Businesses warn of higher compliance costs over tax sheet certification

Businesses may face higher compliance costs under the proposed budget as the government seeks to make certification of Income Computation Sheets (ICS) mandatory by professional accountants or tax lawyers, despite ongoing efforts to move tax return filing to a fully online system.
The provision, included in the proposed tax measures under the Finance Bill 2026, requires Income Computation Sheets submitted with tax returns to be prepared and certified by a Chartered Accountant (CA), Cost and Management Accountant (CMA), or income tax lawyer.
Business leaders expressed concern that the requirement could raise compliance costs without delivering significant additional benefits, particularly after corporate income tax returns are fully integrated into the online filing system.
They noted that companies already bear substantial expenses for statutory audits and tax compliance, and the proposed certification requirement would impose another layer of professional fees on taxpayers.
Speaking to The Financial Express, Bangladesh Jeweller's Association (BAJUS) President Inamul Haque Dolon said the proposal appears inconsistent with the government's broader objective of reducing the cost of doing business.
"When the government is trying to lower business costs and encourage investment, this proposal comes as a surprise. Mandatory certification will create additional expenses for companies," he said.
He expressed hope that the government would reconsider the provision before the budget is passed in parliament.
Defending the proposal, Chairman of the National Board of Revenue Md Abdur Rahman Khan said the measure is intended to improve the quality of tax filings and reduce errors in income reporting.
He said that the requirement would not significantly increase business costs, as certified professionals would help ensure proper compliance with tax assessment procedures.
According to him, professionals involved in the certification process would also be held accountable for any failure to comply with regulations.
Under the proposal, all companies, taxpayers earning income from long-term contracts, and firms or entities with annual turnover exceeding Tk 100 million or capital exceeding Tk 50 million will be required to submit audited financial statements along with certified Income Computation Sheets.
In addition, all firms, associations of persons, Hindu undivided families and artificial juridical persons will have to submit certified Income Computation Sheets with their tax returns, even if they are not subject to mandatory financial audits.
Business leaders questioned the rationale for introducing mandatory certification at a time when the NBR is pursuing online tax return submission and broader digitalisation of tax administration.
They argued that the measure would add another layer of compliance and increase operating costs, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.
The proposal is expected to come under scrutiny during the budget review process, with business chambers likely to seek amendments before the Finance Bill is approved.

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