Plan to expand income tax fairs

Doulot Akter Mala | Published: September 04, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00

Income tax fairs would be extended to some 150 spots including 86 upazilas this year for the first time to provide tax-related services in the growth centres. Â
There would be some new attractions in the tax fairs this year for divisional cities as the revenue board would open three booths in each venue for providing customs, VAT and national savings tools-related services to people.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is going to organise the Income Tax Fair-2015 on the occasion of celebrating National Income Tax Day on September 15.
Like other years, taxpayers will be able to pay online tax through e-payment booths in the fair premises.
"Taxpayers can make customs and VAT related enquiries in the fair premises in the designated booths for the first time," said NBR member (income tax administration) Abdur Razzaque, who is also the supervision authority of the fair.
Last year, tax fairs were held in 64 districts only. The NBR has expanded it to upazila level this year, he said.
Target of the tax authority is to reach the taxpayers' services at door-steps of the people at the growth centres and make them aware of significance of tax payment, he added.
In the upazila level, there will be a day-long tax fair while it would be week-long fair from September 16-22 in divisional headquarters. The board has already selected the upazilas but date of the fair there is yet to be finalised.
There would be a four-day exposition at the district headquarters on tax-related issues to create awareness, officials said.
In the tax fairs, people can submit tax returns, pay tax, obtain fresh e-TIN or online taxpayers identification number (TIN) without visiting tax offices.
The NBR also provides tax education in the fair premises for new and potential taxpayers. Senior tax officials supervise the fair activities and talk to visitors at the fairs to meet their different tax-related queries.
In 2014, the NBR received Tk 16.75 billion in income tax from the tax fairs across the country. Some 6,50,000 people received services from the tax officialsÂ while 1,50,000 income taxpayers submitted their income tax returns at the fair.
In 2010, the NBR organised the income tax fair for the first time in Dhaka and Chittagong to provide services to taxpayers under a single roof and encourage them to pay taxes regularly.
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