NBR to conduct study to devise easier VAT collection procedures

FE Report brThe government's revenue board will conduct a study to devise easier VAT (value added tax) collection procedures to give a further boost to the earnings under this head of revenue collections.brChairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), Md Abdul Mazid, said 'We will review the existing VAT collection procedures to make them easier.' brHe made the disclosure while exchanging views with doctors of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) in the city Sunday.brIn the meeting the doctors termed very cumbersome the existing VAT collection system in some cases.brMore than 100 doctors of the BSMMU attended the meeting aimed at motivating them to pay income taxes, highlighting the existing system, which the NBR introduced to increase the number of TIN (Tax Identification Number) holders.brProfessor Dr Mohammad Tahir, vice chancellor, Professor Dr MA Mazid, pro-vice chancellor, Professor Dr Pran Gofal Datta and Professor Dr Harun Ur Rashid of the BSMMU and Ahmed Ali, member, and Begum Rahela Chowdhury, commissioner of the Taxes Zone-8 of the NBR, among others, spoke at the meeting.brNarrating procedural problems, particularly in payment of VAT, physicians said there should be an easy system of collecting VAT from patients. brThe Board should have some arrangements, so that it can prevent any harassment by low-profile tax officials or middlemen. br'Among the professional groups, we (doctors) are at top of the list in payment of income tax. The gap between the tax payers and the recipients should be minimised to avert harassment by any middlemen,' noted physician Professor Pran Gofal Datta said, speaking on behalf of the doctors.brThe BSMMU vice chancellor Dr Mohammad Tahir said it is not possible to ask a patient to make entry into the VAT collection book when he comes to a doctor's chamber for treatment. brHe, however, called upon the doctors to pay taxes considering the interest of the country. brIn his speech, Mr Mazid said 'We have already taken various steps to minimise the gap between the tax payers and the tax recipients to curb harassment during payment of taxes.brHe further said 'Since introduction of the Universal Self Assessment System, the related rights of tax officials up to the rank of deputy commissioners have been remaining suspended, so that they can not make any question about the taxpayers' income statements.'brMr Mazid also said the NBR will help the doctors collect their TINs from (today) Monday by setting up a camp on the BSMMU campus.br'You can also get help from our one-stop service point attached with our tax zones.'brRegarding introduction of the 'Self Motivated Tax Payers Card' recently, he said a taxpayer, who will receive this card on payment of tax, will be given due importance in any services concerning the revenue board.brMr. Mazid said NBR has also taken measures to honour senior tax payers from all districts of the country by awarding them certificates, so that they can enjoy some special facilities in return of their contribution to the national exchequer.