Many trade body members operating sans e-TINs

Many members of the chamber bodies and trade associations have been running their business operations without having electronic tax-payers identification numbers (e-TINs).
 The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has found that a good number of members running their businesses without E-TINs in violation of Section 75(1A)(d) of the Income Tax Ordinance.
The section makes its mandatory for all members of chambers of commerce and industries and trade associations to have e-TINs and submit tax returns within the stipulated deadline.
NBR Chairman Nojibur Rahman recently expressed his frustration over non-compliance with the existing law by many members of trade associations and chambers.
The revenue board chief have sent demy official (DO) letters to some 351 trade bodies and chambers Wednesday asking them to ensure that each of their members owns e-TIN and submits tax returns in compliance with the relevant law.
In the letter, the NBR chief said it is painful and frustrating that less than 1.6 million people of a country of 160 million have e-TINs.
He sought cooperation of the business leaders to raise the number of e-TIN holders.
Earlier, the NBR found some fake TINs used by members of the Bangladesh Electrical Association during the election of that trade body.
The association has some 3,655 voters for election. And 20 per cent of them used false tax identities, tax officials said.
The use of forged TINs is a punishable offence under the Income Tax Ordinance 1984.
The Deputy Commissioners of Taxes may impose a penalty up to Tk 20,000 for using fake TIN or TIN of another person.
Also a person would face three years' imprisonment or pay fines up to Tk 50,000, or both, for continuous and deliberate use of fake e-TIN.
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