The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has undertaken a fresh move to recognise taxpayers under three more new categories for their outstanding contribution to the government exchequer.
The new categories will include-young, female and other taxpayers (mainly professionals).
As per the plan, a total of 303 taxpayers, consisting of 101 taxpayers from each categories, will be recognised to encourage more people to pay tax which will help widen the overall tax net and ensure increased revenue collection, said officials concerned.
The NBR has come up with the latest move as it found that the contribution of young and female taxpayers is on the rise but still they are being deprived of getting any recognition from the state.
The country’s revenue authorities mostly award heavy weight taxpayers, mostly businesses, considering the volume of payments.
In addition, professionals like doctors, lawyers, teachers, chartered accountants, engineers are also contributing to the government exchequer though they have apparently failed to secure their positions in the list of prestigious tax card winners as given by National Board of Revenue (NBR).
The taxpayers under the three new categories will be awarded on the basis of their income tax statement and tax payment figure as paid in the latest fiscal year once the NBR move comes into effect.
Taxpayers from the three categories are now normally obtaining e-TINs and paying tax as the government has made it mandatory for having an e-TIN for obtaining a number of services including registration and fitness renewal of vehicles, opening letters of credits, getting loans and credit cards, ISD telephone line and application for utility services including gas and electricity connection, said NBR officials.
Currently, the NBR awards prestigious tax cards to top 20 entrepreneurs, 10 each from individual taxpayers and companies, for paying the highest income tax at the national level. The tax cards are awarded in line with the National Tax Card Policy 2010.
The cardholders enjoy privileges to attend the state programme and get priority in using vehicles while their family members also get priority in medical services.
In addition, the NBR now also award the three highest and two long time taxpayers from each city corporations and districts for their contribution to previous fiscal year.
The revenue authorities will amend the existing policy for awarding the top taxpayers by including the three categories as best taxpayers, officials added.
The apex trade body Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry has been requesting the NBR to amend the existing policy as it deprives many highest taxpayers due to its limitations.
Placing its proposal, FBCCI has also requested NBR to award highest taxpayers dividing them into seven categories for proper distribution of the awards. The categories are- individual, corporate, entrepreneurs, female entrepreneurs, disabled, senior citizens and service sector professionals.
In this regard, NBR Chairman Md Nojibur Rahman said: “National and district wise tax cards deprive many actual highest taxpayers.”
“People want to pay tax and we are working for ensuring congenial tax payment atmosphere for them. As women and youth consist of a large portion of the country, we want to recognise their contribution,” he added.
