63pc traders, professionals in old Dhaka do not have TINs

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Doulot Akter Mala
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has found 63 per cent businesses and professionals without Taxpayer's Identification Number (TIN) in the old part of the city during the ongoing survey.
Some 20 teams have been conducting the survey in the Dhaka city since July 5 last.
Sources have termed the situation as pitiable saying a culture of tax payment is yet to develop in the businesses in the old part although it is considered a business hub of the city.
The survey team Saturday visited business houses in the Islampur area of the city.
The NBR is conducting the survey across the country aiming to bring more individuals and organisations under tax net.
The board aims to bring some 164,000 new taxpayers, mainly businessmen and professionals, under the tax net during July-December period this year.
Talking to the FE, NBR Chairman Badiur Rahman said: "We will conduct survey at district and Upazila level aiming to make people aware about the necessity to pay tax."
But he said: "The board is finding it difficult to visit door to door due to manpower shortage."
While contacted, commissioner of the central tax survey zone Khorshed Alam said: "We have found 55 per cent businesses, on an average, without TIN in the Dhaka city."
The survey team found 13,654 new taxpayers out of 23,788 businesses and professionals until July 12.
It found 35 per cent shops in New Market and 60 per cent in Gausia market in the city without TIN during a drive in the past few days.
"Our vision is to develop tax culture among the business houses without creating any panic," Alam said.
The NBR has launched the survey in all city corporations of the country as well as in Rangpur municipality to net new taxpayers.
The NBR aims to get 72,000 new taxpayers in Dhaka city and 92,000 in other city corporations and Rangpur municipality. Those new taxpayers will have to pay tax in the current fiscal.
However, there are reports of forgery of TIN certificates, which are being collected to deceive the investigating NBR team.
A section of businesses are spending Tk 5000 to Tk 50,000, for obtaining a TIN certificate from unscrupulous people.
Such corruption has surfaced after the taxmen have been asked not to harass anyone who can produce the TIN certificate, sources said.
The NBR issues the TIN certificate free of cost.
While asked, NBR chairman Badiur Rahman said: "If our intelligence team finds such corruption we will take drastic action against those involved."
The NBR has about 2.1 million TIN, but the number of tax return filed is only 1.1 million, he added.
So, it is clear that there is existence of some fake TIN certificate or some persons having TIN certificate without filing tax returns, he said.
"It will be a matter of concern for the board if such reports are correct," he said.
The NBR has assigned 11 teams in Chittagong, three in Rajshahi, five in Khulna, and three teams each in Barisal, Sylhet and Rangpur.
A total of 48 teams with 104 tax inspectors has been conducting the survey.