The three-day-long winter income tax fair concluded yesterday in eight spots, including seven divisional quarters, bringing NBR Tk62,72,50,306 revenue through collection of income tax return from 53,259 taxpayers.
The taxpayers converged on all venues on the concluding day to file their income tax returns and receive tax-related services as the fair provides one-stop service for service seekers.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) organised the fair in this season for the first time to provide tax-related assistance and motivate people to contribute to the national exchequer.
Usually, NBR holds a week-long national income tax fair across the country on September 16-22 every year, but its winter edition came into being as the authorities saw a huge interest among taxpayers in such event.
The winter tax fair offers registration of Electronic Taxpayers Identification Number, facilitates paying tax, filing returns and encourage prospective taxpayers to get involved with the country’s taxation system.
In the three-day-long fair, the NBR provided a total of 57,047 people with different services relating to tax.
Besides, a total of 3,149 people registered for e-TIN while 245 taxpayers re-registered, replacing their old 10-digit TIN numbers, according to the NBR data.
The fair was simultaneously held in two venues – one on the Dhaka Officers’ Club premises and the second one in the income tax zone 9 commissioner’s office.
In other divisional headquarters of Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barisal and Rangpur, the fair was organised in the respective income tax commissioner’s offices.
During a visit to the tax fair at Officers’ Club in the capital yesterday afternoon, it was found that the taxpayers of different ages and categories were inquiring about the services while some of them were taking assistance from the taxmen.
As the extended deadline for submission of income tax return will end on November 30, taxpayers were gathering at the fair venues to file their returns.
The tax officials were busy providing tax-related facilities in a client-friendly manner to the service seekers.
Many taxpayers were seen sitting outside the venue and filing up their income tax return forms. The venue was buzzing with taxpayers from all ages while all booths witnessed a big rush.
“On the concluding day, the NBR should have increased its manpower to help taxpayers get smooth services. The number of tax officials, employed in the booths, are very few in comparison with the crowd,” said Mofizur Rahman who was standing in a queue in front of the booth for Dhaka Tax Zone 3.
The taxpayers, however, said they are happy with the fair arrangement except the lack of manpower. They urged the NBR to organise such events more to help taxpayers get hassle-free services.
During the central concluding ceremony organised in Officers Club premises in Dhaka, NBR chairman Nojibur Rahman said the experimental tax fair draws huge crowd from the taxpayer and the purpose of organising such a fair was succeeded.
He also asked the tax officials to ensure such taxpayer-friendly atmosphere, like the fair venues, at the circle offices and in respective tax zones.
