NBR keen on ‘100pc compulsory’ income tax returns for next year

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is aiming to make income tax return filing “100 percent compulsory” next year, except for individuals with special circumstances. NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman made the announcement on Sunday during a workshop at NBR Bhaban in Agargaon, highlighting the significant increase in online tax return submissions this fiscal year.

According to Rahman, the number of tax returns has risen “five times” compared to the previous year, with nearly 1.5 million returns already submitted. He emphasized that online filing is now essential, as the system automates tax calculations, eliminating the need for taxpayers to manually determine taxable amounts or tax rates.

The NBR plans to introduce an online tax return system from July 1 next year, making the process more efficient. The system will save taxpayers’ data for long-term records, and an app will be launched to facilitate easy filing. Additionally, corporate tax returns will also be mandated to be filed online from next year.

Rahman assured that the responsibility for any errors in the automated system would fall on the NBR, rather than taxpayers, unlike manual filing, where individuals are accountable for mistakes.

In the 2024-25 fiscal year, more than 1.49 million taxpayers have already filed returns online, while over 1.89 million have registered for online tax filing.