A high-level advisory panel has suggested formation of a commission for the National Board of Revenue to tighten tax administration and boost revenue collection based on sound policies.

The proposed Revenue Commission will work to formulate revenue policies in light of the government's overall development policy strategy, proposals and suggestions from stakeholders, and specific policies formulated based on international best practices, as per the interim proposal that was submitted recently.

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It will have a permanent advisory council comprising appropriate representatives of the Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Commerce, Finance Department, Bangladesh Bank, Tariff Commission, eminent economists, persons with experience in tax and fiscal matters, representatives of business organisations, and representatives of think tanks and civil society.

The proposals have been made in a preliminary report by a five-member advisory committee the interim government formed in October last year to initiate positive reforms in the NBR.

The advisory committee comprises NBR's ex-chairmen Muhammad Abdul Mazid and Dr Nasiruddin Ahmed and three former members -M Delowar Hossain, Farid Uddin and Aminur Rahman.

The advisory committee has been tasked to make suggestions on fiscal policy reforms, revenue administration reforms, assess the institutional capacity of the National Board of Revenue and provide recommendations for modernisation, advise on formulation of institutional frameworks and policies for integrity and good governance, advise on citizen communication and stakeholder engagement activities and any other policy advice related to revenue reforms.

 The interim report said that skilled and dedicated officers with sufficient knowledge and experience in tax revenue policy and tax revenue management from among the officers in the Income Tax, Customs and VAT cadres will be appointed by the government as Secretary/Senior Secretary of the Revenue Commission on the basis of specific policies.

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Skilled and dedicated officers with knowledge and experience in formulating and implementing the revenue policy of the National Board of Revenue i.e. the Revenue Service will be appointed to this office for a fixed term on the basis of specific policies as per the needs of the organisational structure of the Revenue Commission.

This council will provide regular advice to the Revenue Commission on the determination of customs and tax policies on a minimum quarterly basis in the light of the policies formulated in consultation with stakeholders and international best practices.

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The Customs and VAT Appellate Tribunal and the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal will be vested in the reconstituted Revenue Commission.

It would be reasonable for the location of the reconstituted Revenue Commission to be outside the Secretariat and outside the Revenue Building to facilitate the travel and communication of stakeholders (including the Appellate Court) in accessing tax policy services.