Quality services needed to boost revenue collection: Finance adviser
People are willing to pay when they get good services in return, he says
Bangladesh's revenue collection will only improve if businesses receive quality services, Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed said today (18 September).
"Tax collection doesn't come from muscle-flexing. It comes from economic growth. If businesses earn, they will pay taxes," he told an event celebrating half a million CLPs, seminar on paperless customs & conferring "e-Return Champion Certificate" to t h e tax payers at a hotel in the capital.
The adviser noted that people are willing to pay when they get good services in return.
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Citing Brazil's tax-to-GDP ratio of around 26 percent, he said, "Businesses and individuals there don't object to paying taxes because they receive excellent services in education, healthcare, and infrastructure."
He warned against focusing solely on revenue targets. "This is not just about revenue collection, it's about providing service. If you give good service, people will pay. If you don't, they won't," he said.
The adviser called on the business community to actively support digitalisation initiatives, which he said will help deliver better services and expand the country's tax base.
He urged all concerned stakeholders and businesses to come forward and join the Bangladesh Single Window (BSW) and thus taking their desired services in moving forward the country's economy.
"I'll request all business people to come forward and join the BSW. I expect that other businesses will also come forward," he said.
Salehuddin said that there would be no compromise with digitalisation as rendering due services by the revenue board within specified timeframe is always very important.
He noted that if required services can be ensured, then the business people would come forward to pay their charges.
"Without the business people and without the private sector, we can't prosper further," he said.
The finance adviser said, "When you walk, you create a path. In this way, BSW has created a path and others will come to the process of digitalisation."
