Finance Minister AMA Muhith said the government had relaxed the house-rent collection guidelines because of political pressure, relieving landlords of added book-keeping requirements.
“They [political people] unitedly opposed my earlier stance. So I have shifted a little from my stance; but I will definitely implement the provision from next year,” the minister told reporters yesterday at his secretariat office after a meeting with British Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for International Development Lynne Featherstone.
Featherstone arrived in Dhaka yesterday on a three-day visit.
Muhith said the British official emphasised expanding the tax net; but it did not mean the UK would reduce aid to Bangladesh.
“A survey on the taxpayers across the country is already complete and it shows that the number has come down from 2 million to 1.3 million. As a result, the revenue-GDP ratio may be significantly less than the previous year,” the minister said.
Featherstone said: “Without money, the government will not be able to support people in different sectors such as education, health and other services and the country’s development. As a result, the number of the taxpayers in country must be increased to raise government income.”
On July 22, the National Board of Revenue issued guidelines making it mandatory for householders, including individuals, companies, firms or other organisations, to maintain a register and a separate bank account for house rent collection.
With effect from July 1, the measure was supposed to apply to house-owners having monthly aggregate income above Tk25,000 from house rents.