Telecom cos urge govt to lift SIM tax
FE Report | Wednesday, 9 March 2011
FE Report
The country's telecom operators Tuesday urged the government to withdraw tax on SIM (subscriber identity module) sale and reduce duty on their capital machinery import in the next budget. They proposed the measures at a pre-budget meeting with the National Board of Revenue (NBR). The revenue board arranged the meeting with the representatives of computer, ICT, tobacco and telecom sectors to exchange opinions ahead of the budget for 2011-12 fiscal. The computer and ICT sector entrepreneurs demanded withdrawal of 15 per cent VAT on use of internet. The entrepreneurs of 'bidi' sector proposed the NBR to include the sector with other cottage industries, and withdraw all taxes from it. Among others, Bangladesh Computer Samity president Mostafa Jabbar, Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services president Mahbub Jaman, and Bangladesh Mobile Phone Importers Association secretary general Faisal Alim along with representatives of Grameenphone, Robi, Citycell and Airtel attended the meeting. Mostofa Jabbar said the government should withdraw all taxes on internet services to materialise the dream of 'Digital Bangladesh.' He proposed imposition of fixed VAT on retail-level internet services, and collection of advance income tax from them to avoid higher tax on income.
The country's telecom operators Tuesday urged the government to withdraw tax on SIM (subscriber identity module) sale and reduce duty on their capital machinery import in the next budget. They proposed the measures at a pre-budget meeting with the National Board of Revenue (NBR). The revenue board arranged the meeting with the representatives of computer, ICT, tobacco and telecom sectors to exchange opinions ahead of the budget for 2011-12 fiscal. The computer and ICT sector entrepreneurs demanded withdrawal of 15 per cent VAT on use of internet. The entrepreneurs of 'bidi' sector proposed the NBR to include the sector with other cottage industries, and withdraw all taxes from it. Among others, Bangladesh Computer Samity president Mostafa Jabbar, Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services president Mahbub Jaman, and Bangladesh Mobile Phone Importers Association secretary general Faisal Alim along with representatives of Grameenphone, Robi, Citycell and Airtel attended the meeting. Mostofa Jabbar said the government should withdraw all taxes on internet services to materialise the dream of 'Digital Bangladesh.' He proposed imposition of fixed VAT on retail-level internet services, and collection of advance income tax from them to avoid higher tax on income.