United News of Bangladesh

The government plans to bring several business sectors including grocery shops and beauty parlours under the Value Added Tax (VAT) net in the 2026–27 fiscal year, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury told Parliament on Wednesday. The minister disclosed the plan while responding to a tabled question from reserved-seat lawmaker Selina Sultana. The  finance minister said  the sectors being considered for inclusion in the VAT framework include garment and clothing retailers, confectionery businesses, cosmetics shops, sellers of plastic and ceramic household products, footwear outlets, hardware stores, decorators, and retailers of mobile phones, air conditioners, refrigerators, ovens and other electronic goods. The proposed expansion of the VAT net would also cover paint and hardware businesses, sanitary ware and fittings shops, tile retailers, corrugated sheet outlets, rod and cement traders, furniture businesses, sweetmeat shops and restaurants. The move is part of the government's broader efforts to widen the tax base and enhance domestic revenue mobilisation. The minister also informed Parliament that the government collected Tk 141,586 crore in VAT revenue during the 2024–25 fiscal year.