Bangladesh Tea Association (BTA) leaders have requested the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for withdrawing 15% Value Added Tax (VATs) and 5% income tax on the lease-value of the tea estates.
The government’s order for paying VAT and tax on the lease-value of tea estates is not applicable in case of getting lease of tea estates or renewal of the leased lands, said BTA vice-president Shah Alam on Wednesday last.
The leaders of BTA came up with the demand while attending a pre-budget meeting with the NBR officials held at its headquarters in the capital with NBR Chairman Md Ghulam Hossain in the chair.
The BTA leaders also urged the NBR to re-introduce 20% supplementary duty on the import of tea as saying, “Local tea businesses are being severely suffered due to the rampant import of the low quality tea, just taking the benefits of less taxes on imported tea.”
There was 20% supplementary duty on the import of tea till 2012-13, which was withdrawn in the current budget.
Urging the NBR officials to protect the local tea producers, BTA leaders said, “Local tea producers are now facing stiff competition because of the whole-sale import of the sub-standard tea, taking the duty advantage.”
Withdrawal of supplementary duty on baby food demanded
Attending the same meeting, Bangladesh Milk and Milk Food Products Manufacturers Association (BMMFPMA) also demanded withdrawal of 25% supplementary duty imposed on the import of baby food. Bangladesh imports a good number of alternative food items of breast feeding for babies, which are very helpful for the growth of the babies and children, said the leaders of the association.
“A total of 56% taxes, including 25% supplementary duty have been imposed on these types of foods. If the supplementary duty is withdrawn, the prices of the imported baby foods will be affordable to most of the parents,” said Rebeka Yasmin, coordinator of the association.
