Tax fair gains momentum on second day

The weeklong Income Tax Fair wore a festive mood on the second day with hundreds of taxpayers attending it to avail various kinds of tax-related services under one roof without any hassle.

Friday, the weekly holiday in Bangladesh, drew a large crowd at the fair organised by the National Board of Revenue (NBR).

It was kicked off on November 14. On the first day, former finance secretary Siddiqur Rahman Chowdhury submitted tax return on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina while Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal and his family members paid around Tk 76 million as tax.

The interested taxpayers started to assemble in the Officer’s Club premises where the Fair is taking place. Many were seen standing in the queue from 8:30m in front of the entrance.

Abul Kalam Miah, a Freedom Fighter, said he felt comfortable submitting his tax return during the Fair as there is dedicated booth for Freedom Fighters.

“It’s indeed a fair. I really like it and have been enjoying the fair. This is a very good gesture of the revenue collecting authority towards us,” he said.

Yasmin Farida Bhuiyan, 68, said as the fair set up separate booth for female taxpayers and the senior citizens, submitting income tax return or doing tax-related works is far easier here.

“I like the fair and the atmosphere in here. After the Ekushey Book Fair, this is the one I like most,” she said.

Alamgir Hossain, who lives in Mohammadpur, said he had been availing the opportunity to submit tax return at the Fair as he found solution to any tax-related problems under a single roof.

“This is the best place to submit your tax return,” he said.

The number of taxpayers started to increase as the day progressed.

Some officials told UNB that they feel encouraged when they saw smiles on the faces of the taxpayers after providing desired services.

“Believe me, we’re here just to see the smiles apart from collecting revenue. You can’t imagine how these smiles encourage us,” an assistant commissioner of tax said.

Some 135,758 people visited the fair on the first day and received different tax-related services including opening of e-TINs, submitting returns and paying taxes.

The NBR bagged Tk323.19 crore in taxes from the first day of the fair being held across the country. It received 63,272 tax returns on the day while 4,366 people took electronic TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number).

This year, the fairs are being arranged in 120 spots across the country. The week-long fair in the capital will continue till November 20. At the district level, the fair will run for four days and at the upazila levels, it will be held for two days.

November 30 is the last day for submitting the income tax returns for individual taxpayers.

New taxpayers can collect e-TINs (electronic tax identification numbers) at the fair while other taxpayers can also collect e-TIN through re-registration.

Separate booths have been set up at the fair venues for e-payment and freedom fighters, women, people with disabilities and the elderly.

There are 49 booths in the capital’s tax fair for submitting returns, three bank booths, 2,500 square feet space for filling up the returns, 1,000 sq feet for e-TIN zone. Besides, there are 33 help desks.

The total revenue collection for the 2019-20 fiscal has been estimated to be Tk 3,77,810 crore where the NBR will contribute Tk 3,25,660 crore. Tax revenue from non-NBR sources has been estimated at Tk 14,500 crore. Besides, non-tax revenue is estimated to be Tk 37,710 crore.

Of the amount for the NBR, Tk 1,13,912 crore will come from income, profit and capital tax, Tk 1,23,067 crore will be contributed by VAT, supplementary tax will provide 48,153 crore, Tk 36,498 crore will come from import duty, Tk 54 crore from export duty, Tk 2,239 crore from the excise duty and Tk 1,677 crore as other taxes.