Written by The Banking Post
The National Board of Revenue may again extend the income tax return submission deadline, with a large number of registered taxpayers yet to file their returns online.
NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan said the authority would review filing trends before taking a final call. Once a substantial share of registered taxpayers submit their returns, the NBR will assess whether more time is needed. He noted that around 1.5 million to 1.6 million returns are still pending.
“If necessary, the government may consider another extension after reviewing the situation and consulting the finance adviser,” he said.
The remarks came on Monday at the inauguration of an income tax return support booth at the Dhaka Reporters Unity, where a request for further deadline extension was also raised. The DRU has launched a special initiative to help its members prepare and submit tax returns.
Mr. Khan said more than 4.2 million taxpayers have registered for online filing, while over 2.6 million have already submitted their returns. However, completing the remaining filings within a week may be difficult, as about 15,000 new taxpayers are registering daily.
Emphasising transparency, he said the digital platform has made return filing easier and will allow automated audits based on data generated by the system. While most returns are now filed online, limited manual submissions—mainly by senior citizens—are still accepted and later digitised by NBR officials.
The chairman said the system is being continuously upgraded based on taxpayer feedback. Preparations are also underway to introduce digital VAT return submission next year, alongside a dedicated mobile app to further simplify the process.
To reduce paperwork, the NBR is integrating data from banks and the Central Depository Bangladesh Limited, enabling automatic updates of information on savings, interest income and capital market investments. From the next fiscal year, savings-related data will be sourced directly from banks, removing the need for taxpayers to collect certificates.
He assured that all financial data would remain private, accessible only to taxpayers themselves, with no unauthorised access by NBR officials.
Currently, taxpayers can file returns online without uploading documents and receive instant e-return acknowledgements after paying taxes through banks or mobile financial services. The system also allows returns to be updated within 180 days of submission.
In late November, the NBR extended the original deadline for individual taxpayers by one month, setting December 31 as the current cut-off date.
