SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Do not Throw Out That lunch receipt: It Could Be Worth $ 1,000.
That's the idea behind a campaign to force Puerto Rico's tiny Many Markets, food stalls and Other mom-and-pop business to collect sales tax.
Puerto Rico's Treasury Department IS transforming receipts Into lottery tickets, printing contest numbers are EACH receipt and holding weekly drawings for cash prizes ranging from $ 100 to $ 1,000.It plans to aussi Have a monthly drawing for a car.
A pilot program in December started "In The southern city of Ponce and Will Be expanded island-wide in July.
The Government wants prize-hungry Consumers to demand receipts, Discouraging Businesses from dodging the 7 percent sales tax by making Unrecorded cash sales.
Theoretically, The Idea Should Be A Winner On An Island WHERE lotteries are popular, original purpose arent very Encouraging results: Eight winning tickets drawn Have Been so far and not a single consumer has come forward to claim a prize. Winners Have up to 30 days to collect, receipts and Some Have Already expired.
"It's a challenge," concede Jose Carlos Colon de Jesus, a special assistant in the Treasury Department. "We Have to Change the Mentality Of The Puerto Rican So They demand Their receipt."
The Government plans a media blitz to Promote the program, in Adding to heavy coverage by local newspapers, TV and radio.So far, though, it's Been To little avail in Ponce, Puerto Rico's Second Largest City With Nearly 200.000 people.
Wanda Colon, manager of a Church's Chicken restaurant in the city, Said she's HAD Customers Where They ask to see Canon Check If They Have a winning number, Said to Many People do not SEEM aware of The Program. She Has Had To Remind Them to take Their receipt and why.
"They really wide open Their Eyes," Colon said. "Those Who do not know say, 'How Is That Possible?"
Four of Church in Ponce's Customers Have Won $ 1,000. Collected goal has none.
The Government Says It Is Spending about $ 16 million On The effort, Including equipment to print receipts With lottery numbers.Also it has a goal and wide VARIED underground economy - one people deal in cash WHERE, keep records and few "do not pay taxes All the Think It's The Government should" collect easy payday loans.
Roadside food stalls are ubiquitous, savory empanadas and fritters Offering, have small groceries Are The Known Locally as colmados, Their shelves spilling over cramped With bread, canned goods, crackers and beer.
Puerto Rico Took in $ 1 trillion in sales tax last year, goal Authorities estimate's The Government Is Only about 52 percent of Collecting What It's Owed "under the law. The Lottery Hopes It Will Drive That Number to 72 Percent Within Three Years. Any returned Is A priority for an Island That Government has ugly off Thousands of Workers in recent Years.
Some think The Goal IS optimistic. Sergio Marxuach, public policy director With The Center for the New Economy think tank in San Juan, The Take Predicted Will Fall Short of the $ 400 million The Government seek."I am a little bit skeptical of using silver bullets to Technological help solve compliance problems," he Added.
Other Problems With The pilot program Have Been Reported.
Officials Acknowledged That People Are Not Necessarily Demanding more receipts for goods. Instead, They Are Their divvying up more purchase to Obtain receipts.
Theys aussi Said That Some Might View the program as a form of gambling That Goes Against Their Religious Beliefs. If That's the case, THEY CAN donate winnings to charity, Said Luis Rivera, secretary of the Consumer Affairs Department.
The program rolls out island-wide on July 1 and Businesses That Refuse to Use The state-issued receipt Machines Will Be fined $ 20,000. Those caught withholding receipts from customers Will Receive a $ 100 fine.
Officials hold a drawing for $ 1,000 EACH Tuesday prizes and plan to add $ 500 oven and 10 prizes of $ 100, though The System Is Still Be Adjusted And the Award Could Be changed in coming months.Saturday Will Be A drawing added by late February.
Once a month, The Government Will aussi Randomly select a receipt and give away a car.
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Online:
Puerto Rico's Treasury Department:
http://www.hacienda.gobierno.pr/
