The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is likely to start a door-to-door zonal survey from next month to bring more individuals under the tax net aiming to collect more revenue without increasing tax rate.

Each zonal office of the NBR would conduct the survey in their respective area and send the findings to the Board.

The last such zonal survey was held in 2003.

"It is nothing special or new for NBR; it's routine for us," said an NBR high official. The NBR already held a meeting in this connection and conveyed the message to all its zonal offices.

Recently, NBR chairman Muhammad Abdul Mazid told the reporters that they were working to expand the tax net, instead of raising the tax rate, to increase its revenue collection.

As per the NBR data, there are more than two million (20 lakh) of Tax Identification Number (TIN) holders in the country, while only 645,617 individuals submitted income tax returns this year (2007-08).