CHANDIGARH: Punjab Minister Harpal Singh Cheema announced on Friday that the state government has ramped up efforts to recover taxes from defaulters by initiating public auctions of properties owned by persistent VAT and GST evaders.
“In a decisive move to recover long-overdue state revenue, the Department of Excise and Taxation has successfully carried out three major property auctions, reclaiming substantial amounts from businesses and individuals who have consistently neglected their tax obligations despite numerous opportunities and official legal notices,” he remarked.
Detailing the initial successes of this enforcement initiative, the Finance, Excise and Taxation Minister stated that the first significant auction took place in Mohali on June 19, where a defaulter’s property was sold for Rs 13.22 crore.
A second auction in Shahkot, Jalandhar, brought in Rs 1.11 crore from another property.
Cheema emphasized that these early auctions in Mohali and Jalandhar illustrate the state’s unwavering commitment to enforcing tax compliance without any bias.
He reiterated that these strict recovery actions— which include the physical attachment and auctioning of properties—are a direct extension of previous announcements by the Punjab government.
Cheema pointed out that these aggressive measures target chronic tax defaulters who opted not to take advantage of the extensive relief options provided under the One Time Settlement (OTS) Scheme.
While adopting a firm stance against tax evasion, he asserted, “The Punjab government’s primary goal, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is the recovery of legitimate public funds rather than just punitive action.”
To support voluntary compliance and offer business owners a chance to settle long-standing disputes, the Finance Minister announced an extension of the OTS Scheme until July 31, 2026.
Issuing a firm warning to remaining evaders, Cheema stated that the era of overlooking official tax demands and assuming government dues would go unrecovered is over.
He disclosed that the Excise and Taxation Department has already pinpointed numerous properties belonging to habitual defaulters, with nearly 20 additional property auctions planned in various districts in the coming weeks and months.
“The Excise and Taxation Department is steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding public revenue, ensuring that the thousands of honest, law-abiding taxpayers in Punjab are not unfairly burdened by a minority of willful defaulters,” he explained.
Cheema cautioned that taxpayers who continue to ignore their legal responsibilities will face immediate and serious repercussions, as the department vigorously pursues all available legal avenues, including bank account attachments, asset seizures, and public auctions of both movable and immovable properties to recover every rupee owed to the state government.
