National Board of Revenue chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan on Thursday said that country鈥檚 taxpayers could now submit their individual income tax returns online from July.
鈥楾his marks a significant shift from last year, when the tax return process commenced in September. The early start is aimed at encouraging timely submissions and streamlining the tax compliance process,鈥� he said.
The NBR chairman was addressing as chief guest at a seminar titled 鈥楩ood security of marginal communities and VAT鈥�, organised by Youth Policy Network at the Economic Reporters Forum auditorium in the capital on the day.
ERF president Doulat Akter Mala gave the welcome address while its general secretary Abul Kashem moderated it.
Md Abdur Rahman Khan said that a total of 17 lakh income tax returns were filed online till Wednesday while this number was only 5 lakh last year.
The NBR chairman said that he was assessing the revenue collection position every now and then since the month of June, the last month of the outgoing fiscal year, was almost coming to an end.聽
He also mentioned that the revenue collection amounted to nearly Tk 3.53 lakh crore till Wednesday.聽
The revenue board chief also highlighted the NBR鈥檚 ongoing efforts to enhance digital infrastructures and taxpayer services to promote voluntary compliance and transparency in the taxation system.
鈥榃e are working to develop a fully automated revenue system where taxpayers will no longer be required to appear before tax offices in person,鈥� said the NBR chairman.
About the ongoing movement at the NBR, he expressed hope that the movement would be resolved through discussions with the finance adviser.
To address concerns raised by the revenue board staffs, Abdur said that the finance adviser had already announced that amendments to the ordinance on revenue board would be made by July.聽
He said that they would sit with the revenue board personnel and hopefully a solution would come through discussions.
The NBR chairman also urged all parties to act in national interest.
鈥榃e all should work for the country and we should think first about the country鈥檚 interest. Whatever reforms we undertake, whatever laws we make, or even when we protest for a cause, it should not be just for ourselves but for the sake of the country,鈥� he said.