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More than 4.0 million taxpayers have submitted their income tax returns online for the 2025–26 tax year, marking a sharp rise in digital compliance after the National Board of Revenue made e-filing mandatory for most individual taxpayers.

According to the revenue authority, nearly 5.0 million taxpayers registered in the e-return system between August 4, 2025 and March 4, 2026. Last year, only 1.39 million returns were filed online within the deadline.

Among the online filers this year, 50,427 taxpayers paid a wealth surcharge — 39,363 male and 11,065 female — accounting for about 1.26 per cent of total submissions.

Filing Gains Momentum

Online return submission picked up pace during the peak tax season months.

August saw 251,784 filings, followed by 301,302 in September and 454,076 in October. The number surged in November to 1,040,472 and remained high in December with 978,198 submissions.

Filings continued in January with 655,363 returns, followed by 294,987 in February and 36,700 in the first four days of March. Officials expect the numbers to rise further ahead of the March 31 deadline.

Of the total returns submitted so far, 2.86 million were filed by male taxpayers and 1.13 million by female taxpayers.

Income Profile of Filers

Salary income was reported by 1.61 million male and 470,000 female taxpayers. Rental income was declared by 187,754 male filers and 84,477 female filers.

A large number of returns reported income below the taxable threshold — 1.43 million male and 760,000 female taxpayers.

Meanwhile, 29,080 male taxpayers and 5,117 female taxpayers declared annual income exceeding Tk 4 million.

Digital Shift in Tax Compliance

Under the new rules introduced last year, online return submission is mandatory for most individual taxpayers. Exceptions include senior citizens aged 65 or above, physically challenged individuals, specially-abled taxpayers, non-resident Bangladeshis, legal representatives of deceased taxpayers and foreign nationals working in Bangladesh.

Non-resident Bangladeshis can also register through an OTP-based system via email and submit returns remotely.

Taxpayers can file returns without uploading supporting documents and pay taxes digitally through debit and credit cards, internet banking and mobile financial services.

More than 56,000 taxpayers have already submitted revised returns within the 180-day correction window.

To avoid penalties, the revenue authority has been sending SMS reminders urging taxpayers to file their returns before the March 31 deadline. Officials say the rising number of e-returns signals growing acceptance of digital tax compliance and a gradual shift toward automated revenue administration.