Sharp rise in e-TINs as tax return deadline nears

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has witnessed a sharp rise in registration online for taxpayers' identification numbers (TINs) ahead of the December 1 deadline for submission of individuals' income tax returns. A total of 817,000 taxpayers registered online for e-TINs until Thursday, though the deadline for it expires on December 31 next.
However, sources concerned said the revenue board was actively considering further extension of the deadline on submission of tax returns on requests from a cross section of people including lawyers and trade associations.
"The deadline might be extended to December 31 for the third time as many of the taxpayers could not submit their tax returns due to the volatile political situation," one of the sources said.
Life was almost paralysed in October and November because of the political turmoil ahead of the upcoming general election.
The first deadline on submission of individuals' tax returns was September 30. The NBR then extended it to October 31 and then to December 1.
Until November 28, nearly 700,000 taxpayers submitted their income tax returns. The tax officials found the response not satisfactory.
Recently, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), the apex chamber body, urged the NBR to extend the deadline further until December 31.
However, NBR officials expect at least 1.0 million people who submitted tax returns last year will register online for e-TINs by the stipulated deadline of December 31.
According to the latest data, about 151,000 new taxpayers obtained e-TINs so far.
Earlier, the tax authorities found 1.7 million valid TIN holders after the launch of its move to identify fake TINs.
"We hope all of the valid TIN holders will re-register for e-TINs," said a senior tax official.
There were 3.7 million TIN holders, as per the TIN database, but the taxmen found that only 1.7 had valid addresses and given correct information in their TIN forms, he added.
Still, the number of valid TIN holders was extremely poor, if compared to the size of the population, he added.
He, however, expected that the e-TIN site would work more smoothly and help raise the number of taxpayers sharply.
The official said there was a technical problem with the e-TIN site, as it was interlinked with that of the Election Commission (EC).
The site was now running smoothly as the problem was resolved successfully, he added.
The NBR introduced the online TIN registration on July 1 last to help taxpayers obtain TIN certificates without harassment and bribing.