Pay tax voluntarily, says Mirza Aziz
Thursday, 6 November 2008
FE Report
Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam urged the people Wednesday to pay tax voluntarily to help the country's economy survive with its own resources in the backdrop of the global economic slowdown.
The income from internal sources is poor in Bangladesh compared to other developing countries. It could be improved through expanding the tax net, he observed.
The state could not provide sufficient support to the society due to its dependence on external resources, which leave the government to shoulder a huge burden of debts, Aziz said.
He was speaking at a ceremony arranged for awarding top VAT depositor companies at district level.
The board has selected 67 top VAT payers from 45 districts in three categories-- business, production and service -- to encourage taxpayers.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) organised the programme at the city's Osmani Smriti Milanayatan, where the 67 top VAT depositor companies received crests and certificates for their contribution to the national economy.
Mr. Islam said: "Identifying the VAT collection sectors is easier than those of income tax and customs duty as all people have to pay consumption tax."
NBR Chairman Muhammad Abdul Mazid said: "The revenue board is also preparing a list of national-level VAT payers to honour them."
In the programme, only district-level taxpayers, who are not under city corporations, have received the certificates.
Responding to a request of top VAT payers, Mr Mazid said the NBR will hold meetings with the representatives of the top VAT depositing companies after a certain period on a regular basis to discuss their problems.
He stressed the need for ensuring a participatory VAT paying system and public-private partnership in tax payment.
Member (VAT) Muhammad Alam said: "The NBR has adopted a strategy to encourage voluntary tax payment."
The NBR has selected those top VAT depositors, who have paid at least 10 per cent more VAT than in the previous year, for the honour.
In the production catagory, Aziz Bidi Ltd of Rangpur has emerged the top VAT paying company, which paid Tk 300 million last fiscal.
The advertising firm Unitrend Ltd emerged the top VAT paying company in the service category. It has paid Tk 36.3 million VAT. Kollol Ltd paid Tk 33.8 million to emerge the top VAT payer in the business category.
Uttara Motors, Rangs Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Abul Khair Tobbaco Ltd, Highway Inn Hotel, Pran Agro Ltd, Madhyapara Hard Rock Project, Akij Bidi Factory, Lafarge Surma Cement Ltd, Rahim Energy Ltd and Jupitar Enterprise are among the selected top VAT payers at the district level.
Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam urged the people Wednesday to pay tax voluntarily to help the country's economy survive with its own resources in the backdrop of the global economic slowdown.
The income from internal sources is poor in Bangladesh compared to other developing countries. It could be improved through expanding the tax net, he observed.
The state could not provide sufficient support to the society due to its dependence on external resources, which leave the government to shoulder a huge burden of debts, Aziz said.
He was speaking at a ceremony arranged for awarding top VAT depositor companies at district level.
The board has selected 67 top VAT payers from 45 districts in three categories-- business, production and service -- to encourage taxpayers.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) organised the programme at the city's Osmani Smriti Milanayatan, where the 67 top VAT depositor companies received crests and certificates for their contribution to the national economy.
Mr. Islam said: "Identifying the VAT collection sectors is easier than those of income tax and customs duty as all people have to pay consumption tax."
NBR Chairman Muhammad Abdul Mazid said: "The revenue board is also preparing a list of national-level VAT payers to honour them."
In the programme, only district-level taxpayers, who are not under city corporations, have received the certificates.
Responding to a request of top VAT payers, Mr Mazid said the NBR will hold meetings with the representatives of the top VAT depositing companies after a certain period on a regular basis to discuss their problems.
He stressed the need for ensuring a participatory VAT paying system and public-private partnership in tax payment.
Member (VAT) Muhammad Alam said: "The NBR has adopted a strategy to encourage voluntary tax payment."
The NBR has selected those top VAT depositors, who have paid at least 10 per cent more VAT than in the previous year, for the honour.
In the production catagory, Aziz Bidi Ltd of Rangpur has emerged the top VAT paying company, which paid Tk 300 million last fiscal.
The advertising firm Unitrend Ltd emerged the top VAT paying company in the service category. It has paid Tk 36.3 million VAT. Kollol Ltd paid Tk 33.8 million to emerge the top VAT payer in the business category.
Uttara Motors, Rangs Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Abul Khair Tobbaco Ltd, Highway Inn Hotel, Pran Agro Ltd, Madhyapara Hard Rock Project, Akij Bidi Factory, Lafarge Surma Cement Ltd, Rahim Energy Ltd and Jupitar Enterprise are among the selected top VAT payers at the district level.