Body formed to simplify existing tax return forms

In a bid to bring more individuals under tax net, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has formed a three-member committee to simplify the existing tax return forms.
The committee, headed by Ali Ahmed, member (Income Tax) of NBR, has already been asked to submit its recommendation report on how the prescribed form could be more simplified.
The NBR has also established a 'help desk' to stop the much-talked-about hassles to the taxpayers. This desk will also work on providing information to the taxpayers about an easier way of paying tax to the national exchequer.
"At first, it is very important to restore taxpayers' confidence before demanding tax from them,” said NBR Chairman Mohammad Abdul Mazid while talking to The Daily Star yesterday.
He said that's why the NBR is taking such a measure so that the people feel encouraged to pay tax willingly.
According to the NBR sources, the upcoming tax return forms will be designed in a way that taxpayers need not to seek any support of lawyers or tax officials.
Under the tax return simplification process, the NBR will also publish a guideline by which any taxpayer can make self-assessment and be directed to fill up the forms correctly.
Although such forms were simplified in the recent past, taxpayers lodged huge complaints with the board describing those as very complex.
Also, allegations are there that the tax professionals often misguide the honest taxpayers when their help was sought in paying genuine taxes.
The help desk that was set up at the NBR office yesterday will be run by a second secretary level official. The payers of customs, VAT (Value added tax) and income tax will get any kind of information from the desk.