Taxpayers filing returns online or through e-returns will no longer need to upload or submit any physical documents; providing the relevant information will suffice, according to National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan. He clarified that, unlike the traditional method where salaried individuals are required to submit proof of income, such as a full-year bank statement, online filers will only need to input the relevant details from their bank statements without having to upload any physical copies.
The NBR Chairman made this announcement at a press conference held on Wednesday at the NBR building in Agargaon, Dhaka. Senior officials from the NBR’s customs, tax, and VAT departments were also present.
Rahman Khan further explained that for online submission, taxpayers will only need to provide information such as the bank account balance as of June 30, interest earned, and the bank account number.
Additionally, the NBR announced that submitting tax returns online has been made mandatory for employees of government bodies under tax circles of four city corporations, scheduled banks, mobile companies, and several other entities, including Unilever Bangladesh, British American Tobacco Bangladesh, Marico Bangladesh, Berger Paints Bangladesh, Bata Shoe Company (Bangladesh), and Nestle Bangladesh PLC.
During the press conference, it was revealed that in the fiscal year 2023-24, approximately 4.4 million taxpayers filed their returns, but only 500,000 of those submissions were made online.
Addressing concerns about high service fees imposed by some banks and financial institutions for tax payments, Rahman Khan remarked, “This practice is unreasonable. We have already discussed this with the relevant authorities to ensure that charges are not based on a percentage of the tax amount.”
He provided an example, stating, “Whether a tax file is worth BDT 20,000 or BDT 20 million, the process remains the same. So, why should fees be based on the tax amount?”
Rahman Khan also announced plans to reduce the need for taxpayers to visit tax offices by deploying volunteers to assist taxpayers at home. “We are considering involving university commerce students, providing them with short training to help taxpayers prepare their tax returns at home,” he said.
When asked about the partial abolition of the provision to legalize undisclosed income (black money) and future plans for land and flat investments, the NBR Chairman said, “We will consider this in the upcoming budget or make necessary changes sooner if required.”