NBR pilots automated chalan to collect tax

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Thursday introduced automated Chalan(a-chalan) system to facilitate the taxpayers and check evasion that often takes place through submission of fake chalan.

It would help simplify the traditional system of submitting treasury chalan, reduce hassles of the taxpayers and ensure timely payment of tax.

NBR chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem and finance secretary Abdur Rouf Talukder jointly inaugurated the system on pilot basis at a virtual programme at Tax Zone-4.

After full-fledged the introduction of the system, the taxpayers will be able to pay tax through using mobile financial services such as bikes, Rocket, Upay etc.

The system has been introduced under the Finance Division's 'strengthening public financial management programme to enable service delivery through implementation of BCS and IBAS plus scheme'.

Under the system, any branches of commercial banks and Bangladesh Bank will be able to receive the tax with treasury chalan.

Currently, only nine branches of the BB and 1,224 branches of Sonali Bank receive the tax paid through treasury chalan.

The automated chalan system will be implemented across the country in three stages. In the first phase, all branches of Sonali, Rupali, Agrani and Janata banks in Dhaka city will introduce the system.

Later, all branches of commercial banks in Dhaka city will come under its purview, followed by all commercial banks across the country will receive the automated chalan.

It is expected to ensure transparency in paying tax to the public exchequer, and provide a real time tax collection data.

Officials said the a-chalan would simplify the process of tax collection.

doulot_akter@yahoo.com