Punjab bans manual receipts

Punjab bans manual receipts

The Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) has banned the issuance of handwritten or manual receipts by businesses operating in the province, according to a notification issued by the authority.

Under the new directive, hotels, restaurants, coffee shops and marriage halls must use the Electronic Invoice Management System (EIMS) for issuing customer receipts. The system aims to ensure that businesses properly record their transactions and comply with provincial sales tax regulations.

A PRA spokesperson said businesses covered by the directive must generate receipts through EIMS instead of providing handwritten slips or informal receipts to customers. The authority will monitor compliance and take action against businesses that fail to follow the requirement.

Businesses that do not issue receipts through the EIMS may face fines ranging from Rs400,000 to Rs1 million, the spokesperson said.

The PRA has also warned that repeated violations could lead to stricter action. Authorities may seal the business premises for up to one month if an establishment continues to disregard the rules despite previous enforcement measures.

The move forms part of the Punjab government’s efforts to strengthen digital documentation of commercial transactions, improve tax compliance and reduce the possibility of underreporting sales and tax liabilities.

The authority has urged businesses in the affected sectors to ensure that their invoicing systems comply with the new requirements to avoid financial penalties and other enforcement action.