Driven by a surge in dividend payouts from state-owned enterprises, interest earnings, and administrative fees, Bangladesh’s non-tax revenue (NTR) nearly tripled in the final quarter (April–June) of FY26.
Data from Bangladesh Bank shows that quarterly NTR collections leaped 195.3% quarter-on-quarter to Tk18,774 crore, up from Tk6,358 crore in Q3 FY26.
While the collection provided a temporary boost to overall public finances, total annual revenue receipts reached Tk476,000 crore—achieving 81.0% of the revised annual target of Tk588,000 crore.
Economists warn that heavy reliance on non-recurring state enterprise dividends fails to address underlying structural weaknesses in tax collection.
State-owned enterprise dividends served as the primary growth driver, generating Tk10,361 crore and accounting for 55.2% of total non-tax collections in Q4.
Revenue collected outside the National Board of Revenue (Non-NBR) rose 39.9% quarter-on-quarter to Tk2,000 crore, heavily driven by stamp duties.
Q4 FY26 Non-Tax Revenue Composition (Tk18,774cr)
SOE Dividends ─────────────────────────────────────────► Tk10,361cr (55.2%)
Other NTR Receipts ──────────────► Tk2,917cr (15.5%)
Interest Receipts ────────► Tk2,067cr (11.0%)
Administrative Fees ───────► Tk1,986cr (10.6%)
Asset Sales ──► Tk1,053cr (5.6%)
Rent & Sharing ► Tk391cr (2.1%)
Non-Tax Revenue Component | Q4 FY26 Collection (Tk) | Share of Quarterly NTR (%) | Key Fiscal Drivers |
SOE Dividends & Profits | Tk10,361cr | 55.2% | Primary Driver: Annual profit transfers from state financial and commercial units |
Other Non-Tax Receipts | Tk2,917cr | 15.5% | Miscellaneous state tolls, fines, and operational service revenues |
Interest Receipts | Tk2,067cr | 11.0% | Interest earnings from government loans extended to autonomous bodies |
Administrative Fees | Tk1,986cr | 10.6% | Regulatory service fees, licensing costs, and public service charges |
Non-Financial Asset Sales | Tk1,053cr | 5.6% | Government property leases and equipment liquidation receipts |
Rent and Resource Sharing | Tk391cr | 2.1% | State property rentals and revenue-sharing leases |
Non-NBR Tax Performance (April–June FY2025–26)
Non-NBR Tax Category | Q4 FY26 Collection (Tk) | Share of Non-NBR Total (%) | Sector Dynamics |
Stamp Duty | Tk1,457cr | 72.8% | Dominant Stream: Driven by land transfers, legal documents, and registration fees |
Taxes on Use of Goods | Tk502cr | 25.1% | Vehicle registration fees and specific consumer usage taxes |
Narcotics & Liquor Duty | Tk41.3cr | 2.1% | Excise duties collected directly via narcotics regulatory agencies |
"The sharp rise in non-tax revenue is encouraging on paper, but it does not indicate a sustainable improvement in the government's revenue mobilization capacity," noted Masrur Reaz, chairman of Policy Exchange Bangladesh.
"Dividends and state transfers fluctuate significantly from year to year. The government must focus on expanding the regular tax base rather than relying on less predictable windfalls."
"Non-NBR taxes remain one of the smallest components of state revenue, pointing to significant underutilized potential," Reaz added.
"Automating collection systems, improving regulatory compliance, and strengthening agency coordination can turn these fragmented streams into a diversified revenue pillar."
Strategic prerequisites for revenue reform
To transform temporary non-tax surges into long-term fiscal stability, policy experts suggest three immediate steps:
- Shift fiscal dependency away from volatile state enterprise dividends (Tk10,361 crore / 55.2% of Q4 NTR) toward automated income tax and VAT collection.
- Modernize land registry stamp duties (Tk1,457 crore / 72.8% of non-NBR tax) and municipal fee collection through digital payment portals.
- Establish predictable, transparent dividend policies for state-owned corporations to prevent sudden fiscal distortions between quarters.