Up to 35 lakh people submit annual tax returns in the country even though the number should reach more than one crore given the individual income, said NBR Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem on Thursday.
The number can be raised if the people having taxable income come forward as their responsibility to the country, he said. Tax officials cannot force everyone to submit income tax returns.
Muneem was speaking at a seminar on income tax returns, held at the NBR Building in Agargaon.
He said that many consider submitting income tax returns as a burden. Sometimes taxpayers feel that the government is collecting taxes unfairly.
“We want to maintain a good relationship with the taxpayers. We don’t want to scare taxpayers. We trust taxpayers, but taxpayers also have to keep that trust on us,” he added.
The NBR Chairman said TRP has been appointed to increase the number of income tax return filing. They will help the taxpayers on behalf of NBR.
“You will pay taxes to build a prosperous Bangladesh. Infrastructural development, including roads are getting the benefit of tax money. People should understand that,” he said.
Attorney General Abu Mohammad Amin Uddin was present as the chief guest at the seminar. Member of the tax policy department Shams Uddin Ahmed presented the keynote paper on `New Income Tax Law and Tax Compliance in the seminar.
