Tax fair fetches Tk 2.8 billion on fourth day

FT ONLINE

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) received Tk 2.8 billion in income tax against 92,916 returns submitted at the nationwide income tax fair on Sunday.

With this, the total tax collected so far has climbed to Tk 13.47 billion against 314,565 returns submitted in the last four days, according to the NBR.

Some 968,907 people have so far received different services from the fair.

NBR has issued some 16,541 taxpayer identification numbers (TINs) from the fair as of Sunday.

The revenue board is planning to collect Tk 30 billion in income tax this time.

NBR has introduced a maiden website www.aykormela.gov.bd this year where taxpayers can complete two-thirds of their return submission work online, officials said.

The fourth consecutive day of the weeklong fair witnessed a significant number of visitors on Sunday, even though it was a workday.

Like past years, NBR has been hosting the fair from November 14 with an eye to spurring people to pay taxes.

In Dhaka, the fair is holding on the Officers' Club premise which will continue until November 20.

The fair is concurrently running at divisional headquarters, at district towns for four days and at 45 Upazilas for two days.

A one-day tax fair will be held at 57 growth centres at Upazila level.

There are at the city's fairground, separate booths have been set up for freedom fighters, women, people with disabilities and elderly taxpayers.

The tenth edition of the fair has gained huge popularity as it gives an opportunity for taxpayers to submit tax returns without visiting any tax offices.

They will be able to file returns, pay taxes and do other related tasks at the fair venue with the help of the taxmen.

Anyone can also get electronic tax identification numbers (e-TINs) at the fairs.

Mobile financial services like Nagad, Bikash, Rocket, Upay and SurePay will be interconnected with the e-payment portal of NBR.

The fair will open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm every day during the fair.