Taxpayers filling in their tax return forms at the National Income Tax Fair 2015 at Officers\' Club in the capital on Wednesday. — FE Photo
Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu urged the tax authority to simplify the process of filling in tax-return forms and their submission in a bid to encourage more people to pay tax.
Many of the people having taxable income avoid paying tax fearing harassment, he added.
The industries minister also urged the tax authority to address the fear-factor and curb corruption so that the number of taxpayers increases.
He made the call at the inauguration ceremony of the week-long tax fair that began on the Officers Club premises in the city Wednesday as in seven other divisional cities.
The fairs will run until September 22 next.
Speaking on the occasion, NBR Chairman Nojibur Rahman sought cooperation of all stakeholders to make the tax fair a success.
He also sought cooperation of the ministry of industries to recognise top taxpayers as Commercially Important Persons (CIPs) following recommendation of businesses.
Income tax administration member Abdur Razzaque also was present at the inauguration ceremony.
For the first time, two-day tax fairs will be held in 29 upazilas. Besides, day-long mobile tax fairs have also been organised in 57 upazilas.
The tax fair in the city has separate booths for taxpayers of the categories like customs, Value Added Tax, savings certificates, freedom fighters, senior citizens, women and physically-challenged persons. There are about 56 help desks, 41 desks for receiving income tax returns, about 10 desks for e-TIN and 10 booths for other services.
There are four booths of Sonali bank and two of Janata Bank apart from one first aid service booth and one information and media booth. There are four other booths for photocopies.
On the first day, there was a heavy rush of visitors at the fair.
On the first day, about 14,998 taxpayers submitted their tax returns involving Tk 1.53 billion (153 crore) in income tax. Some 2,705 people obtained fresh online Taxpayer's Identification Numbers (e-TINs) while about 827 re-registered their TINs.
A total of 57,047 people obtained services from the fairs across the country on the day.
Meanwhile, weeklong income tax fair starts in Ctg
According to Our Correspondent in Chittagong, Mayor of Chittagong City Corporation AJM Nasir Uddin inaugurated the tax fair on the ground near the CGO Building No. 2 at Agrabad in the city on the day.
IT Appellate Commissioner Kazi Imdadul Haque presided over the inaugural function.
NBR member Farid Uddin, Income Tax commissioners Apurba Kanti Das, Pradyut Kumar Sarkar, Nazrul Islam among others spoke on the occasion.
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