United News of Bangladesh

The deadline for submitting income tax returns for the 2025–2026 tax year will expire on Tuesday midnight. The National Board of Revenue has made online submission mandatory for most individual taxpayers with a few exceptions. More than 5 million individual taxpayers have already registered on the e-return system while over 4.25 million have submitted their returns online for the current tax year. The deadline for filing returns was extended until March 31, 2026. However, taxpayers who are unable to meet the deadline may apply for an extension by submitting a written request online by midnight. Concerned tax commissioners may grant up to 90 additional days for submission. To simplify the process, the NBR has introduced an online system for applying for time extensions. Taxpayers can log in to the e-return platform and use the “Time Extension” menu to submit their applications quickly and transparently. The revenue authority has urged all taxpayers to file their returns within the stipulated time to avoid penalties or additional tax liabilities.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has introduced an online system allowing individual taxpayers to apply for an extension to submit their income tax returns for the 2025–2026 tax year. The revenue authority has made online submission of income tax returns mandatory for most individual taxpayers, with a few exceptions. According to the NBR, nearly five million individual taxpayers have already registered on its e-Return system, while around 4.1 million have submitted their returns for the current tax year. The deadline for filing returns for individual taxpayers has been extended until 31 March 2026, the NBR said in a press release on Monday. However, taxpayers who submit a written request before the deadline may receive an additional extension of up to 90 days, subject to approval by the respective tax commissioner. To make the extension process easier, faster and more transparent, the NBR has launched a dedicated online facility within its e-Return system. Taxpayers can now log in to the system and apply for additional time through the “Time Extension” menu. The concerned tax commissioner will review the application online and either approve or reject it. If the request is approved, taxpayers will be able to submit their returns within the extended deadline without any penalty or additional tax, the NBR said. However, taxpayers must be registered in the e-Return system and submit the extension request before 31 March 2026 to use the online facility. Those taxpayers for whom online filing is not mandatory may apply for an extension either online or by submitting a written application directly to the relevant tax circle. The NBR has urged all individual taxpayers to submit their income tax returns for the 2025–2026 tax year through the e-Return system by 31 March 2026, or within the additional time approved by the tax commissioner.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has made it mandatory to use data from the ASYCUDA system while assessing income tax in cases involving importers, aiming to enhance transparency and reduce tax evasion. In a directive issued on March 4, the NBR instructed income tax officials under its Income Tax Wing to collect and use authentic information on imported goods and advance income tax paid at the import stage from the ASYCUDA system’s Business Intelligence (BI) server. According to the order, tax officials will have to rely on this information when selecting cases for audit, reopening tax cases under the Income Tax Act, or correcting erroneous tax assessments. The directive also outlines the procedure for using the BI server of the ASYCUDA system. It states that supervisory range officers will obtain the relevant information from the server and provide it in writing to the concerned circle officers responsible for determining tax. The system will enable officials to verify key import-related information of taxpayers, including the quantity of goods imported, the declared import value and the advance income tax paid at the import stage. NBR officials said the measure is expected to ensure greater accuracy in granting advance income tax credit during tax assessment. Under the new arrangement, commissioners and supervisory range officers will be able to log into the BI server from pre-designated IP-bounded computers. After collecting information from the server, range officers will also have to record the data regularly in a specific register. The revenue authority said the initiative will make it easier to verify import-related tax data during the settlement of income tax cases, helping to ensure a transparent and accurate assessment process.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has once again extended the deadline for filing income tax returns for individual taxpayers for 2025–2026 tax year until 31 March, 2026. In an order issued under Section 334 of the Income Tax Act, 2023, the revenue authority said the decision was taken in the public interest. Under the earlier schedule, the deadline for submitting returns was set for 28 February. Officials said the extension is expected to facilitate compliance and ease pressure on taxpayers who may require additional time to finalise their documentation. The NBR urged taxpayers to take advantage of the extended timeline and ensure timely submission of returns within the new deadline to avoid any penalties under the law.