National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan on Sunday directed officials concerned to promote the e-return system, noting that it is easy, safe, and environmentally friendly.
"It saves time and cost," he said while talking to told reporters after launching the new e-Return Service Centre at the NBR Bhaban in Agargaon.
The NBR Chairman encouraged taxpayers to file online for convenience.
The newly launched e-Return Service Centre allows taxpayers to access services without visiting tax offices and print TIN certificates. It’s a user-friendly system, Rahman said, expressing surprise that the number of e-returns hadn't reached one crore in the four years since the service was launched in 2021.
He reiterated its commitment to supporting the government's efforts in building a discrimination and corruption-free Bangladesh, noting that it is determined to achieve this goal in collaboration with all stakeholders.
"We are committed to creating a discrimination and corruption-free Bangladesh, and the NBR is pledged to contribute in this regard," he said.
Rahman, along with Michal Krejza, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Bangladesh, inaugurated the center.
When asked about the timeline for achieving these goals, Rahman admitted it was difficult to predict. "We are fine-tuning everything gradually," he said.
Regarding taxpayers who had legalised undisclosed money before the provision allowing it was repealed, Rahman assured that they would be protected under the law. "As long as the law was in force, the facility was legal," he added.
Rahman urged taxpayers to register their mobile phone SIMs biometrically and file their tax returns online for greater ease. He noted that out of the country’s 1.04 crore taxpayers, around 44 lakh regularly submit returns. “We want to increase this number, and filing online will make it easier for them,” he said.
He encouraged taxpayers to share any issues they face with the online system so the NBR can address them promptly.
On the matter of tax evasion, Rahman said the NBR focuses on cases where they receive specific data or intelligence. "It’s not possible to deal with everything at once. We prioritize cases with concrete information and continue efforts, especially with corporate taxpayers," he said.
Responding to the NBR's image crisis regarding tax file audits, Rahman said they plan to digitize the selection process to ensure objectivity and reduce human intervention. "We often receive objections from taxpayers about this process. We want to move toward a digitized system to avoid any concerns," he noted.
The NBR is also reviewing tariffs on various commodities, which will be addressed during the budget process. Rahman stressed that reforms in the revenue sector would be gradual rather than implemented all at once.
On the existing tax-free income ceiling, Rahman cautioned that raising it would remove a significant portion of taxpayers from the net. "Only 5.2 percent of the population pays taxes here, compared to 23 percent in India. If we reduce this number further, tax collection will decline," he explained.
Rahman also highlighted the government's dedication to reducing the backlog of tax-related cases, mentioning the formation of a new High Court bench and the success of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) initiatives.