It pays to pay the General Salex Tax, GST, or at least it did for Joseph Bevans. As part of the Sales Tax Department and the Chamber of Commerce's effort to encourage businesses to provide proper GST receipts - they are holding a raffle. The way it works is that you exchange a GST receipt at the Sales Tax or Treasury Offices around the country for a raffle ticket. The big draw will be held on December 21st but the winner of the first consolation prize of $500 was chosen yesterday. This afternoon Bevans picked up his check from Sales Tax Commissioner Beverly Castillo and the Chamber's General Manager Kevin Herrera. 7NEWS was there.
Joseph Bevans, Winner
"My wife put me into it. I didn't know anything about it."
Kevin Herrera, Chamber of Commerce
"We decided to do a raffle as a means of promoting the awareness so that people know what to look for on your GST receipt and also participate in the possibility of winning a grand prize of $10,000 and there are also two $500 consolation prizes that were actually sponsored by the Chamber."
Beverly Castillo, Sales Tax Commissioner
"Whenever you shop at a registered business, you could use your GST receipt and exchange it for a ticket. It is one ticket for one receipt. You can get a ticket and participate. The first draw was on Sunday and that is Mr. Bevan's first prize. Another one will be on the tenth and then the 21st for the grand draw. It is $5,000 first prize, $3,000 second prize, and $2,000 third prize."
The next weekly draw will be held on Sunday December 10th. The final draw is set for Thursday December 21st.
