DHAKA: Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain said tax friendly culture should be introduced to expand the tax collection zone.

Tax return and wealth statement submission process should be easy so that people do not face harassment, CJ added.

The Chief Justice was addressing as chief guest at the 30-year anniversary function of monthly newspaper ‘Koradalat’ at Supreme Court Bar Association on Saturday (Sep 22).

CJ Mahmud said, “It is said that those who pay taxes are the ones who face problems and those who do not pay have no problem. We have to get out of such culture.”

“The tax law is very dry and critical matter. It is also ambiguous. An ambiguous law creates scope for arbitrariness and people face harassment. If our existing tax law can be made simpler with research then people will be more encouraged to pay taxes. Moreover, revenue collection will also be boosted if tax and revenue related cases are disposed swiftly. It is the demand of the times to digitalize the tax system,” CJ said.

Mahmud also said, “The government has taken reform initiatives to expand the revenue income. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is working firmly to attain 50 percent of revenue from income tax sector by the 2021-22 Fiscal Year. It is really impressive considering that only 20 percent of revenue was collected from income tax sector a decade ago. The government has already improved the percentage to 35. It is very promising and I hope soon we will be fully upgraded into a middle income country.”

Justice Syed Amirul Islam, Bar Council member Syed Rezaur Rahman, NBR member Md Sirazul Islam and Taxes Lawyer Association president Monirul Huda also spoke at the program chaired by ‘Karadalat’ publisher and editor lawyer Abu Amzad.

BDST: 2110 HRS, SEP 22, 2018
AP/SMS