Stop harassment by tax officials
Businesses yesterday reiterated their demand for an end to harassment by revenue officials during tax collection.
They said they want to pay tax in a trouble-free environment, without being forced to bribe tax officials.
“A few days ago, a tax official seized documents from a shop-owner in the city's Bijoy Nagar area without showing any official order,” said SA Quader Keron, chairman of Bangladesh Shop Owners Association.
This was just an example from a number of such incidents, he said. “Not only that, we have to pay Tk 500 to Tk 1,000 while getting our VAT chalan attested by tax officials. We don't want to pay bribes anymore,” he said.
Keron made the comments at a dialogue between the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), organised by the tax authority at the auditorium of the Institute of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh.
This was the second partnership dialogue; the first one was on November 9, during which the businesses made the same complaint.
Representatives of businesses from a wide range of sectors shared their views and experiences on dealing with NBR officials.
FBCCI President Abdul Matlub Ahmad and three members of the revenue authority were present at the programme chaired by NBR Chairman Md Nojibur Rahman.
Ahmad said they do not want to spend Tk 3 to pay Tk 1 in tax. “Please stop the harassment, and also break the link between NBR officials and dishonest businesspeople,” he said.
He also suggested the government widen the tax net instead of increasing the rate on existing taxpayers. “Without widening the tax net, it is not possible for the government to achieve the target of Tk 176,000-crore revenue collection in this fiscal year.”
“Although the NBR chairman made a commitment to check harassment, we have not seen any developments yet,” FBCCI Director Abu Motaleb said, referring to the first dialogue.
President of Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Jashim Uddin, suggested the revenue board work together with businesses to solve the problems tied to tax.
NBR Chairman Rahman said time is valuable for them. To achieve the Tk 176,000-crore revenue target, the authority will have to collect revenue worth Tk 483 crore a day and around Tk 20 crore an hour, he said.
“So, let us work together to achieve the target,” he said, adding that the complaints and allegations have declined after the first partnership meeting.
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