The National Board of Revenue has registered a record revenue collection from just concluded nationwide week-long income tax fair through collection of over Tk1675crore from the fair.
The NBR was easily able to surpass its target of collecting Tk1500 crore from the fair as it has collected Tk1675.31 crore this year. It is around Tk558 crore or 49.98% higher from the last year’s collection of Tk1117.40 crore.
According to the final figure, a total of 6,49,185 people took different services from the fair which is 27.25% up from last year as the board, in 2013 served only 5.10 lakh people in the fair venues.
The board has received tax returns from 1,49,309 taxpayers in the fair which was 1,32,017 in the previous year.
From the tax fair this year, the NBR issued Taxpayer’s Identification Number (TIN) to 26,745 people including 15,907 as new taxpayers and 10,838 as old taxpayers.
NBR officials said the board was able to manage the huge revenue as the fair was expanded in 57 districts this year.
The fair drew huge crowd and spontaneous participation of taxpayers, particularly on the last day, NBR officials said.
At the Dhaka venue at Officers Club, many taxpayers were seen waiting for hours due to the huge rush.
There were huge rush in almost all the booths and tax officials were struggling to provide smooths services. The NBR introduced the fair in 2010 offering people one-stop services.
The NBR was able to mobilise Tk359.83 crore from 34,539 returns filed yesterday from the fair venues in 13 districts. The taxmen have served 1,04,552 taxpayers and service seekers.
Talking to reporters at the fair venue yesterday afternoon, NBR member (tax administration) Bashir Uddin Ahmed said the aim of the fair was to make people aware.
“Now, the taxpayers can get any services through online, except the return filing. From next year, they will be able to file their returns online,” he added.
State Minister for Finance MA Mannan said the income tax fair had made a positive impact on the economy as the taxpayers are getting modern facilities from the fair.
NBR member Bashir Uddin Ahmed presided over the programme.
The NBR member also hoped that the tax fair in 2015 would completely be a digital fair.
