Digital Duty Drive: Customs Payments Now Linked to Treasury

A new system has been launched enabling importers, exporters, and C&F (Clearing and Forwarding) agents to directly deposit customs-related duties and taxes into the government treasury online. The initiative, jointly taken by the Finance Division and the National Board of Revenue (NBR), came into effect at the beginning of the new fiscal year.

In a press release issued on Saturday (July 5), the NBR announced the commencement of the new system.

According to the statement, “The system has been integrated with the Customs ASYCUDA World service. Through this, the National Board of Revenue and the Finance Division have ushered in a new era by enabling the direct deposit of duties and taxes into the government treasury either offline or online from the importers’ and exporters’ own bank accounts.”

It further noted that under the existing system, taxpayers using the RTGS method could deposit duties and taxes only during specific hours of the day, and it often took several days for the funds to be reflected in the government treasury—resulting in financial inefficiencies. “Now, using automated challans, customs duties can be paid online from anywhere at any time, ensuring faster clearance of goods. The payments made through this challan system will be deposited instantly into the government treasury, allowing immediate utilization of funds by the government,” the release said.

The statement also mentioned that successful integration has been completed between the Finance Division’s iBAS++ (iBAS Scheme) and the National Board of Revenue’s ASYCUDA World system. Following this, on July 1 and 2, comprehensive training was provided under the supervision of officials from both iBAS++ and the NBR to importers, exporters, C&F agents, and all levels of staff at Chattogram Custom House.

Subsequently, on July 3, direct deposit of customs duties into the government treasury through Sonali Bank Custom House and all scheduled banks officially began. “On that day, customs duties exceeding Tk 130 crore were successfully deposited into the treasury against 75 bill entries,” it added.

The challan system is a web-based platform for government revenue collection, enabling importers, exporters, and C&F agents to pay customs duties online using internet banking (debit/credit cards, MFS, etc.) from their homes. They can use the system-generated receipt number to clear goods from the port. Additionally, duties can also be paid at any counter of the 11,700 branches of 61 scheduled banks across the country through account debits or cheque clearings, facilitating swift clearance of imported goods.

Earlier, on April 23, the pilot program of this system was launched at ICD Kamalapur Custom House, followed by Pangaon Custom House. Chattogram Custom House became the third station to implement this process. From July 7, all other custom houses, including Dhaka Custom House, will also begin accepting online duty payments directly into the government treasury via this challan system.

“With the direct deposit of customs duties into the treasury, transparency in revenue collection will be ensured. Simultaneously, the revenue collection process will become simpler and the government’s financial management more disciplined,” the release concluded.