Officials asked not to harass tax payers

CHITTAGONG, Feb 5: NBR chairman Ghulam Hossain today said that Income Tax (IT) will be one of the major sources of revenue of the government.

The earning from Income Tax will be greater in terms of money than that of value added tax (Vat). So the concerned government officials should create such a friendly environment in realising taxes so that people feel encouraged to pay up their taxes.

"Officials should not do anything which will discourage the people and make them feel harassed," the NBR chief said. He said this while addressing a function organised by the Income Tax department in Chittagong at the IT zonal office on the occasion of launching the conference hall of the Income Tax office at CGO Building 1 in the city today.

Presided over by Dabir Uddin Ahmed, commissioner of Taxes, the function was also addressed by Member of NBR (National Board of Revenue) Hossain Ahmed, IT Commissioner Pradyut Kumar Sarkar.

Later, the NBR chairman inaugurated the website and training centre of Customs, Excise and Vat Commissionerate, Chittagong at the same building.

Stressing the need for keeping people updated with information about the NBR regulations and facilities he said that even the NBR website in Dhaka is not updated with the latest information.

As a result, people are not getting adequate services and automation facilities provided by the government, he said.

Presided over by Vat Commissioner Jamal Hossain, the function was also addressed by NBR Member Hossain Ahmed and Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Mahbubul Alam.

Mr Alam urged the NBR boss to withdraw value added tax (Vat) on the SME (small and medium enterprises) businesses because the minimum Vat has increased several times now than it was in 1992.