Taxpayers may be able to submit tax returns online from next financial year as the National Board of Revenue (NBR) would now take until then to have the IT systems in place.
Meanwhile, a foreign firm has been selected to install the systems for online tax-return submission under a government plan for introducing integrated tax administration, meant for relieving taxpayers of nagging hassles.
Officials said the board recently completed the groundwork for the purpose, including selection of the firm through international tender.
The cabinet purchase committee recently gave its consent to awarding the contract for e-filing system to the Vietnam-based firm, FPT Information System Cooperation.
The company would set up the facilities for an integrated tax administration to the benefit of both taxpayers and taxmen. The automated system of return filing is expected to ensure transparent financial transactions in tax payments.
Talking to the FE Thursday, NBR chairman Ghulam Hussain said he had given instruction for starting off the process within this month.
"We hope taxpayers will be able to submit tax returns online from next year," he added.
Once the system is introduced, taxpayers will not have to visit tax offices physically for submission of tax returns. They can submit tax returns with necessary documents from anywhere, without having to face any hassle.
In 2009, the NBR had tried to introduce the online tax-return-filing system for large taxpayers. But that bid had fizzled out. Various complexities are cited as the cause of the setback.
Following the failure, the government has made a fresh move to launch the e-filing system under a project titled 'Strengthening Governance Management Project (SGMP)'. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is bankrolling the bid.
"The purchase committee gave its consent to awarding the contract to the company. The NBR selected the company through inviting international tender, following all due procedures," said a senior tax official. The NBR selected the company for the lowest-quoted bid, worth US$ 6.6 million, he added.
SAP German and Thakral Information Systems will support the Vietnamese company in installing the system.
"The NBR would utilise the advanced infrastructure of the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) for e-filing system. The server for e-filing would be set up in the building having necessary facilities," he added.
Earlier, the NBR had planned to establish Central Processing Center (CPC) in the revenue-board building.
"We have found that the existing infrastructure of the revenue-board building would require a huge amount of investment to set up a CPC. It would not be feasible for the government," the official said.
Following the inconvenience, the revenue board decided to choose the BCC as host-partner to save time and cost for implementing the system, he added.
There will be security server in the BCC to protect privacy of taxpayers' information, the official said.
"There would be a PIN code for the taxpayer so that they can see their previous files for reference. Also, Deputy Commissioner of Taxes will also have a PIN code to enter in the tax-file of taxpayers," he said.
Tax-files available in 649 tax circles across the country will be digitized under the project. However, the taxmen would also accept the manual tax returns from the taxpayers if anyone should be unable or unwilling to submit online tax returns.
"The system will find out anomalies in the tax files and select those automatically. Allegations in the name of auditing of tax files will be minimized with the process in place," the tax official said.
There will be interconnectivity with the other two wings-customs and VAT--in the integrated tax administration, he added.
Moreover, service-providing entities like Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms, and Bangladesh Bank would be interconnected with the server to help taxmen get access to information.
The official said the tax authority would also try to set up systems to access the inter-banking payment gateway in future.
Under the project, the government would also set up call centres where taxpayers can get round-the-clock services.
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