Published in The Independent on Friday, 3 November 2017
Income tax fair draws huge crowd
The Income Tax Fair -2017, which began across the country, drew a large number of visitors including public and private service holders to get prompt services. The second day of the fair, National Boar of Revenue (NBR) received approximately Tk 543 crore in income tax which is 1.80 per cent or Tk 9.61 crore up from the second day of last year’s fair.
Some 39,351 taxpayers submitted their returns while 1,53,267 people received services from NBR at the country-wide fair venues including the central one at the under-construction NBR building at Agargaon in Dhaka.
Some 1,53,267 people received services related to income tax payment from taxmen at the fair venues including the capital on the second day, 24.26 per cent higher than that of the previous year which was 1,23,348.
Razib, a service holder, works at a private firm, said, “I used to pay taxes in Chittagong. Recently, I was transferred from Chittagong to Dhaka. I changed my amendment certificate easily and promptly at this fair, which was really hassle free.”
On the first day of the fair, a total of 31,041 taxpayers submitted income tax returns throughout the country, 93 per cent higher than that of the same day in the previous year while 79,112 people received services related to income tax payment from taxmen at the fair venues including the capital, 33.43 per cent higher than that of the previous year which was 59,292, said, Abdur Razzaque, Member of Tax Administration and HRM, NBR.
Last year, 16,086 people have submitted their return files on the first day of the tax fair, this year the number was 31,041. This statistics show the eagerness and enthusiasm of people for paying tax, Razzaque said.
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.”
Chairman of NBR Nojibur Rahman said at the inauguration ceremony that they would take steps to provide tax payment pins (coat pins) to the taxpayers to easily recognise the taxpayers side by side tax cards would be provided to the taxpayers at the Fair in Dhaka and in Chittagong through which they would get priority in getting various government services.
This time, the Fair will be held in 167 spots in 103 upazilas up from 86 upazilas last year.
November 7, the National Board of Revenue is scheduled to hold the event for four days in 56 upazilas, for two days in 34 upazilas and for one day in 71 upazilas.
The 8th edition of the annual Income Tax Fair began yesterday in a total of 20 spots including the capital, other seven divisional cities.
The NBR said separate booths would provide tax-related assistance to women, the physically challenged, the elderly and freedom fighters. Booths will also be set up to help taxpayers file returns online.
The week-long fair began on at eight divisional cities in Dhaka, Chittagong, Barisal, Khulna, Rangpur, Sylhet, Rajshahi and Mymensingh, four-day fair at 18 district headquarters and two-day fair at some upazilas.