Written by The Banking Post
Tax revenue collection posted double-digit growth in the first half of the current fiscal year, but fell well short of official targets, intensifying pressure on the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to accelerate collections in the remaining months.
Provisional data show the NBR mobilised Tk 1.85 trillion during July–December of FY2025-26, marking a growth of more than 14 per cent from Tk 1.62 trillion in the same period a year earlier. However, the collection was far below the half-year target of Tk 2.31 trillion, resulting in a shortfall of nearly Tk 460 billion.
The figures highlight a widening gap against the full-year revenue goal of Tk 4.99 trillion. To meet that target, the NBR will need to raise about Tk 3.14 trillion in the second half of the fiscal year—an uphill task amid slowing economic activity and rising fiscal pressures.
Wing-wise performance shows value-added tax delivered the strongest growth, rising by nearly 20 per cent, followed by income tax at around 15 per cent and customs duty at about 7 per cent.
Momentum, however, appeared to soften toward the end of the period, as revenue growth in December eased to 10.25 per cent, suggesting a tougher collection environment going into the second half.
