The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has been split to improve efficiency and broaden the country鈥檚 tax base, the interim government said on Tuesday.
鈥楾he interim government has announced a major structural reform: the dissolution of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), to be replaced by two distinct entities under the Ministry of Finance - the Revenue Policy Division and the Revenue Management Division,鈥� said a statement issued by the Chief Adviser鈥檚 Press Wing this afternoon.
鈥楾his decision aims to separate tax policy-making from tax administration to improve efficiency, reduce conflicts of interest, and broaden the country鈥檚 tax base,鈥� it read.
Established over 50 years ago, the NBR has consistently failed to meet its revenue targets. Bangladesh鈥檚 tax-to-GDP ratio is approximately 7.4%, one of the lowest in Asia. For context, the global average is 16.6%, while Malaysia鈥檚 stands at 11.6%.
To achieve the development aspirations of its people, Bangladesh must raise its tax-to-GDP ratio to at least 10%, according to the statement.
Restructuring the NBR is critical to this goal. There is growing consensus that a single institution should not be responsible for both creating tax policy and enforcing it-such an arrangement breeds conflicts of interest and promotes inefficiencies. For years, businesses in Bangladesh have complained that policies have often prioritised revenue collection over fairness, growth, and long-term planning.
In the statement, several longstanding issues were mentioned that have plagued the NBR:
Housing both policy-making and enforcement under one roof has led to compromised tax policies and widespread irregularities. Under the current system, officials responsible for tax collection are not subject to any accountability framework and are often able to negotiate payments from tax defaulters compromising public interest. In many cases, tax collectors are reluctant to take action against tax evaders and assist them in doing so for personal interest.
There is no system and process in place for objectively measure the performance of tax collectors and their career progression has not been linked with measurable performance indicators.
The dual mandate diluted focus on both policy formulation and institutional capacity-building. As a result, the tax net remains narrow, and revenue collection has lagged far behind potential.
The NBR has suffered from inconsistent enforcement, poor investment facilitation, and systemic governance issues, all of which have eroded investor confidence and weakened the rule of law.
The existing structure - where the head of the Internal Resources Division also leads the NBR- has created confusion and inefficiency, hampering effective tax policy design and delivery.
The reform process has triggered anxiety among seasoned tax and customs officers, some of whom feel they may be sidelined or overlooked.
The Revenue Policy Division will be responsible for drafting tax laws, setting rates, and managing international tax treaties. The Revenue Management Division will oversee enforcement, audits, and compliance. This separation ensures that the officials setting tax obligations are not the same as those collecting them, eliminating opportunities for any sort of connivance.
By allowing each division to focus on its core mandate, the reform will enhance specialisation, reduce conflicts of interest, and improve institutional integrity.
The reform is expected to broaden the tax net, reduce dependence on indirect taxation, and strengthen direct tax collection by placing skilled professionals in appropriate roles.
A dedicated policy unit can craft evidence-based, forward-looking tax strategies instead of reactive policies driven solely by short-term revenue goals.
Transparent, predictable policies and a professional tax administration are expected to attract investment and reduce complaints from the private sector.
Ultimately, this restructuring is not just a bureaucratic reshuffle - it鈥檚 a necessary step toward building a fairer, more capable tax system. Strengthened policy-making and cleaner tax administration will be vital for Bangladesh to meet the needs - and realise the hopes-of all its citizens, the statement said.
