The National Board of Revenue will start online payment of income tax, VAT and other taxes on May 26, the NBR chairman said yesterday.
Nasiruddin Ahmed spoke at a meeting with the representatives of trade associations at the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI). CCCI President Murshed Murad Ibrahim presided over the meeting.
Nasiruddin emphasised full-fledged automation to streamline the tax administration. Professionals are working to install updated software, ASYCUDA World, to implement full automation of the customs, he said.
Mentioning the steps taken for stopping harassment in collecting tax identification numbers, the NBR boss said people would be able to get TIN registration online from September.
Ahmed signalled that the pre-shipment inspection system would be removed in December.
CCCI placed some proposals to withdraw duties on imported empty LPG cylinders and not to impose additional duty or VAT on imported billets.
Nasiruddin Chowdhury, BGMEA’s first vice president, said factories situated in export processing zones enjoy benefits while importing building materials or machinery and get uninterrupted power and gas supply.
It becomes difficult for the factories outside these special zones to compete in the presence of such discriminations, said Chowdhury who urged the government to provide similar facilities to the factories outside the EPZs too.
Kamal Hayat, senior vice chairman of Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association, urged the authorities to take steps for fast-track customs clearance of imported food items.
The NBR chief promised that reasonable propoasals of the business communities would be considered in the upcoming budget. Ahmed later joined another such meeting organised by Chittagong Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CMCCI).
The NBR chairman also attended a seminar on e-payment and Chittagong Customs House automation, organised by Chittagong Customs House.
Mohammad Nasir Uddin, an NBR member, attended the seminar as a special guest while Maruful Islam, commissioner of Chittagong Customs House, chaired the event.
-With The Daily Star input