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Sunday (January 18, 2026) launched an automated system that allows income tax paid at the import stage to be directly credited to taxpayers’ electronic income tax returns, significantly easing long-standing compliance hassles for importers. The new facility has been introduced through the successful integration of the NBR’s e-return system with ASYCUDA World, the customs clearance platform. From now on, advance income tax paid during import will automatically appear as a credit in the concerned taxpayer’s e-return. Officials said the move has effectively ended years of difficulties faced by importers in adjusting import-stage income tax against their final tax liability. Read More: NBR sees growing use of e-returns by expatriate Bangladeshis At the same time, it has made the process of filing e-returns simpler and more efficient for importing businesses. Under the new system, when an importer enters business income details in the e-return for a particular assessment year, information related to advance income tax paid against each Bill of Entry during that year will be displayed automatically. The credited amount is then deducted from the total payable income tax, enabling the system to determine the final tax payable along with the return. The NBR noted that the initiative is part of its broader effort to digitise tax administration and improve taxpayer services through automation and system integration. The e-return system for the 2025–26 tax year was formally inaugurated on August 4, 2025 by Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed through the website www.etaxnbr.gov.bd. Read More: NBR links ASYCUDA World with BGMEA e-UD system to modernise bond management Since the launch, more than 4.6 million taxpayers have registered on the e-return platform, while around 3.3 million taxpayers have already submitted their income tax returns online. Notably, the NBR said, many individuals for whom e-return filing is not mandatory are also voluntarily submitting their returns through the online system, indicating growing acceptance of digital tax services. The scope of the system has also been expanded to include non-resident Bangladeshis. Expatriate taxpayers can now register and submit their income tax returns online. So far, nearly 4,000 expatriate Bangladeshis have filed their income tax returns for the 2025–26 tax year through the e-return system. According to the NBR, taxpayers are not required to upload any supporting documents or papers while filing returns online. The authority reiterated that its efforts are focused on enabling individual taxpayers to pay taxes and submit returns easily from home, without physical visits to tax offices. The NBR has urged all individual taxpayers to submit their income tax returns online through the e-return system by January 31, 2026. Read more: Mobile phone prices set to fall as NBR slashes import duty

With the deadline for submitting nomination papers for the upcoming national election falling on Monday, nearly 99 percent of aspirants who collected the forms have yet to file them as they are waiting for the last day. “A total of 2,780 nomination papers were collected to contest the election from the country’s 300 constituencies and only 31 papers were submitted till 2:30pm on Sunday,” said Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed on Sunday evening. The deadline for the submission of nomination papers will expire at 5:00pm on Monday (December 29, 2025), said EC officials. Read more: National Election: Only 166 nominations filed out of 3,144 till Sunday; deadline Monday Md Yunus Ali, the returning officer for Dhaka-13 and Dhaka-15 constituencies, said a total of 29 nomination papers were collected in the two constituencies, but only three papers were submitted till Sunday. “Most of the nomination papers will be submitted tomorrow (the last day),” he said. The EC on December 11 last announced the schedule to arrange the 13th parliamentary election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order simultaneously on February 12 next. According to the election schedule, the deadline for the submission of nomination papers is December 29, while the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is January 20. The election campaign will start on January 22 and continue till 48 hours before the balloting period (7:30am on February 10). Submission of Dependents’ Tax Information Optional The Election Commission on Sunday clarified that providing the income tax information of an aspirant's spouse, children and dependents in the nomination form would be considered as optional. The EC issued the clarification in a letter sent to 69 returning officers, including two divisional commissioners, three regional election officers, and 64 district deputy commissioners, hours after a demand for clarification from BNP. “Regarding income tax information in serial 10 of the affidavit: providing the income tax related information of the spouse, children, and dependents mentioned in columns 2, 3, and 4 of the income tax return section shall be considered optional,” the commission said in the letter. Read more: No approval needed for repair, renovation of polling stations: EC The Commission, however, said the statement of the sources of income, assets, and liabilities of fully dependent family members, which are mentioned in the serials 6 and 7 of the affidavit, must be submitted as this requirement is in accordance with the Clause 12(3)(ka)(c) of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972. The clarification came after a three-member delegation of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, met Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Sunday to raise concerns about the provision. