Top taxpayers may get CIP status

The government will consider awarding CIP status to the top taxpayers of the country for their contribution to the public exchequer, entitling these tax VIPs to a package of privileges.  
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed gave the assurance Tuesday as a countrywide campaign was kicked off to motivate taxable individuals and businesses to pay tax.
"Necessary steps will be taken in this regard as taxpayers have the significance to be honoured as CIP," he said.
The commerce minister was addressing the inaugural function of the Income Tax Fair 2014 the Officers Club in the capital.
His comments came after National Broad of Revenue (NBR) chairman Ghulam Hussain conveyed plea of the top taxpayers at the programme for awarding them CIP (commercially important person) status.
He said the finance minister had instructed examining the matter regarding the proposal of the top taxpayers.
The revenue authority awarded some 402 taxpayers across the country Monday on the occasion of celebration of Income Tax Day 2014.
While placing the CIP plea, the NBR chairman said, "It is important to be a top taxpayer and they deserve such recognition."
The NBR introduced tax card in 2012 for individual and corporate taxpayers to give a pat on their back. Also, taxpayers across the country receive awards on the basis of highest and long-term payments of tax.
Tax card is a symbol of status to the taxpayers and they can enjoy some special privileges for a year with this token. The perks include priority in public vehicles, airports, public hospitals, and invitation to state functions.
And a CIP enjoys some additional facilities other than that of tax-cardholders, including access to government offices and secretariat, assistance for obtaining visas of other countries and so.
Currently, the government offers CIP status in three categories--industry, trade and non-resident Bangladeshis on the basis of their remittances.     
The commerce minister, who had a word of praise for increasing amounts of tax receipts, said he would discuss and proceed on the status matter.
The country has achieved a substantial improvement in tax-revenue collection, export-earning and per-capita income, he noted.
Underlining the need for financial self-reliance, Tofail Ahmed said the country needs taxpayers cooperation to carry out its development without donor assistance.
He urged the taxmen not to harass the taxpayers and also stressed the need for expanding the tax net.
The NBR chairman, also secretary of the Internal Resources Division (IRD), said the weeklong tax-fair campaigns would help the taxpayers get voluntary services from the taxmen in an entertaining environment.
The revenue authority has organised the tax fair, for the fifth time, in seven divisional cities and 57 districts. The fairs will continue from September 16 to 22.
NBR member Bashir Uddin Ahmed delivered the address of welcome at the programme.
During a visit round the central tax-fair premises, many of the existing and potential taxpayers were seen moving around the booths to obtain services of the taxmen in filling up tax-return forms.
Due to construction work on the Officers Club premises, the NBR had to arrange fair at three separate venues within the complex.
There are helpdesks, booths for obtaining e-TIN, banks for e-payment, e-filing. The tax fair will remain open from 10 am to 5 pm.
Taxpayers will be able to submit tax returns for tax-year 2014-15. There are separate counters for women, physically challenged and senior citizens.
There are booths of Sonali and Janata banks to facilitate taxpayers to pay income tax from the fair. Income-tax officials will help the taxpayers fill up their tax-return forms at the fair.
Meanwhile, the authorities were upbeat witnessing a huge rush of taxpayers on the first day of the tax fair. The NBR collected 325 percent higher taxes on the first day of the tax fair compared to the opening-day receipts in the previous year.
Services were provided to some 51,223 taxpayers across the country. The number of taxpayers who visited the fairs is 58 percent higher than that of the response on first day in the previous year.
Some 1831 new taxpayers obtained new TINs in the tax fairs, 149 per cent higher than last year's. The NBR received 13,451 tax-returns and Tk 1.36 billion in taxes at the fair. Some 995 existing taxpayers also obtained fresh TIN online at the fair.
 

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