While plenty of attempts have been made by relevant authorities in the last few years, taxation continues to be a cumbersome affair for citizens at large.
Of the approximately 8 million e-TIN holders in the country, only about 2.5 million were recorded to have submitted their tax returns last year.
It is no secret that the tax system of our country has been flawed; a lack of proper management and complicated procedure have discouraged taxpayers from going through with the process.
With the deadline for submitting income tax returns fast approaching, it is encouraging to see that National Reserve Bangladesh (NRB) has taken initiatives to assist taxpayers in the process. According to reports, the tax service month they have launched will operate under all 31 tax zones in the country, where taxpayers will receive support in submitting their tax returns.
This is undoubtedly a worthy initiative, and may be useful for a large portion of the tax paying population to be familiarized with the process.
However, it is not a sustainable solution to the problem. The tax system of our country requires major changes, where the digital method is made simpler for the general public to operate, while also ensuring that the manual method is not met with the same inconveniences that we are typically subjected to at government offices.
Unless the taxation process is simplified, citizens will continue to be wary of the system, and the country will lose out on the revenue required to advance as a nation.
Taxes are certainly an important source of revenue -- not only for the country, but for the people, too. As long as the procedure is streamlined for the taxpayers' convenience and ease of access to service, there's no reason why we should lose out on any more income for the country's benefit.
