Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Bangladesh on Saturday launched the first-ever e-payment of tax in an effort to help people pay tax without hassle and at any time from anywhere.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the e-payment system in the city by paying an advance income tax amounting to BDT 200,000 for fiscal year (FY) 2012-13.
Sheikh Hasina called for spurring all people eligible for paying tax to bring them under tax net to boost revenue and free the country from the net of the income beyond tax.
"There is no alternative to increasing revenue as we want to stand on our own feet and fulfill our development goals with own financing,” the prime minister said while inaugurating the online tax payment system at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital Dhaka.
She also urged all to work unitedly to build a prosperous and peaceful Digital Bangladesh by 2021 free from hunger and poverty and materialize the dream of building Sonar Bangla of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The country witnessed a tremendous success in realization of direct taxes over the last three years due to various pragmatic steps of the government, the prime minister said, adding that the country witnessed 18 percent growth and almost a double revenue income in the current fiscal due to this success.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) arranged the launching program of ‘NBR-Sonali Bank e-payment system. In the program, NBR handed over a crest and pre-paid card to the prime minister for payment of online tax.
From now on, people will be able to pay income tax, Value Added Tax (VAT) and customs duty online through 26 private commercial banks with support from Sonali Bank. Even expatriate Bangladeshis can avail the service in a specific portal of the system.
Four types of users can avail the service -- the taxpayer himself/herself, his/her legal representative, authorities who deduct tax at source and other persons. Travel tax or gift tax can also be paid through the service.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Economic Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Mashiur Rahman, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President AK Azad and NBR Chairman Nasiruddin Ahmed attended the program.
BBN/SSR/AD-26May12-10:08 pm (BST)
