The government has exempted Value Added Tax (VAT) on the amount payable against all media rights purchased by Bangladesh Television (BTV) from Fifa for broadcasting matches of the ongoing Fifa World Cup 2026.
The Internal Revenue Division (IRD) has also imposed four conditions while granting this facility.
In a recently issued order, the IRD said that this VAT exemption will be effective from June 23, 2026. However, it will only be applicable to the amount payable by BTV against the purchase of all media rights of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
According to the government decision, BTV's expenditure to buy the World Cup broadcasting rights is Tk73 crore. VAT will not be paid against this.
The purchase proposal was approved at the meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Government Procurement held on June 7 earlier. The meeting was chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.
According to government information, this time BTV has bought the live broadcasting rights from Fifa. The cost is Tk73 crore, which is about Tk25 crore less than the previous World Cup.
The IRD order states that first, the VAT exemption will be applicable only to the amount payable against the purchase of all media rights of BTV for the Fifa World Cup 2026.
Second, a detailed account statement of the amount paid for this must be submitted to the concerned VAT Commissionerate within 10 days of the payment.
Third, no sub-licensee of BTV will get the benefit of this VAT exemption.
Fourth, this VAT exemption will not be applicable to any other service received within the country except the World Cup broadcasting rights.
The IRD said that this special VAT exemption has been given with the aim of ensuring the broadcasting of the World Cup and reducing the expenses of the government broadcasting media.
However, BTV will have to take this benefit by properly following the prescribed conditions.