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Nazrul Islam Khan said although the Representation of the People Order (RPO) does not mention children, the nomination form requires aspirants to submit income tax details of their children, which has created widespread confusion. “There is a question everywhere because many candidates’ children are not dependent on them. Many are self-earning, some live abroad, and many pay taxes independently. This has created complexity, which is why we wrote to the Election Commission and also discussed the matter today,” he said. Tarique, Ziama in Voter List Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Sunday incorporated BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and his daughter Zaima Rahman in the country’s voter list to be used in the February-12 election. “They (Tarique Rahman and Zaima Rahman) have been included in the voter list that will be used in the February-12 elections,” EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed told UNB on Sunday evening. Earlier in the day, the Commission approved the inclusion of their names in the electoral rolls, a day after Tarique Rahman and his daughter Zaima Rahman completed the necessary process for National Identity Card (NID) registration and voter enlistment. Read more: Providing dependents’ income tax info in nomination form optional: EC They went to the Election Commission’s National Identity office in the city to complete their NID registration and enlist them as a voter. Their biometric data and photographs were taken in the NID office. Besides, the Election Commission asked the Home Ministry to recover illegal arms, prepare level-playing field, provide security to election offices and materials, containing misinformation and disinformation. “In order to conduct the elections in a fair and peaceful manner, it is necessary to recover illegal arms from the electoral area; maintain communal harmony and provide security to minorities; plan for the deployment of law and order forces; formulate an advance budget for the deployment of law and order forces; control illegal infiltrators and prepare a level playing field for the elections; provide security for postal ballot transportation and storage sites; prevent the spread of misinformation and disinformation; and provide clearance and security for foreign observers and journalists on the occasion of their arrival in Bangladesh,” says the letter sent on Saturday. the letter, the EC also drew attention to take necessary measures to ensure security in the transportation, storage and distribution of election materials, take effective measures to ensure the security of the office of the Returning Officer and all field-level election-related departments, and plan to deploy law enforcement forces at polling stations on election day and in the election area a few days before the election to maintain overall peace and order. Besides, the EC also sent letters to the Cabinet Division, the Foreign Ministry, the Local Government Division, the Information and Broadcasting, the Posts and Telecommunications Division and the Cultural Affairs Ministry asking them to take necessary measures on different election activities. Read more: Asif Mahmud picks up nomination paper for Cumilla-3

The interim government of Bangladesh has extended the deadline for submitting income tax returns for individual taxpayers for the second time for the 2025–26 tax year. According to an order issued by the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the return submission deadline has been extended from December 31, 2025 to January 31, 2026. It says the decision was taken in public interest under the powers conferred by Section 334 of the Income Tax Act, 2023, with prior approval from the government. Read more: NBR cuts customs duty on date imports ahead of Ramadan Earlier, the NBR had extended the original deadline once from November 30 to December 31, citing various difficulties faced by taxpayers. The latest extension aims to provide additional time to facilitate wider compliance and ease pressure on taxpayers. The NBR has urged eligible taxpayers to avail themselves of the extended time and submit their returns within the revised deadline to avoid any inconvenience. Read more: NBR extends VAT exemption on Metro Rail services

National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan on Tuesday (December 09, 2025) underscored the urgent need to expand the country’s VAT and income tax base to reduce reliance on import-based revenue, strengthen fiscal stability, and support Bangladesh’s development ambitions. “Development goals and essential public services cannot be delivered unless adequate revenue is mobilised,” he said at a “Meet the Press” event ahead of VAT Day and VAT Week held at the Revenue Building in the capital. He said Bangladesh’s progress and day-to-day administrative functions depend heavily on revenue collected by the state. Bangladesh relied overwhelmingly on import duties in the early years of independence, with nearly 90 percent of revenue collected at the import stage, he said. Read more: NBR to develop automated system linking return submission with banks: Chairman He said such a structure places the same tax burden on the rich and poor alike and is neither sustainable nor equitable. “Over time, VAT and income tax have emerged as the principal pillars of domestic resource mobilisation, with VAT alone contributing 38 percent of total revenue in the last fiscal year.” VAT collections grew by 22 percent in the July–November period, demonstrating significant potential for further expansion, said the NBR cheif. He expressed concern that only about 644,000 entities are registered for VAT, a figure far below the actual number of businesses operating across the country. “The authority aims to bring at least 100,000 new businesses under the VAT system during December.” He reiterated the need to establish a single VAT rate across the board and to enforce a fully functional input credit system at every stage of production and distribution. Read more: NBR uncovers Tk 9 crore revenue evasion by United Tobacco A unified rate, he said, would make automation easier and eliminate distortions that undermine fair competition. Khan highlighted a common misconception that businesses “pay” VAT. He said businesses merely collect VAT on behalf of the government, while the final burden ultimately falls on