NBR nets in 70pc new taxpayers from businesses

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has found that about 70 per cent of its surveyed new taxpayers are from businesses that were operating without Taxpayers Identification Number (TIN).

In an external survey across the country, the Board has found some 1,09,865 taxpayers from businesses out of its total surveyed 1,58,338 new taxpayers.

The findings were revealed in a statement of the NBR which compiled results of last one year's survey across the country.

The survey team under the NBR has found that some 41,526 or 26.22 per cent of its surveyed people are household owners.

However, the Board missed its target for a total of 2,57,000 new taxpayers until December 2013 due to volatile political situation.

On failure of achieving the target, the Board issued letters to its field offices seeking clarifications. It also instructed to intensify their efforts on finding out new taxpayers.

The NBR also sent letters of appreciation to the tax offices which achieved their respective targets amid unfavourable political situation.

The NBR data said the survey teams were able to net around 61 per cent of its target for new taxpayers.

Of the new taxpayers, the tax offices opened tax files of 67,155 who will submit tax returns from the upcoming fiscal year.

Of the new tax files, some 74.27 per cent of taxpayers are businessmen while 21.55 per cent household owners.

The Board also collected Tk 17 million income tax from 6,731 taxpayers through spot assessment, a part of the external survey.  A senior NBR official said the Board has instructed the tax zones to issue online TINs urgently to the surveyed taxpayers.

The NBR is monitoring inclusion of the new taxpayers on existing tax base as it found new taxpayers' surveys earlier failed to increase the number of taxpayers due to lack of constant monitoring, he said.

The number of taxpayers is increasing steadily although the NBR is carrying out the survey every year, he added.    

The current external survey has focused on both finding out new taxpayers and ensuring opening of their tax files so that taxmen can communicate with them further.