Braving the Jamaat-called hartal, a large number of visitors paid visit to the income tax fairs across the country yesterday and received different services as the roads were free from traffic, NBR officials said.
They said the National Board of Revenue has received overwhelming response from taxpayers in the fair that began on September 15.
As the city streets in capital were free from traffic yesterday, a large number of taxpayers were seen visiting the fair on the Officers Club premises.
In the Dhaka venue, crowd was mostly seen at the electronic taxpayers identification number (e-TIN) booths as both the incumbent and the new taxpayers were looking for services from the fair booths.
The e-TIN, which was introduced last year has gained much popularity as it is hassle-free, whereas earlier, it took a long time to manage a TIN certificate.
Now, the taxpayers can register for e-TIN and get the certificates within five minutes.
Last year in the fair, the board witnessed some technical glitches while providing services related to e-TIN, but this year there is no such problem as the board took necessary preparation earlier.
NBR member Bashir Uddin Ahmed said the tax fairs are getting favourable response from both new and old taxpayers as services are provided in a hassle-free manner.
The tax officials said people are mostly visiting the e-TIN booths as the budget for FY14-15 has made the e-TIN mandatory for all the taxpayers.
According to the income tax ordinance 1984, the taxpayers will have to get a 12 digit e-TIN number for taking any kind of services, which include submission of income tax returns, opening letter of credit (L/C) for import; renewal of trade licence and car registration or renewal of registration; registration for purchase of land, building or an apartment situated within any city corporation or municipality or district headquarters, deed value of which exceeds Tk0.1 million; issuing of credit card; having telephone, gas and electricity connection etc.
“I have registered for e-TIN within the shortest time. I took the e-TIN as having a TIN certificate might help me in getting different services,” said Zahirul Islam Khan, who came to the fair for the first time.
Along with the regular booths in the fair, there are also correction booths to help the taxpayers. This year, a new type of booth titled “Taxpayers having passports” were introduced to help migrant taxpayers or the taxpayers who do not have NID cards.
In the first three days, the NBR issued e-TIN to around 13,000 people, according to the NBR data.
On the third day, the fair served a total of 98,630 people across the country. Fresh e-TINs were issued to 3,460 people while 3,142 existing taxpayers re-registered for e-TINs.
The NBR bagged around Tk161.53crore from 15,314 returns at the fair venues nationwide.
The government exchequer is organising the fair at all seven divisional headquarters and 57 districts.
A four-day-long tax fair was inaugurated yesterday in Shunamganj, Rajbari, Narshingdi, Manikganj, Pirojpur, Patuakhali, Natore, Pabna, Jaypurhat, Gaibandha, Thakurgaon, Panchagargh, Kushtia, Meherpur, Chuadanga and Bagerhat.
A two-day-long fair also began in Khagrachari yesterday.
All the fairs have e-TIN registration booths, re-registration booths, e-payment booths, income tax return filing booths, help and inquiry desks to help the taxpayers receive services.
The fair remains open for the visitors from 10am to 5pm everyday.
The services at the fair, however, will remain suspended for one hour today beginning from 12.45pm because of the Jummah prayer.