Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has found that majority sponsors of four new banks have submitted correct wealth statements and paid tax regularly to the public exchequer.
After scrutinizing individual tax files of all 147 sponsors of four proposed commercial banks, the board recently submitted a report to the Bangladesh Bank (BB) following latter’s queries about tax matters.
Four proposed banks are South Bangla Agricultural and Commerce Bank Limited, Midland Bank Limited, Union Bank Limited and Meghna Bank Limited..
The NBR has found that 131 sponsors have paid all due taxes in the previous tax years while 16 have some dues for the current year.
A senior income tax official said those sponsors paid all taxes recently after the taxmen completed assessment of their tax files.
He said the time for individual tax returns expired just two months ago and taxmen are now conducting assessment of the returns.
“We have found huge enthusiasm among the sponsors of the new banks for paying due taxes as claimed by the tax officials,” he added.
The central bank earlier sought three major information that include verification of wealth statement, checking of undisputed arrear tax and previous history of re-opening tax files being suspicious of tax evasion.
“The NBR has found that the wealth statements of the sponsors have already been certified by the taxmen. So, there is no scope to raise any question,” the tax official said.
He also said the revenue board submitted all details as sought by the central bank but it did not pass any comment.
“It’s the central bank’s authority to check the tax and loan payment status of the sponsors and give them approval,” he added.
BBN/SSR/AD-20Jan13-12:50 pm (BST)
