Booths for tax return submission from Nov 1
Instead of organising the customary annual fair, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for a second time in a row will open booths at its field offices to help citizens fill out and submit tax returns.
The alternative service delivery mechanism is aimed at avoiding crowds usually drawn to fairs, effectively addressing health safety concerns.
The booths will remain open for a month until November 30, the deadline for furnishing income tax returns without penalty.
Income tax returns will be received uninterruptedly during office hours in 649 circles under 31 tax regions across the country in November, said NBR Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem at the NBR headquarters in Dhaka.
As had been in the past, taxpayers will instantly get acknowledgement receipts of submissions.
Taxpayers will also get a scope to register, and re-register if there are mistakes to correct, for a taxpayer identification number (TIN) electronically from the service booths.
The website of each tax region has the necessary information, including various forms related to income tax, circulars and guidelines, for filing returns.
There will be a return acceptance booth and help desk for government officials at Bangladesh Secretariat and Officers' Club Dhaka from November 1 to November 14.
Besides, all the information services on return and tax for members of the armed forces will be provided for two days on November 9 and November 10 at Sena Malancha in Dhaka Cantonment.
Tax cards will be issued to 141 of the highest taxpayers on November 24 during the month.
At the district and city corporation level, 666 such taxpayers will be provided crests, recognitions and honorary certificates by the NBR.
The NBR chairman informed that National Income Tax Day would be celebrated on November 30.
Responding to a question, the chairman said fiscal 2020-21 saw 13 lakh new e-TIN holders, a 26 per cent year-on-year increase. At present, there are 68 lakh citizens with e-TIN.
"We are confident that we will be able to take the tax net to the desired level," he said, hoping to launch a comprehensive tax payment service online.
Around 18 lakh people have registered for e-TIN in the past 14 months, according to the latest data of central authority for tax administration in Bangladesh.
According to the NBR, the number of new e-TIN holders increased by 5 lakh since last July.
Although the number of e-TIN holders has increased across the country, the number of tax return submissions has not increased at the same ratio, said NBR chairman said.
In addition, 22 lakh out of 50 lakh e-TIN holders submitted returns last year, according to the NBR.