Core Committee submits report on NBR digitisation programme
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
Nazmul Ahsan
A Core Committee formed to help digitise the National Board of Revenue (NBR) at an estimated cost of Tk. 1.0 billion has identified a number of challenges and recommended actions to meet the same, official sources said.
The committee, headed by Farid Uddin, member, Customs, submitted its report to the NBR Chairman last Tuesday.
The report, according to sources, has identified the absence of a management team having in-depth knowledge in ICT operations as the first challenge to the NBR digitization programme.
The other challenges mentioned in the Core Committee report include ownership over connectivity, taxpayers' orientation and attitude of taxmen, weak overall infrastructure, financial problems and administrative complexities and issues of transferring technology for subsequent maintenance and up- gradation.
The committee has strongly recommended outsourcing of the support and maintenance services under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative. The NBR should control and regulate the core activities pertinent to the delivery of its services while operational aspects functions needs to be placed under the PPP approach, the report has said.
'The NBR is facing serious shortage of trained ICT professionals both in quality and quantity. Given the attractive perks and privileges in the private sector for ICT specialists, it is quite difficult to attract competent professionals to carry out and maintain such an enormous undertaking,' reads the report.
The Core Committee has recommended creation of a central data center at the NBR for providing effective service delivery, detecting tax evasion and maintain ICT resources, introduction of web-based online issuance of VAT registration and return submission, web-based online of TIN certificate and return submission, establishing connectivity with all commercial banks for online verification of letters of credit, invoice and other shipping documents.
It has recommended for automation of duty exemption and drawback process, setting up of one-stop taxpayers' services, e-payment of taxes, procuring necessary computer and equipments for the automation of NBR services.
Elaborating on the one-stop service, the committee report has highlighted the on-the- spot issuance of TIN, simplified payment through pay orders or demand draft and establishing a call center type 'Special Cell' to answer frequently asked questions from the taxpayers.
The committee has also included names of 21 broad categories to be brought under the proposed central data center and for inter-connectivity with them under the Digital NBR.
The major entities to be connected with the NBR include Bangladesh Bank, Department of Land Revenue, RAJUK, commercial banks, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, Export Promotion Bureau, City Corporations, major business bodies and associations, Board of Investment, Chittagong Port Authority, Department of Passport and Immigration and Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh.
A Core Committee formed to help digitise the National Board of Revenue (NBR) at an estimated cost of Tk. 1.0 billion has identified a number of challenges and recommended actions to meet the same, official sources said.
The committee, headed by Farid Uddin, member, Customs, submitted its report to the NBR Chairman last Tuesday.
The report, according to sources, has identified the absence of a management team having in-depth knowledge in ICT operations as the first challenge to the NBR digitization programme.
The other challenges mentioned in the Core Committee report include ownership over connectivity, taxpayers' orientation and attitude of taxmen, weak overall infrastructure, financial problems and administrative complexities and issues of transferring technology for subsequent maintenance and up- gradation.
The committee has strongly recommended outsourcing of the support and maintenance services under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative. The NBR should control and regulate the core activities pertinent to the delivery of its services while operational aspects functions needs to be placed under the PPP approach, the report has said.
'The NBR is facing serious shortage of trained ICT professionals both in quality and quantity. Given the attractive perks and privileges in the private sector for ICT specialists, it is quite difficult to attract competent professionals to carry out and maintain such an enormous undertaking,' reads the report.
The Core Committee has recommended creation of a central data center at the NBR for providing effective service delivery, detecting tax evasion and maintain ICT resources, introduction of web-based online issuance of VAT registration and return submission, web-based online of TIN certificate and return submission, establishing connectivity with all commercial banks for online verification of letters of credit, invoice and other shipping documents.
It has recommended for automation of duty exemption and drawback process, setting up of one-stop taxpayers' services, e-payment of taxes, procuring necessary computer and equipments for the automation of NBR services.
Elaborating on the one-stop service, the committee report has highlighted the on-the- spot issuance of TIN, simplified payment through pay orders or demand draft and establishing a call center type 'Special Cell' to answer frequently asked questions from the taxpayers.
The committee has also included names of 21 broad categories to be brought under the proposed central data center and for inter-connectivity with them under the Digital NBR.
The major entities to be connected with the NBR include Bangladesh Bank, Department of Land Revenue, RAJUK, commercial banks, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, Export Promotion Bureau, City Corporations, major business bodies and associations, Board of Investment, Chittagong Port Authority, Department of Passport and Immigration and Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh.