Online tax filing: What Unilever’s Masud Khan says
During the event, he highlighted various concerns and objections raised by businesspeople regarding Bangladesh’s tax, customs, and VAT systems.
Masud Khan, chairman of Unilever Consumer Care, who has been associated with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) for more than four decades, has described the current online tax return filing system as difficult and confusing.
This contrasts with the long-standing claim of National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan, who has repeatedly said that the system is very easy.
Speaking at an event held on Wednesday (21 January) at the BDBL Building in the capital, Masud Khan said, "I have been with ICAB for 46 years. Yet I struggled to file my tax return online. It is extremely confusing and complex." He added that although his son lives abroad and is usually able to file tax returns easily, the situation in Bangladesh is different.
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After the event, he told The Business Standard, "My son lives in the USA, where tax returns can be filed very easily." "I asked for his help after failing to complete it myself. He said it was very complicated, and eventually, even he could not do it," Masud Khan said.
However, the NBR chairman has repeatedly stated on various programs that online tax return filing is very easy.
According to him, "Anyone who can click the 'like' button on Facebook can fill out an online tax return." Masud Khan also said even after submitting a return following numerous hassles, neither individuals nor companies know whether their return has been finally accepted.
He explained, "After submission, the return may still be selected for audit by the commissionerate, tax intelligence, or the Central Intelligence Cell (CIC). Even after that, it may again be audited. As an assessee, I do not know when my return will finally be accepted."
During the event, he highlighted various concerns and objections raised by businesspeople regarding Bangladesh's tax, customs, and VAT systems.
The event, titled 'Revenue Challenges and Solutions in Implementing the Commitments of the Post-Election Political Government,' was jointly organised by Voice for Reforms and the Bangladesh Research Analysis and Information Network (BRAIN).
Fahim Mashroor, head of Voice for Reforms, conducted the programme, while Jyoti Rahman presented the keynote paper. Economists and revenue experts also shared their views at the event.
