NBR to open email accounts to hear taxpayers' complaints

The National Board of Revenue plans to open three email accounts to receive complaints about harassment faced by the taxpayers at the field level.

The taxpayers will be able to give suggestions and seek solutions from the authority for tax, VAT and customs related problems through the accounts, NBR Chairman Md Nojibur Rahman said yesterday.

“Instant solution will be provided,” he said at a programme organised by the Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate, Dhaka (North) in the capital.

The email accounts are [email protected], [email protected], [email protected].

The event was organised to make businesses aware of the VAT and Supplementary Duty Act 2012 and boost compliance and tax payment.

He said internal revenue collection will rise because of the introduction of a modern and automated VAT system.

The new VAT law will put an end to the harassment and will benefit businesses, he said.

At the programme, businesses once again demanded the value added tax (VAT) should be reduced to 7 percent from the existing 15 percent to ease the pressure on traders and consumers.

Businesses want implementation of the VAT online system under the new law, said Abdul Matlub Ahmad, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

The existing 15 percent VAT is high and the VAT at a rate of 7 percent will definitely encourage compliance, he said.

He also urged the authorities to open a hotline to stop harassment by the field level revenue officials.

The government wants to implement the VAT and Supplementary Duty Act 2012 from the first day of July through the automation of the VAT system.

The law envisages a flat 15 percent VAT rate instead of various types of rates that are now in effect.

The FBCCI in February last year also demanded a cut in the VAT rate to 7 percent once the VAT system goes online under the new law.

The apex trade body wanted various rates of the indirect tax to continue in line with the existing system.