NBR sees growing use of e-returns by expatriate Bangladeshis

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has reported an encouraging response to its online income tax return (e-return) system in the 2025–26 tax year, with a marked rise in participation from expatriate Bangladeshis despite the service not being mandatory for them.

According to an NBR media release issued this evening (12 January), around 4.553 million taxpayers have so far registered with the e-return system, while 3.188 million taxpayers have already submitted their income tax returns online for the 2025–26 tax year.

Under a special order issued by the NBR, online submission of income tax returns has been made mandatory for all individual taxpayers, except senior citizens aged 65 years and above, physically challenged and special-needs taxpayers, Bangladeshis residing abroad, legal representatives filing returns on behalf of deceased taxpayers, and foreign nationals working in Bangladesh.

The e-return submission system for the 2025–26 tax year was formally inaugurated on August 4, 2025, by Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed through the NBR's dedicated website, www.etaxnbr.gov.bd.

Although expatriate Bangladeshis are exempt from the mandatory online filing requirement, a growing number of them are voluntarily using the digital platform to submit their tax returns.

The NBR noted that Bangladeshis living abroad are increasingly embracing the e-return system, reflecting rising trust and confidence in the country's digital tax services.

To facilitate overseas taxpayers, the NBR has introduced a simplified registration process.

Non-resident Bangladeshis can apply for access to the e-return system by sending their passport number, national identity card number, email address and other relevant information to ereturn@etaxnbr.gov.bd.

Upon verification, the applicants receive a one-time password (OTP) and a registration link via email, enabling them to complete registration and submit their returns online from abroad.

So far, nearly 5,000 expatriate Bangladeshis have successfully completed registration using OTPs sent to their email addresses.

Of them, around 3,300 non-resident taxpayers have already paid income tax online from overseas and submitted their e-returns for the current tax year.

The NBR also reported that, on average, around 100 expatriate taxpayers per day are seeking e-return-related services via email from abroad, which are being handled by the e-Tax Management Unit under the revenue board.

Officials said the strong participation of expatriate Bangladeshis, alongside domestic taxpayers, is providing a significant boost to the NBR's digital transformation drive and strengthening the momentum of its technology-based taxpayer services.

The revenue authority expressed optimism that the growing acceptance of the e-return system would help improve tax compliance, reduce administrative hassles and ensure greater transparency in tax administration.

The NBR has urged all individual taxpayers, including expatriate Bangladeshis, to submit their 2025–26 income tax returns by January 31, 2026, through the e-return system, while pledging to enhance the platform and expand digital services for easier, faster, and more taxpayer-friendly compliance.