consumers. Distortions in compliance, he added, create an uneven playing field in the market. To ease compliance for small and cottage businesses, NBR is planning sector-specific VAT systems that will allow users to record receipts and payments and automatically generate VAT returns. Read more: How to Submit Zero Income Tax Return Online in Bangladesh He said NBR will bear all system development and maintenance costs, including hosting and cloud services, to support smaller businesses that cannot afford specialised software or consultants. Khan also emphasised ongoing efforts to modernise VAT and income tax audits. He said various intelligence units including VAT, customs, central, and tax intelligence agencies have strengthened their operations, allowing NBR to recover significant amounts of evaded revenue. Updated figures will be shared soon, he added. Khan acknowledged several challenges affecting revenue collection this year, including weak corporate tax receipts from the banking sector, reduced capital expenditure due to a contractionary budget, and slower implementation of development projects. Major business groups have also faced financial stress, he said. Read more: Railway exempted from submitting proof of income tax return filing Khan said Bangladesh’s tax-GDP ratio remains low, and more research is needed to identify why certain segments of the economy remain untaxed. As the country prepares for LDC graduation, import duties will inevitably decline due to global trade obligations, making a stronger domestic tax base essential, he added. He said the long-delayed, World Bank-funded automation project for NBR will soon begin, and the authority intends to automate all of its internal processes under the initiative. He highlighted the need to better utilise existing automated systems such as ASYCUDA World, which is used globally but has not been fully leveraged in Bangladesh. The NBR chairman also sought for cooperation from businesses and the media to help simplify tax laws, expand the tax base, strengthen compliance, and build a fairer and more efficient revenue system. Read more: LPG operators oppose govt’s VAT hike proposal

Submitting a return on income tax is a legal obligation for every TIN (Tax Identification Number) holder, regardless of taxability. Even individuals with no income or taxable earnings must file returns to inform the government of Bangladesh about their financial status. For those whose income falls within the tax-free limit, submitting this declaration incurs no tax liability. That’s where the return without payments comes in, submitted digitally, making the process easier than ever. Let’s explore how to submit zero income tax return online in Bangladesh seamlessly and effectively. What is a Zero Return? Filing a return without tax payment is commonly known as a “zero return”. It applies to cases where the declared income falls within the tax-free threshold. In such instances, exemptions, rebates, or advance tax payments may reduce the taxable amount to zero. Even when no tax is due, filing a return without tax payment is mandatory to declare income, expenses, assets, and liabilities, ensuring compliance and accurate record-keeping. Who is Eligible for Zero Return Filing? TIN-holding citizens whose annual income falls within the tax-free limit are eligible to file a zero return. The income thresholds per annum (in a fiscal year) are as follows: - Women and individuals aged 65 or above: Up to BDT 4,00,000- Third gender and persons with disabilities: Less than BDT 4,75,000- Gazetted war-wounded freedom fighters: Up to BDT 5,00,000- All other individuals: Not exceeding BDT 3,50,000. Read more: e-TIN: Online registration process in Bangladesh Online Method of Filing Zero-Income Tax Return General Method To begin the process, first log in to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) e-return platform (https://etaxnbr.gov.bd/#/auth/sign-in). Before proceeding, ensure all relevant documents related to income, expenditure, debts, and assets are prepared. This will not only ensure the accuracy of the information but also expedite the entire process. According to the traditional rules of digital services, zero returns can be filed either as a single-page or multiple-page return, depending on the level of detail required. In the case of a single-page return, all income, expenditure, and assets must be recorded briefly. This format does not automatically calculate values based on the provided information, so all details must be entered manually. In the case of taxable income, the specific tax amount must also be entered manually. Generally, the tax payable is determined based on total income, and tax rebates are deducted. When the tax payable for the return is zero, no further calculations are necessary, and the tax payable remains zero. For detailed returns, calculations are automatically determined according to the information provided. Read more: How to submit income tax returns online The first question on the form is crucial, as it determines whether taxable income exists. Based on the answer, relevant sections for providing additional details will either be enabled or disabled. If there is no income, select the tab ‘No’, which will deactivate all income heads. If the income amount is not taxable or subject to exemptions or rebates, a return without payments is applicable. In that case, select ‘Yes’. Other options on the Assessment page should be filled out in the same manner as for any return. After clicking the tab ‘Save and Continue’, an additional Information page will appear. If ‘No’ was selected for taxable income, the 'No' option will be automatically specified in the rebate section. As a result, several options for minimum tax calculation will not appear. Only shareholders of a company and IT10B categories will be listed. Appropriate information for each of these categories must be