Rs 500, Rs 1000 notes can be used for paying utility bills, tax

While demonetising the high-value currency notes on Tuesday, the government had permitted people to use such notes for payment of certain services like rail and metro ticket, rail catering.

New Delhi, Nov 10: Giving some more relief to common man, the Centre today said old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes can be used to pay utility bills, taxes, penalty and fees to central and state governments till midnight of November 11.

While demonetising the high-value currency notes on Tuesday, the government had permitted people to use such notes for payment of certain services like rail and metro ticket, rail catering, airline ticket, buying LPG cylinder and medicines with doctor's prescription.

Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das today tweeted: "Old 500, Rs 1000 notes to be accepted for payment of fees, charges, taxes, penalty to central and state governments, including municipalities and local bodies." Such old notes to be accepted for payment of utility charges like water and electricity, he said. "Above facilities to be available till November 11 midnight.

Records to be maintained," Das tweeted. Exemptions have also been made for payments at government hospitals, milk booths, crematoria/burial grounds and petrol pumps till November 11.

People having invalid notes are required to either deposit them in their accounts or exchange them with new currency notes. Banks have already started issuing new currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 denominations.

PTI