Published in The Independent on Monday, 7 November 2016
NBR gets Tk 1,727.72cr in first six days of tax fair
Staff Reporter
The National Board of Revenue received Tk 1,727.72 crore in income tax in the first six days of the weeklong national income tax fair as 1,49,994 taxpayers paid income tax with filing tax returns.
On the Sixth day alone, the NBR got Tk 310.59 crore in income tax from 28,863 taxpayers while 1.39 lakh people received services from taxpayers at the country-wide fair venues including under-construction NBR building at Agargoan in the capital yesterday.
A total of 7, 77,194 lakh people received services related to income tax payment from taxpayers while 31,781 obtained online taxpayers identification numbers in six days.
The revenue board also started issuing user ID and passwords for getting access to its newly introduced online income tax returns submission system from Wednesday afternoon at the fair venue. NBR chairman Md Nojibur Rahman inaugurated the service at the e-filing booth at the fair.
The sixth day of the National Tax fair noticed an affluent amount of visitors and taxpayers with public and private service holders gathering in, to get serviced.
Faisal, a consultant works for a private firm told this correspondent that “My job has transferred from Chittagong to Dhaka. Previously, I used to pay taxes in Chittagong and now, I changed my amendment certificate easily and promptly from this fair. They have transferred my file to my zonal area which was really hassle free.”
Numbers of taxpayers have increased in the fair compared to that in the last year. On the fifth day of the tax fair, 1.55 lakh people received services and the growth rate was 42.88 per cent higher than that of the previous year. The number of people receiving services this year is 6, 38,016 lakh and the growth rate is 19.40 per cent higher than the previous year which was 5.34 lakh. This statistics show the eagerness and enthusiasm of people for paying tax.
CPD (Centre for Policy Dialogue), Additional Director, Khondaker Golam Moazzem viewed that the overall branding and awareness of NBR (National Board of Revenue) regarding tax fair have encouraged people to come and participate in this income tax fair.
Research Fellow of CPD Towfiqul Islam Khan told the independent that; “Fair rules and regulations of NBR helped to reduce people’s harassment, which increased people’s transaction benefits and eventually, the participation growth has increased,”
“This year’s tax fair is held in a massive space and that is another reason for people’s participation, enthusiasm and encouragement for paying taxes,” he also added.
Three special booths have been opened in this fair, which comprises; Person with disabilities, large taxpayers unit and senior citizen taxpayers. Yesterday, Tax-fair was held in 62 spots around the country; including, 48 districts and 14 Upazilas among them 6 were mobile.
Tax learning Forum has been introduced to create future taxpayers and acquaint students regarding income tax. 50 students from Dhaka University management Department yesterday visited the tax fair led by 5 teachers.
A venue layout plan is displayed at the entrance of the entire tax fair, so that people can easily find out their own area, circle and zones.