provided. For individuals with assets and debts, submitting IT10B is required. After completing this section, click the tab ‘Save and Continue’. The expense calculation page will then appear, along with additional tabs on the right side: Tax and Payment, and Return Review. If IT10B was kept active on the previous page, Assets and Liabilities will be listed as a new tab. After filling out the entire form, click ‘Proceed to Online Return’. Next, review the page, and select the tab ‘Submit Return’. Now, the process will be completed. Read more: How to Deactivate TIN in Bangladesh: A Comprehensive Guide How to Submit Zero Return in Sanchayapatra To begin the process, select the detailed return option. When asked whether there is taxable income, choose ‘Yes’. This will activate the ‘Income from Financial Assets’ option under ‘Heads of Income’, which should then be selected. Consequently, the rebate option will become active on the subsequent ‘Additional Information’ page. To claim the rebate, choose ‘Yes’ in this section. Additionally, the IT10B category should remain active. On the ‘Income’ page, other general tabs like ‘Expenditure’ and ‘Rebate’ will be visible. The main task on this page is to provide information related to the profit from the Sanchayapatra (savings certificate). On the ‘Tax Rebate’ page, select ‘Approved Savings Certificate’ under the Investment category and enter the savings certificate details. The rebate determined for the savings certificate investment will automatically display. The maximum rebate for savings certificates is BDT 500,000, even if the investment exceeds this amount. On the following page, the expense calculation will be displayed. Here, the Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) from the profit earned on the savings certificates should be entered. The total TDS must be placed in the ‘Payment of Tax at Source’ box. This amount includes the quantity that was earlier entered on the savings certificates under the ‘Income’ page. Read more: How to Buy Sanchayapatra in Bangladesh: A Beginner's Guide Since the IT10B category remains active, the ‘Assets and Liabilities’ section will appear as usual. In this section, the ‘Financial Assets’ option will be available, where the Sanchayapatra information must be entered again. Next, provide the source amount of funds used for purchasing all assets, including the savings certificates. To ensure accurate calculations, the amounts for ‘Fund Outflow’ and ‘Source of Funds’ should match. After completing this, click on the tab ‘Save and Continue’ to move to the ‘Tax and Payment’ page, where the final tax payable will be automatically calculated. To verify the tax deducted at source, answer ‘Yes’ to the question regarding whether tax has been paid at source during the current financial year. Then, by selecting ‘Yes’ for the ‘Tax Payment Update Status’ option, the ledger page will appear. From the left-hand menu, navigate to ‘Savings Certificate’ under ‘Claim Source Tax’. On this page, re-enter the Sanchayapatra details, including the TDS. After saving, this information will appear below in the at-a-glance TDS list. Next, go to ‘Tax Payment Status’ at the bottom of the left-hand menu, where the updated source tax status will be visible. Click on ‘Go to e-Return’ at the bottom right to return to the previous ‘Tax and Payment’ page. At this point, the final tax payable section will show as zero. After confirming that all information is correct, click on the tab ‘Proceed to Online Return’. The entire return will be displayed on the next page. Review all information again, then select ‘Submit Return’ to complete the process. Summing Up The process of submitting Zero Income Tax Return Online in Bangladesh begins with preparation – gathering the necessary documents makes the process flawless and faster. Every detail must be consistent to avoid errors. Tax rebates, exemptions, and advance tax payments must be updated to ensure the final payment is generated accurately. Since all TDS and rebates are stored in the user’s account, adjusting calculations with previous data becomes hassle-free. Read more: Sanchayapatra at Maturity: Encashment or Renewal of Bangladesh’s National Savings Certificate

Encouraging people to submit e-return and pay income tax online, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Monday said tax paid by the people is the main driver of the country's economy. “I wish, your experiences of submitting income tax return become smooth and hassle-free from now on,” he said in a message. The chief adviser also urged all to show their relatives, neighbours and friends how they too can submit their income tax online. Chief Adviser expected to join COP29 Summit in Azerbaijan next month Acknowledging that people face various hassles to pay taxes, he urged everyone to submit their e-return and pay income tax online, according to the video message shared by the Chief Adviser's Press Wing. "I request the youths to help the taxpayers to this end. Preparation of becoming future entrepreneurs can start from here. We are taking preparations to collect all taxes online gradually," he said. From now, the chief adviser said, there is no need to stand in long queues at the banks to pay income tax or go to tax offices to submit income tax return. "Submit income tax return from your home....this measure has been taken," Prof Yunus said. Submitting e-return of income tax for all government officials of Dhaka, Narayanganj and Gazipur cities, and officials and employees of all scheduled banks, mobile phone operators and multinational companies has been made mandatory now, he said. Prof Yunus also urged the rest of the eligible people of the country to submit e-return and pay income tax online. He also encouraged competition among organisations and firms in submitting e-return of their officials at district and city levels for winning the state awards.