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The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has expanded and restructured its Customs and VAT wings, introducing 12 new offices — including commissionarates, Customs Houses, and specialised units — as part of a major administrative overhaul.

The Internal Resources Division (IRD) issued an official order on Tuesday following approval from the Ministry of Public Administration, the Finance Division, and the Cabinet Division. The NBR confirmed the expansion in a press release the next day, describing it as a “massive reform” intended to widen the tax net and strengthen institutional capacity.

Under the reform, the NBR will create 3,597 new positions — 373 cadre posts and 3,224 non-cadre posts — across the newly established offices. These include five VAT commissionarates, four Customs Houses, and three specialised units.

Officials said the move is aimed at increasing revenue collection, promoting self-reliance in the national economy, and ensuring a more business-friendly environment through improved service delivery.

The new offices will also help decentralise customs operations at Dhaka Airport’s third terminal and strengthen customs and VAT intelligence activities. According to NBR, the administrative restructuring will enhance the efficiency of indirect tax collection and improve institutional capacity.

NBR believes that the expansion will contribute to a higher tax-to-GDP ratio, spur trade and investment, and accelerate overall economic growth.

The proposal for the new units was approved during a secretarial committee meeting chaired by Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid on May 25. The meeting’s minutes were officially released on June 4.

By expanding its operational network, the NBR aims to make Bangladesh’s indirect tax system more dynamic, effective, and aligned with global best practices — a move expected to boost both compliance and taxpayer confidence.