The Punjab government has banned the issuance of handwritten receipts and introduced stricter electronic billing requirements for hotels, restaurants, coffee shops and marriage halls.

Under the new rules, businesses covered by the policy will be required to implement the Electronic Invoice Monitoring System (EIMS) for issuing receipts to customers.

The government has directed businesses to provide customers with proper receipts containing the business name, address, receipt number and Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) QR code.

The measure is aimed at improving tax monitoring, increasing transparency and preventing businesses from hiding sales or underreporting their revenue.

Businesses that fail to issue receipts through the Electronic Invoice Monitoring System could face heavy fines ranging from Rs400,000 to Rs1 million.

Authorities have also warned that businesses repeatedly violating the rules may face stricter action. Their premises could be sealed for up to one month in case of continued non-compliance.

The new regulations also prohibit businesses from issuing kitchen order slips, unpaid bills or similar documents as substitutes for official receipts.

Customers will therefore be entitled to receive a proper electronic receipt for their purchases and services rather than informal slips or handwritten documents.

The government’s move is expected to strengthen the digital monitoring of commercial transactions and improve tax collection across Punjab.

The enforcement of electronic invoicing will also allow authorities to monitor transactions more effectively and identify businesses that fail to comply with tax regulations.

Businesses operating in the affected sectors will need to ensure that their billing systems meet the new requirements to avoid financial penalties and possible closure.

The latest decision signals a tougher approach by the Punjab government toward undocumented sales and non-compliance with tax rules.