The National Board of Revenue (NBR) will observe a tax week from November 24 to November 30 with the objective of providing services to individual income taxpayers for submitting their tax returns within the deadline.
The NBR expects some 1.5 million tax returns this year from individual taxpayers, up by 0.3 million than those of the previous year.
According to tax commissioners, most salaried taxpayers have already submitted their returns while many businessmen are yet to do the same.
However, the NBR has not yet centrally compiled the data concerning the individual tax returns submitted across the country. Â
The tax authority expects higher returns within the deadline this year as there is no provision of extension for tax return submission, in general, in the income tax law. Individual taxpayers can seek time extension on case-to-case basis upon payment of an additional penalty. Â
The tax week will be inaugurated on November 24.
The NBR will hand over tax cards at the national level to some 141 taxpayers on that day. Also district-level taxpayers will receive awards under highest, long-term payment of tax, women and young taxpayers below 40 years category.
 "All the 649 tax circles under 33 income tax zones will observe the tax week in their respective premises in a festive mood like tax fair," said NBR member income tax administration and human resource development Abdur Razzaque.
Taxpayers will get special assistance to fill up and submit their tax returns under the respective tax zones, he said.
"Booths of the tax circles will be available in an open space in front of the circle offices in the city. But at upazila level, the taxpayers services will be provided inside tax offices due to inadequate space," he added.
The NBR will reward taxpayers at national and district levels for their contribution to the public exchequer, he added.
On the first day of inauguration of the tax week, companies, individuals and 'taxpayers other than companies' will be honoured with tax cards as per the latest amended tax card policy, issued on November 8, 2016.
Until fiscal year (FY) 2015-16, the NBR rewarded 10 individuals and 10 companies with tax cards at the national level for highest payment of tax.
Of 141 taxpayers, some 76 tax cards will be handed over to individuals, 53 for companies and 12 for others.
As per tax card policy, the number will remain unchanged for next three years. However, the NBR can increase the number of tax cards after that time with the approval of the finance minister.
Individual taxpayers are categorised under 18 divisions including injured freedom fighters, senior citizens, women and young taxpayers below 40 years.
On the basis of income sources and profession, businessmen, journalists, salaried persons, doctors, lawyers, engineers, architect, accountants, new taxpayers, payers, actor/actress and singers will receive tax cards.
Some 53 companies will receive tax cards under 14 categories. The companies include banks, non-banking, telecommunication, engineering, food and beverage, energy, jute, spinning and textile, pharmaceuticals and chemical, print and electronic media, real estate, readymade garments and leather.
Other categories like farms, local authorities and individual institutions will receive tax card.
To be eligible for receiving tax card, a taxpayer must be a regular taxpayer for the last five tax years.
doulot_akter@yahoo.com
NBR holds tax week from Nov 24 to Nov 30
Doulot Akter Mala | Published: November 20, 2016 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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