The government will bring three-wheeler vehicles, including Compressed natural gas (CNG)-run auto-rickshaws, under its tax net in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year (FY), 2018-19.
"We will bring the three-wheelers under tax net from the next budget. We will also make trade license and Electronic Tax Identity Number (E-TIN) compulsory for the owners of these vehicles," Chairman of National Board of Revenue (NBR) Md Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told a pre-budget discussion at his office on Thursday.
He said he will sit with the people involved with the transport sector to discuss how to extract more tax from the sector.
In the meeting, motorcycle traders requested the government to extend the period of VAT facility for the sector. At present the country is exporting motorcycles to Nepal.
The NBR chairman said the government will consider providing incentives for motorcycle export.
President of Four Stroke CNG Auto Rickshaw and Three Wheelers Motorbike Owners' Association of Bangladesh Md Aslam Ali suggested that CNG-run vehicles should offer apps-based services to the passengers to ensure discipline in the sector. He said around 35,000 three-wheeler scooters and around 20,000 CNG-run three-wheelers are now plying the roads.
"The CNG owners must have membership certificate from the association," he added.
President of Bangladesh Automobile Workshop Owners Association Arifur Rahman demanded reduction of import duty on trucks and trailers from the existing 25 per cent.
Leaders of Bangladesh Sarak Pariban Malik Samity (Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association) and Bangladesh Motor Parts and Tyre Tube Traders Association, among others, were present in the meeting.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com