Delay in approving incentive proposal frustrates taxmen
Friday, 22 October 2010
FE Report
Unusual delay in approval of incentive proposal for taxmen frustrated the revenue officials as they pinned much hope on it after the assurance of Prime Minister on their outstanding performance in revenue collection in the fiscal 2009-10.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has sought incentives equivalent to four months basic pay of officials concerned as it has exceeded revenue collection target.
The NBR collected tax revenue worth Tk 621.03 billion in 2009-2010 against that of Tk 525.27 billion in 2008-09.
After achievement of the target, PM Sheikh Hasina promised to give reward to the revenue officials for their performance in 2009-10.
Following the commitment, the NBR has sent a proposal seeking incentive, equivalent to basic salary of four months, for the taxmen.
The proposal is now waiting in the finance ministry for its nod.
Officials said the finance ministry has been making different queries despite the assurance of the PM on disbursement of the incentive.
Already four months have passed but the government is yet to approve the proposal on incentives, they said.
"Most of our officials lost their working spirit for collecting higher revenue because of delay in disbursement of the incentive," said a revenue official.
Recently the finance ministry made a set of queries against the proposal of the NBR for disbursement of the incentive.
The queries include comparative study of last five years' revenue earning by income tax, VAT and customs officials. It has also sought the actual number of officials and staff in seven wings under the Internal Resources Division (IRD) including NBR, income tax, customs, VAT, taxes appellate tribunal, and customs, excise and VAT appellate tribunal.
It has also made queries whether the NBR has taken any prior permission from the finance division on incentive for tax officials.
The finance division said all revenue officials in IRD and NBR are not playing the same role in collecting revenue.
It, therefore, sought to know the logical ground on providing incentives at same rate for all NBR officials.
Unusual delay in approval of incentive proposal for taxmen frustrated the revenue officials as they pinned much hope on it after the assurance of Prime Minister on their outstanding performance in revenue collection in the fiscal 2009-10.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has sought incentives equivalent to four months basic pay of officials concerned as it has exceeded revenue collection target.
The NBR collected tax revenue worth Tk 621.03 billion in 2009-2010 against that of Tk 525.27 billion in 2008-09.
After achievement of the target, PM Sheikh Hasina promised to give reward to the revenue officials for their performance in 2009-10.
Following the commitment, the NBR has sent a proposal seeking incentive, equivalent to basic salary of four months, for the taxmen.
The proposal is now waiting in the finance ministry for its nod.
Officials said the finance ministry has been making different queries despite the assurance of the PM on disbursement of the incentive.
Already four months have passed but the government is yet to approve the proposal on incentives, they said.
"Most of our officials lost their working spirit for collecting higher revenue because of delay in disbursement of the incentive," said a revenue official.
Recently the finance ministry made a set of queries against the proposal of the NBR for disbursement of the incentive.
The queries include comparative study of last five years' revenue earning by income tax, VAT and customs officials. It has also sought the actual number of officials and staff in seven wings under the Internal Resources Division (IRD) including NBR, income tax, customs, VAT, taxes appellate tribunal, and customs, excise and VAT appellate tribunal.
It has also made queries whether the NBR has taken any prior permission from the finance division on incentive for tax officials.
The finance division said all revenue officials in IRD and NBR are not playing the same role in collecting revenue.
It, therefore, sought to know the logical ground on providing incentives at same rate for all NBR officials.