Election candidates will have to submit tax certificates
The tax authority will make submission of income tax certificates mandatory for candidates running for elections in future, said National Board of Revenue Chairman Md Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan yesterday.
“Those who take part in elections spend quite a good amount of money,” he said at a meeting on the expansion of tax net at Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).
The Central Tax Survey Zone under the NBR organised the event to motivate taxpayers about compliance.
He, however, did not specify when the new rule would come forth. Candidates for city corporation and union council elections must furnish their taxpayer identification number (TINs) for running in election for local government bodies.
“If the person does not pay tax, how would he/she be able to serve the nation? So, we will take steps in future,” he said, citing the plan to make submission of a certificate of tax office confirming tax return filing by the person. The NBR with the support of city corporations will carry out a survey in households, especially in Dhaka, to identify potential taxpayers.
He also directed taxmen to take steps to double the number of TINs from present 32 lakh in the next one year. “And the number of return submission has to double.”
Some 18 lakh taxpayers submitted income tax returns in fiscal 2017-18.
At present, Bangladesh's tax-GDP ratio is about 10 percent.
“We have a target of increasing the ratio to 15 percent by 2021,” he said, while calling upon taxpayers to pay tax.
Stern actions would be taken for misconduct or irregularities by taxmen.
“Taxmen should encourage people in tax payment in a friendly manner. They should be assured that they would not face any trouble in future,” Bhuiyan added.
DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon said there should be transparency in the use of taxpayers' money.
“Then people will feel inspired to pay tax,” he said.
Khokon, citing the 7 percent growth of economy, said tax is necessary for ensuring balanced distribution of wealth.
A large section of people will be deprived if fruits of economic growth are concentrated to a small number of people.
“Society cannot function properly if there is instability and discrimination.”
Khokon, citing loan scams in banks and wilful defaulters, said there is no meaning to feeding scamsters with taxpayers' money.
Marginal taxpayers want to pay tax, said Zia Uddin Mahmood, member of NBR's tax administration and human resources management.
But there is a tendency among large taxpayers to evade tax, he said.
Among others, NBR Member Tax Survey and Inspection Mohammad Golam Nobi and Commissioner of Central Tax Survey Zone Md Asaduzzaman spoke.
