Kamal urges highest taxpayers to motivate others to pay tax

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DHAKA, Nov 14, 2019 (BSS) – Reiterating that the tax rate would be reduced keeping intact the target of overall collection of taxes, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal today urged the valued taxpayers to motivate other citizens of the country to pay tax and thus contribute to the development efforts.

“I’ll urge all of you (highest taxpayers) to motivate others including your neighbors, friends and near and dear ones to pay tax,” he said.

The finance minister was addressing a function marking the distribution of tax cards, crests and certificates among the highest taxpayers at a city hotel this evening.

Prime Minister’s Economic Affairs Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman and Parliamentary Standing Committee Chairman on Finance Ministry AH Mahmood Ali spoke on the occasion as special guests chaired by the Chairman of the NBR Md Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan.

NBR Member (tax administration and human resource management) Kalipada Halder gave the address of welcome.

The highest taxpayer in ‘businessmen’ category Alhaj Md Kaus Mia expressed his feelings as being the highest taxpayer in this category. Speaking as the chief guest, Kamal also reiterated that he would fulfill his commitment of reducing the tax rate keeping intact the target of overall collection of taxes.

In this regard, he said that a committee would be formed to find out an equilibrium for collecting the targeted tax.

The finance minister also assured the countrymen and the taxpayers of addressing the alleged irregularities and deviations in the collection process of taxes.

Noting that there is deficit to some extent in collection of taxes in the current fiscal year, Kamal hoped that this deficit would be covered.

Mentioning that the government and the taxpayers are the integral part of country’s development, he said that they have brought the country to such a level now from no where.

The finance minister also expressed his high hope that the size of the country’s economy would reach $ one trillion by 2030.

PM’s Economic Affairs Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman said since the state and the government put their sincere efforts, the taxpayers are now getting their due recognition and Honour. “I hope the list of honoring the highest taxpayers will be longer in the coming years.”

He also opined for providing such Honour to the highest VAT payers. AH Mahmood Ali welcomed the proposal for forming a joint working group towards smooth implementation of the VAT Act.

Noting that the country has been attaining tremendous continued revenue growth over the last 10 years, Ali suggested for bringing more people under the purview of income tax as well as incorporating tax related matters in the academic curriculum at school level.

He also suggested for using something positive word instead of the ‘tax net’.

NBR Chairman Md Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said the taxpayers are circulating blood to the country’s development hoping that new taxpayers would come up in the coming days inspired by the instance of Alhaj Kaus Mia.

Later, the finance minister with other guests distributed tax cards, crests and certificates among the highest taxpayers in different categories.

In continuation of the successes of the previous years, the revenue board this year honoring a total of 521 taxpayers across the country including 374 highest taxpayers and some 147 persons for providing taxes for a long time.

Besides, the NBR provided tax cards, crests and tax Honour to some 141 taxpayers at individual and institution level today in three different categories.

The 10th edition of the week-long income tax fair began today in a bid to create massive awareness among people on tax as well as render tax- related services.

The fair will continue in all the divisional cities, including the capital, till November 20. The fair in the capital is being held on the Officers’ Club premises.

The slogan of this edition of the fair is “Sobai Mile Dibo Kor, Desh Hobe Swanirbhor’ while the theme of the fair has been set at “Voluntary participation in paying taxes, implementation of vision is ensured.”

The Income Tax Fair would be held in all the district headquarters for four days while for two days in 48 upazilas.

Besides, a one-day ‘mobile income tax fair’ will be held at eight growth centres at upazila-level.

Like the previous years, the taxpayers would get bank booth facilities on the fair premises to submit their tax returns side by side the tax officials would assist them at the designated support centres.