says that this will also help to avoid the risk of fake or unsafe cylinders.
According to the corporation, if the weight of the gas cylinder is found to be low, if there is a leak in the gas cylinder or if there is a loss of property due to gas explosion, the bill will be an important evidence to file a complaint and claim compensation. Spokesperson Thakur said that it may be difficult to submit a claim to the gas company or insurance company without a bill.
According to the corporation, making VAT bill mandatory in gas transactions will also help in controlling black market and consumer fraud in the market. The corporation believes that since the official price specified by the government will be mentioned in the bill, the tendency of charging more than the specified price during shortage or crisis can be controlled.
In addition to this, consumers who receive official bills can also get the opportunity to participate in the reward scheme under the Taxpayer Incentive Gift Program conducted by the government, according to the corporation.
The private sector has also supported this arrangement to make gas transactions orderly, transparent and safe. Dyaneshwar Aryal, President of Gas Sellers Federation of Nepal issued a statement on Wednesday and welcomed the corporation’s policy. The Federation has also suggested implementing a mandatory billing system to make the gas business dignified and safe.
The corporation has asked both consumers and sellers to follow the provisions of the official bill while dealing with gas.