The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Government is going to introduce a 'National Income Tax Day' in honour of taxpayers to encourage people to pay their due income tax regularly.

We will honour some taxpayers on the day, Chairman of the National Board Revenue (NBR) Muhammad Abdul Mazid told reporters at a press briefing at his office yesterday.

He said, the NBR will find out a day of September for declaring it as 'Income Tax Day' in convenience with the schedule of Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in whose presence the taxpayers will be honoured.

Five taxpayers of each district will be awarded; of them two will be selected for paying taxes regularly over a long period and three who have paid most taxes.

The NBR has invited proposals through all circle offices to identify the top taxpayers for the award, the NBR chief said.

The best VAT paying organisation of each district will also be rewarded. But how many will be rewarded is yet to be decided, he informed.

"We will show all kinds of flexibility to self-motivated taxpayers who have taken new taxpayers identification number (TIN) under the motivational scheme," Mazid said.

Replying to a question the NBR chief said, "Measures against tax evasion is an ongoing process and it will continue countrywide round the year."

"Nobody will be exempt; allegations will be investigated, and necessary steps will be taken against them in line with the income tax laws," he added.

In reply to another question, he said, "The NBR will assist the Election Commission as much as it needs in the interests of a free and fair election."

The NBR is still working to further extend the tax net outside Dhaka, the chairman said, adding that he and other officials were visiting districts and upazilas to that end.

"We are getting positive responses," he said.

In July, the NBR netted 9,778 new taxpayers from the local areas. They enlisted themselves, requesting Tax Identification Numbers, voluntarily.

"Many people are coming forward to paying income taxes willingly," the NRB boss said.

Mazid also mentioned successful revenue collection in the first month of current fiscal year. "We have got a positive response at the very beginning of the year."

"We have realised revenue of Tk 3,709.52 crore in July, which is 6.81 percent more than the target and 23.67 percent more than achieved in the same.j month of the previous fiscal," he said.