IFC to give technical support for digitising NBR
Thursday, 3 September 2009
FE Report
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is set to establish connectivity with all commercial banks, national ID authority, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and all field offices of VAT, income tax and customs for improving its efficiency in delivering services to the people.
International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, will provide technical assistance to execute the plan, the primary objective of which is to simplify, streamline and automate a number of government-to-business (G2B) services.
The board Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the IFC in the NBR conference room to avail the technical support for establishing digital NBR within the shortest possible time.
"The IFC will assist NBR by recommending measures to modernize the revenue administration for short, medium and long terms," said NBR chairman Dr. Nasiruddin Ahmed.
NBR chairman and IFC senior programme manager Syed Akhter Mahmood signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organization.
"IFC support will pave the way to build the desired digital Bangladesh," said NBR chairman.
The MoU is a legal framework to go forward with the long, medium and short term action plan of the technical support programme, he said.
IFC representative Mahmood said: "IFC aims to ensure investment-friendly environment in the country as tax measures are interrelated with the investment scenario."
After completion of technical assistance support, tax payment tendency of the people will increase manifold, he expressed his hope.
NBR will also able to issue TIN certificates and Business Identification Number (BIN) online once the plan is implemented.
In line with the experience of neighbouring countries, IFC will recommend some measures under technical support programme that would reduce cost of doing business, he added.
"On a short-term programme, IFC will work on determining ICT strategies in the first six months," he said.
Business houses will see its tangible results within the six months time frame, he added.
"We will lend priority to provide TIN and BIN certificates online in the short-term project while amendments and updating of VAT and income tax laws will be addressed on the long-term project," he said.
IFC will try to establish a risk-management module for auditing tax files, he added.
After analyzing outcome of a pilot programme, both the entities will sign a 'co-operation agreement' for two years, he said.
There will be no financial burden on NBR because IFC will provide the assistance voluntarily, he added.
Sources said NBR and IFC will sign a co-operation agreement by next month to start the project activities.
The main focus of the technical assistant programme include---creation of central data centre at NBR, automation of duty exemption and drawback office (DEDO), installation of ASYCUDA world, online VAT registration and return submission, setting up one-stop taxpayers service, e-payment of taxes, etc.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is set to establish connectivity with all commercial banks, national ID authority, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and all field offices of VAT, income tax and customs for improving its efficiency in delivering services to the people.
International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, will provide technical assistance to execute the plan, the primary objective of which is to simplify, streamline and automate a number of government-to-business (G2B) services.
The board Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the IFC in the NBR conference room to avail the technical support for establishing digital NBR within the shortest possible time.
"The IFC will assist NBR by recommending measures to modernize the revenue administration for short, medium and long terms," said NBR chairman Dr. Nasiruddin Ahmed.
NBR chairman and IFC senior programme manager Syed Akhter Mahmood signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organization.
"IFC support will pave the way to build the desired digital Bangladesh," said NBR chairman.
The MoU is a legal framework to go forward with the long, medium and short term action plan of the technical support programme, he said.
IFC representative Mahmood said: "IFC aims to ensure investment-friendly environment in the country as tax measures are interrelated with the investment scenario."
After completion of technical assistance support, tax payment tendency of the people will increase manifold, he expressed his hope.
NBR will also able to issue TIN certificates and Business Identification Number (BIN) online once the plan is implemented.
In line with the experience of neighbouring countries, IFC will recommend some measures under technical support programme that would reduce cost of doing business, he added.
"On a short-term programme, IFC will work on determining ICT strategies in the first six months," he said.
Business houses will see its tangible results within the six months time frame, he added.
"We will lend priority to provide TIN and BIN certificates online in the short-term project while amendments and updating of VAT and income tax laws will be addressed on the long-term project," he said.
IFC will try to establish a risk-management module for auditing tax files, he added.
After analyzing outcome of a pilot programme, both the entities will sign a 'co-operation agreement' for two years, he said.
There will be no financial burden on NBR because IFC will provide the assistance voluntarily, he added.
Sources said NBR and IFC will sign a co-operation agreement by next month to start the project activities.
The main focus of the technical assistant programme include---creation of central data centre at NBR, automation of duty exemption and drawback office (DEDO), installation of ASYCUDA world, online VAT registration and return submission, setting up one-stop taxpayers service, e-payment of taxes, etc.