All-clear to collect income tax from pvt varsities

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) has cleared the way for the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to collect income tax from the private universities.

The apex court on Thursday rejected three separate appeal petitions filed by the three private universities challenging a notice issued by the NBR demanding income tax from them.

A seven-member bench of the Appellate Division of the SC headed by Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan passed the order after hearing the appeals filed by University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), North South University (NSU) and Southeast University.

Earlier on April 8 this year, Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division issued a status quo on an action of the NBR for collecting income tax from three private universities.

The Chamber Judge also set April 21 for further hearing on the appeals at its full bench.

The NBR on March 4 issued a notice to the universities asking them to pay income tax following the apex court verdict.

The revenue board issued the notifications following an apex court verdict that on February 27 this year asked the apex authority of tax administration to realise 15 per cent income tax from the private educational institutions including private universities and private medical, dental and engineering colleges.

On that day, the apex court also set aside a High Court verdict that on September 5 in 2016 declared illegal the government decision imposing 15 per cent income tax on private universities and private medical, dental and engineering colleges.

Barrister Omar Sadat who appeared in the court proceedings on behalf of the ULAB told the FE that they filed the petition seeking stay on the NBR notification as the full judgment of the apex court was yet to be released.

However, in the meantime the full judgment has been published. Considering it, the apex court on Thursday rejected the petitions filed by the private universities, said the lawyer.

Senior lawyers AF Hassan Ariff and Fida M Kamal and Barrister Omar Sadat appeared for the private universities while Attorney General AM Amin Uddin represented the government.

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