Simplification of income tax

I am a regular tax payer and file income tax return regularly. I have been receiving notices at regular intervals from the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Income Taxes referring to various clauses, and ultimately I had to settle the issue through an income tax lawyer. The deputy commissioner's office did not believe my house rent income of Tk 20,000 per month though this rent was Tk 4,500 per month in 1989. Crusade against corruption is often preached by top politicians in power but the reality is too different.

However tax officials did not spare by taking graft but they imposed additional income tax based on their assessment though I showed them related documents in support of my income. I am a tax payer since 1963, and try to remain sincere and transparent while declaring my income and make assessment of taxes. But I cannot impress the tax officials who appear to be too much greedy or corrupt. Poor taxpayers are helpless to them. I would feel that our finance minister may simplify income tax payment procedure for the tax payers whose income is solely on house rent and savings certificates only; by allowing them to pay previous year's assessed income tax adding our growth rate assessed by WB, ADB and the government of Bangladesh. This will save many tax payers from unnecessary harassments by the income tax officials.

Mahmud Ali

New Eskaton, Dhaka