No tax fair this year as NBR wants to cut costs

National Board of Revenue (NBR) will not organise annual income tax fair this year in order to minimise the cost of the organisation, said officials of the National Board of Revenue (NBR).

The NBR prefers not to hold large-scale tax fairs this year as a huge expenditure is involved with organising the event, they added.

Earlier in 2020, 2021 and 2022, income tax fair did not take place due to Covid-19 pandemic, they said, adding that NBR is not organising income tax fair for the fourth consecutive time.

NBR's Public Relations Officer Syed A Mumen told reporters although the tax fair will not be held this time, mini tax fairs will be organised throughout November in all tax zones across the country for the convenience of taxpayers. 

However, taxpayers will get ‘one-stop’ service at all tax offices, he mentioned. 

Besides, taxpayers will have the privilege to pay taxes online using online e-challan, BKash, Rocket, Nagad and Ucash.

He said the NBR will open temporary service centres at Secretariat, Officers Club, Dhaka University and Dhaka Cantonment for providing information and submitting income tax returns.

However, NBR has taken several initiatives for the convenience of taxpayers, which will be implemented by all tax offices across the country.

The NBR will receive income tax returns from November 1 to 30 in a grand and festive atmosphere at tax zone areas.

Every office will open booths and help desk in open spaces or car parking areas to receive tax returns and help taxpayers this year.

The NBR also decided to make an arrangement for providing E-TIN registration and re-registration services at the booths. 

In the first week of December, an award ceremony will be organised in a hotel in the capital for awarding national tax card and the best tax payers of the tax zones in Dhaka. 

On the other hand, all other tax zones outside Dhaka will arrange the programme under their own management. 

The NBR had been holding the month-long annual tax fair since 2010, which usually takes place in November. But due to Covid-19 pandemic and other reasons, taxpayers had to submit their income tax returns at tax offices in the last four years. NBR has 40 tax zones across the country.