From next year, company taxpayers in Bangladesh would require to file their returns online, said National Board of Revenue chairman Abdur Rahman Khan on Sunday.
He also mentioned that a mobile app is being developed to simplify the process.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the Tax Representative Management System software at the NBR headquarters in the capital.
He also said that tax representatives play a crucial role in online filing, as most taxpayers submit returns through them.
鈥楾o facilitate this, NBR鈥檚 in-house IT team has developed software that allows tax representatives to submit returns online on behalf of their clients,鈥� he added.
He also stated that the lack of comprehensive taxpayer data hinders the development of a fully automated audit system.
鈥楽ome taxpayers face audits every year, while others never face them in their lifetime. This creates a disparity. Moving forward, risk-based audits would be identified,鈥� he added.
He further assured taxpayers that there is no reason to be concerned about the integration of the e-return system with banks.
鈥楾ax officials would not have access to detailed bank account information. Only the taxpayer or their authorised representative can share account data while filing returns,鈥� he added.
Relevant details, such as account balances and deducted tax, would be automatically reflected in the return for accuracy, which would reduce mistakes and curb tax evasion, he explained.
In his speech as the chief guest, finance adviser Salehuddin Ahmed said that the TRMS software would be a 鈥榤ilestone鈥� for the country鈥檚 economy, benefiting individuals, companies, and tax officials alike.
He also urged all concerned, including revenue officials, lawyers, chartered accountants, and company secretaries, to prioritise high professionalism and transparency for ensuring more efficient and client-friendly taxpayer services.
鈥楶lease provide quick services, dispose of the cases of your clients quickly, make sure that your clients don鈥檛 face hassle,鈥� he added.
He also said that if the concerned officials provide services efficiently, people would not hesitate to pay fees; however, if they keep people waiting or push them towards under-the-table solutions, it undermines trust in the entire system.
He also acknowledged that the issues of bribery and harassment remain persistent within Bangladesh鈥檚 service sector, particularly in government agencies.
鈥業t takes a long time to get government services. However, once they pay the money, it would work,鈥� he added, saying that citizens are willing to pay for genuine services.
He urged the officials to deliver various taxpayer services efficiently and effectively.
At the event, the TRMS technical team presented the various aspects of the system.
According to the NBR, TRMS has been developed to simplify and streamline online return submission through authorized tax representatives.
The platform is a significant step toward building a modern, transparent, and taxpayer-friendly revenue administration.
Under this system, a taxpayer can authorise a representative to file returns online by sharing a one-time password (OTP) received on their biometrically registered mobile phone.
All returns filed by a tax representative would be recorded in the system under their name, and representatives can retrieve return data at any time.
The NBR chairman said that filing returns is often complex and requires professional support, but TRMS would reduce dependency on manual processes.
He also stated that TRMS is integrated with several national databases, including NID and telecom servers. Despite interdependence-related challenges, the system is expected to improve with user feedback and training.