Service centres for taxpayers to open across country
Sunday, 11 July 2010
Doulot Akter Mala
Both the government and the private sector have taken an integrated effort to reduce taxpayers' hassle and simplify tax payment system by 2013 through opening service centres across the country with a view to diversifying tax payment and return submission.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) recently got assurance from the multilateral donor Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a three-year (2010-2013) project, while the government also pledges to provide funds for country-wide campaign for educating taxpayers.
"Initially, we will open 20 service centres across the country. Taxpayers will get Taxpayers Identification Number (TIN) from the centres," said NBR member Aminul Karim.
All kinds of assistance will be available at those centres like filling in tax return forms online and calculation of actual taxes, he said.
The service will be provided for free under the ADB project 'strengthening governance management', he added.
The total allocation will be US$ 1.67 million for the project aimed to facilitate all taxpayers to file tax return and pay tax online, Mr Karim said.
"The service centres will be run by the private-sector people hired by ADB. Complaints of taxpayers about any harassment by taxmen will be reduced after diversifying the tax payment system through these service centres," he added.
Under the government funded project, the revenue board will launch a countrywide campaign for educating taxpayers.
Top tax officials will sit with the local leaders to motivate them for payment of taxes and urge them to convey the message to others, he added.
Different kinds of documentary materials and publications will be disseminated across the country among the taxpayers, the tax member said.
Officials said the move has been taken to maintain the upward trend of the income tax collection and boost revenue earning from direct taxes.
The government has set a Tk 210 billion target for 2010-2011 fiscal expecting 27 per cent growth over the last corresponding period.
The NBR has devised strategies from July 1, the first day of the current fiscal, to net 0.5 million new taxpayers, said a tax official.
The board has launched a new countrywide survey from July 1 to strengthen taxpayers' base, he said.
Integrated effort of the income tax wing will help the government meet its internal demand for funds from direct tax, he added.
Taxmen expect that the government will provide special incentives to them recognising their success in the just concluded fiscal.
Both the government and the private sector have taken an integrated effort to reduce taxpayers' hassle and simplify tax payment system by 2013 through opening service centres across the country with a view to diversifying tax payment and return submission.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) recently got assurance from the multilateral donor Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a three-year (2010-2013) project, while the government also pledges to provide funds for country-wide campaign for educating taxpayers.
"Initially, we will open 20 service centres across the country. Taxpayers will get Taxpayers Identification Number (TIN) from the centres," said NBR member Aminul Karim.
All kinds of assistance will be available at those centres like filling in tax return forms online and calculation of actual taxes, he said.
The service will be provided for free under the ADB project 'strengthening governance management', he added.
The total allocation will be US$ 1.67 million for the project aimed to facilitate all taxpayers to file tax return and pay tax online, Mr Karim said.
"The service centres will be run by the private-sector people hired by ADB. Complaints of taxpayers about any harassment by taxmen will be reduced after diversifying the tax payment system through these service centres," he added.
Under the government funded project, the revenue board will launch a countrywide campaign for educating taxpayers.
Top tax officials will sit with the local leaders to motivate them for payment of taxes and urge them to convey the message to others, he added.
Different kinds of documentary materials and publications will be disseminated across the country among the taxpayers, the tax member said.
Officials said the move has been taken to maintain the upward trend of the income tax collection and boost revenue earning from direct taxes.
The government has set a Tk 210 billion target for 2010-2011 fiscal expecting 27 per cent growth over the last corresponding period.
The NBR has devised strategies from July 1, the first day of the current fiscal, to net 0.5 million new taxpayers, said a tax official.
The board has launched a new countrywide survey from July 1 to strengthen taxpayers' base, he said.
Integrated effort of the income tax wing will help the government meet its internal demand for funds from direct tax, he added.
Taxmen expect that the government will provide special incentives to them recognising their success in the just concluded fiscal.