No tax collection through harassment, promises finance minister
Amir Khasru says the government will consult taxpayers to build a business-friendly tax system and improve revenue collection.
The government will not collect taxes by harassing businesses and will instead create a taxpayer-friendly environment to encourage revenue collection, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said today (8 September).
"Taxes paid by them keep this country running. Therefore, we have to listen to them. No tax will be collected by causing them inconvenience," he told journalists after a meeting with National Board of Revenue officials at Agargaon in Dhaka.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The minister said the government wants to maintain an environment conducive to revenue collection while ensuring fair facilities and opportunities for businesses.
Govt to consult taxpayers on VAT system
Asked about his meeting earlier in the day with mobile telecom operator Banglalink, Khosru said the company has raised some issues, which were discussed.
"We have to listen to those who pay taxes. We cannot remain detached from them," he said.
On a proposal to restore monthly VAT return submissions after the filing frequency had been changed to once every three months, the minister said the government would consult taxpayers before developing a sound tax system.
Taxes paid by them [businesses] keep this country running. Therefore, we have to listen to them. No tax will be collected by causing them inconvenience.
"The government's goal is to maintain an environment conducive to revenue collection while ensuring fair facilities and opportunities for businesses," he said.
NBR told to recover outstanding dues
A senior NBR official who attended the meeting told The Business Standard on condition of anonymity that the minister has instructed officials to place greater emphasis on recovering outstanding dues.
"He has instructed us to place greater emphasis on recovering outstanding dues," the official said.
He added that the meeting also focused on increasing revenue collection by expediting the settlement of pending cases.
The NBR chairman and other senior officials attended the meeting.
Journalists also asked the minister about a significant shortfall in VAT collection during the first two months of the current fiscal 2026-27 and the reasons behind it, but he declined to comment.
