NBR to meet tax, VAT payers every month

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FE Report
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) will meet with income tax and VAT payers every month to listen to their complaints.
The NBR will hold 'meet the taxpayers' programme from next month when top revenue bosses will share experience with the taxpayers.
"All commissioners of the tax offices will hold the meeting in the second week of every month with their respective taxpayers," said NBR chairman Dr. Nasiruddin Ahmed in a press briefing Tuesday.
The board will issue an order and give some instructions to its officials for the meeting, he said.
The NBR will also start spot assessment from November 1 in Chittagong, he said.
"Both urban and Upazila level taxpayers will get the facilities of spot assessment. They will get TIN numbers and submit tax returns on the spot without hassle," said Basir Uddin Ahmed, member income tax administration and monitoring.
The income tax team will meet taxpayers with one-page tax return. There will be help desk for assisting them in filling up the return, he said.
In Dhaka, the spot assessment will be conducted in the areas, including Karwan Bazar and Islampur, where revenue potentials still remain untapped, he added.
The individuals, who will come under tax net through spot assessment, will not have to submit any wealth statement for the first two years.
The NBR wants to remove the fear factor and ensure taxpayers friendly environment, he said.
In the press briefing, the revenue board has warned the tax evaders and fake TIN holders of the stern action that will be taken against them.
"Taxpayers, who have not filed tax returns despite having TIN, will come under scanner of tax department," said Aminur Rahman, who heads the tax policy wing.
Number of TIN holders is more than 2.7 million, but only short of 1.0 million submit tax returns every year.
NBR member Basir Uddin said around 0.6 million TIN holders remain unaccounted for.
The income tax department has instructed the tax offices to find out those who are not submitting returns despite having TIN, he said adding that it's a regular task of income tax wing.
In the press briefing, the NBR chief has commended the outstanding performances of the board in revenue collection in the first three months of current fiscal.
"The NBR has achieved 25 per cent growth in revenue collection during July-September period," the NBR chairman said.
It has achieved 109.87 per cent of its target in the first quarter, he said.