NBR honours 350 taxpayers
Income Tax Day observed countrywide
Finance
Minister AMA Muhith leads a procession of the National Board of Revenue
in Dhaka yesterday to mark Income Tax Day.Photo: STARThe tax authority handed over crests and certificates to 90 taxpayers in Dhaka at a function at Officers' Club.
Similar programmes were also organised in other cities.
Dividing in two categories -- long time and highest taxpayers -- the tax administrator picked five taxpayers from each of all six city corporations and five taxpayers from each of 64 districts.
Among the five from each city corporation and each district, the NBR honoured two taxpayers for paying tax for a long time and three for becoming the highest taxpayers in fiscal 2010-11.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith handed over the crests and certificates to these taxpayers out of the total 9 lakh taxpayers in the country. NBR Chairman Nasiruddin Ahmed and other officials were present at the ceremony.
''I feel honoured. It's a great feeling. Such recognition gives inspiration to continue paying tax. I will try to pay more tax to get this recognition,'' said Asadul Islam after receiving the award for becoming the second highest taxpayer in Narayanganj district.
Islam, managing director of clothing firm Asrotex Group, said he paid Tk 17 lakh as an individual in fiscal 2010-11 and was nominated for the award for the first time.
''I saw others being honoured in the past years and thought how I can become the highest taxpayer,'' said Islam.
Though this was the fourth year the tax administrator honoured large and long time taxpayers in its bid to boost revenue by creating awareness among people, many still do not pay tax fearing hassles.
The NBR also held rally in the morning and engaged students in the campaign.
''We should not evade tax. If we all pay tax regularly and properly, it will help our country progress,'' said Yunus Ali, who became the largest taxpayer in Dhaka district.
Ali, who has been paying tax since 1990, said the recognition he and others received should inspire others.
Aminul Islam, second highest taxpayer from Munshiganj district, said he was happy to be honoured by the government.
''I am very much delighted. I feel good when I think that the tax I pay is used for the welfare of people,'' said the taxpayer from Munshiganj.
To encourage people to pay tax and help eliminate the fear of hassles, the tax administrator also organised fairs in the past couple of years, including the Income Tax Fair.
This year the fair will begin tomorrow in all divisional cities and run until September 22.
Visitors will get tax identification number (TIN) instantly, submit tax returns and deposit payable tax apart from other assistances at the fair.
To ease tax payment and registration, the NBR also takes various steps including creating scope for the taxpayers to submit their returns online.
It has also installed a tax calculator at its website to help the taxpayers assess the amount of their payable taxes.
Azizur Rahman, a long time taxpayer from Rajbari district, said the government should ensure an environment where the taxpayers can get services without any harassment by tax officials.
''Sometimes tax officials demand bribe during the submission of income tax returns. This should go. We want them to help us so that we can pay tax easily,'' said Rahman, who has been paying tax for the last 38 years.