The apex body president has demanded launching special economic zones, special incentives to backward area investors, Tk300crore for emerging women entrepreneurs and continuation of VAT package for businessmen.
He also urged the government to fix source tax at 0.30% for all sorts of export.
Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed made the demands while placing 617-point budget proposals at the 35th National Consultative Committee Meeting in Dhaka yesterday.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith was present as chief guest in the meeting with National Board of Revenue Chairman Ghulam Hussain presided over.
The NBR chief said as the VAT and Supplementary Duty Act 2012 will come into effect on July 1, 2015, the NBR will have to bring down the number of products and services from 1362 to 170 for imposing supplementary duties.
He said the draft of customs has been prepared keeping consistency with the international systems, which will be effective at the end of the current year.
The meeting was also attended by the presidents of different chambers and associations, government officials and economists.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Atiqul Islam alleged that inspections by the Accord and Alliance have left 17,500 workers lost their jobs.
He urged to reduce import duty on raw materials to be used in pre-fabricated buildings for the RMG sector.
Bangladesh Chamber of Industries President AK Azad called on withdrawing duty on newsprint import as the rate is now 21-22%.
Exporters Association of Bangladesh President Abdus Salam Murshedy urged the NBR to exempt export sector from VAT after the export policy is introduced.
Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Mahbubul Alam said the NBR should withdraw 5% tax at source on the locally procured raw materials.
Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicle Importers and Dealers Association (BARVIDA) President Habibullah Dawn demanded the NBR allow importing reconditioned hybrid vehicles, increase of depreciation facility for cars from 45% to 55%, re-structuring the CC slab and withdrawing supplementary duties on import of microbus.
Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) President AKM Salim Osman requested the government to audit the company’s tax records once in a year as businesses are now facing repeated audits which “create harassments for businesses.”
Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) Senior Vice President Syed Almas Kabir urged the NBR to exempt ICT businesses from 15% VAT on modem and continue the tax holiday facility till 2025.
Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) President Mukarram Hussain Khan proposed NBR to reduce the advance income tax on transfer of per square metre residential lands, buildings and apartments to Tk1,000, Tk800 and Tk500 respectively from existing Tk1,600, Tk1,500 and Tk600 for the areas divided in three different categories.
Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) President Akbar Uddin Ahmed suggested the government allocate special budgetary funds for infrastructural development and providing special incentives to the sector.
Former FBCCI Vice President Abul Kashem Ahmed demanded continuing tax holiday facility for poultry, fisheries, dairy and small industries.
President of Rangpur Women Chamber Anwara Ferdousi Polly proposed special allocation for small industries and development of women in the region.
The businessmen also demanded increasing export incentive for Jamdani from 5% to 25%, stopping harassment by the VAT intelligence wing, announcing rubber industry as VAT-free, continuing tax holiday for security companies till 2021 and increasing annual turnover limit from Tk80 lakh to Tk1.5crore.