Compliance pays off
The NBR now recognises the highest taxpayers in 13 categories for individuals and 14 categories for companies
Some 26 individuals and 32 companies, for their for the third year in row, have made it to the list of the top taxpayers who will be recognised for exemplary compliance in 2017-18.
They are among 141 top taxpayers who would be bestowed with tax card sat a ceremony on November 12.
The tax administration yesterday released the names of the top taxpayers in their respective professions and industries for the last fiscal year.
This is the third year the NBR is recognising top taxpayers based on the amended tax card policy framed in 2010 after it found that many taxpayers were left out despite regularly furnishing the state coffers with sizeable sums.
Between 2010-11 and 2014-15, the tax cards were given only in two categories: individuals and companies, with 10 tax cards for each group to encourage compliance in the country where just over 1 percent of the population file returns.
The revenue board now recognises the highest taxpayers in 13 categories for individuals and 14 categories.
Some 76 tax cards, which offer privileges to the cardholders, are given to individual taxpayers, 55 to companies and 10 to other categories.
Nearly 50 taxpayers, representing both individuals and companies, have secured their positions in the list for the first time this year, according to the gazette published by the NBR.
In the senior citizen category, Gazi Group Founder and Chairman Golam Dastagir Gazi was named the top tax taxpayer, followed by Square Pharma's Managing Director Tapan Chowdhury.
Chowdhury has made it to the list for the first time while Gazi for the third time.
In the category of war-wounded freedom fighters, Abu Saleh Mohammad Nasim and Md Nasir Uddin Mridha have become the top taxpayers for the third year in a row. Md Mamunur Rashid has been one of the top taxpayers in the challenged category since 2016.
In the women category, Nishat Farzana Chowdhury has become one of the top taxpayers for the third consecutive year. Nafis Sikder has retained his position as the top taxpayer in the young taxpayer category for the third year in a row. Kauch Mia, owner of the popular chewing tobacco brand Hakimpuri Zarda, retained his spot. Six individuals of pharmaceutical firm Drug International were also included in this year's list.
In the physician category, Pran Gopal Dutta and Zahangir Kabir were the top taxpayers for the third year in a row. Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, also a lawmaker, and Ahsanul Karim are going to be honoured for the third year in the law profession.
Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star, Matiur Rahman, editor and publisher of the Prothom Alo, and MA Malek, editor of the Dainik Azadi of Chittagong, would be honoured in the journalist category for the third consecutive year. Shykh Seraj, director and head of news of Channel i, and Noyeem Nizam, editor of the Bangladesh Pratidin, will also get the card.
Three cricketers Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza will be given the tax card for the third year in a row in the sportsmen category.
Under the broad category of company, Islami Bank Bangladesh, Standard Chartered Bank and HSBC Bank have been included in the list of top taxpaying banks.
IDLC Finance and Uttara Finance and Investment will be honoured in the non-bank financial institution category.
Grameenphone will take home the honour in the telecommunication category and BSRM Steels in the engineering category.
In the food and allied sector category, Nestlé Bangladesh retained its position as the highest taxpayer since 2016, followed by Olympic Industries. Transcom Beverage, which was one of the top taxpayers in the same category since 2016, has once again secured its position.
Other companies that will get tax cards include state-run Titas Gas, Janata Jute Mills, Coats Bangladesh, Unilever Bangladesh, Bay Developments, Rifat Garments, That's IT Sportswear, British American Tobacco, American Life Insurance Company, Walton Micro-tech Corporation, Walton Plaza and ASBS.
The Daily Star's owning company Mediaworld Ltd, its printer Transcraft Ltd, Prothom Alo's owning company Mediastar and East West Media Group Ltd have been getting tax card since 2016 in the print and electronic media category.
