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Direct Taxes In Bangladesh

A tax is a financial charge or other levy imposed on an individual or a legal entity by a state or a

functional equivalent of a state. Taxes consist of direct taxes and indirect taxes.

“Pecuniary burden laid upon individuals or property to support the government a payment exacted by

legislative authority”.

Tax is not a voluntary payment or donation but an enforced contribution, exacted pursuant to legislative

authority and is any contribution imposed by government whether under the name of VAT, Custom,

Excise or other name.

Taxation means imposition of a non-penal yet compulsory levy for transfer of resources from

private to public sector, imposed by the public representative based on pre-determined criteria

and without reference to any specific commitment, in order to accomplish some nation’s

economic and social objective. These are dues that we pay for the privileges of membership in an

organized civil society. Tax is imposed in the assessment year based on income year.

Assessment year: The assessment is a period of 12 months just following the income year means

computation of total income and tax payable there on.

Income year: Income year is the year when the income is earned.

The income tax is administrated Income Tax Ordinance, 1984 and the Income tax Rules, 1984 as

well as notification made under the Ordinance. The charge of tax of a person depends on its

residential status. Total world Income of a resident is charged to tax in Bangladesh. Whereas, a

non-resident's Bangladesh income is only charged to tax in Bangladesh. There are seven heads of

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income. They are salary, interest on security, house property, agriculture, business and

profession, capital gain and other sources.

Submission of income tax returns is generally due by 30th September in case of non-companies

and by 31st December in case of companies.

Assessment is made in several procedures. They are self-assessment, presumptive assessment,

spot assessment, pre-audit based assessment. Certain percent of self-assessment cases are

selected for audit.

The assessee can prefer appeal if aggrieved by his assessment. There are three primary forums

for appeal. They are to the Appellate Commissioner/Additional Commissioner/Joint

Commissioner or to the Commission for reviews. The decisions of Appellate

Commissioner/Additional Commissioner/Joint Commissioner can be challenged to the next

Appellate Court named as Appellate Tribunal.

Withholding tax is levy able on a number of items including contractors, imports, transfer of

urban land/building, bank deposits etc.

Bangladesh has Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation with 20 countries. Negotiations

with some other countries are on way.

Taxation one of the major sources of public revenue to meet a country's revenue and

development expenditures with a view to accomplishing some economic and social objectives,

such as redistribution of income, price stabilization and discouraging harmful consumption. It

supplements other sources of public finance such as issuance of currency notes and coins,

charging for public goods and services and borrowings. The term 'tax' has been derived from the

French word taxe and etymologically, the Latin word taxare is related to the term 'tax', which

means 'to charge'. Tax is 'a contribution exacted by the state'. It is a non-penal but compulsory

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and unrequited transfer of resources from the private to the public sector, levied based on

predetermined criteria.

According to Article 152(1) of the Constitution of Bangladesh, taxation includes the imposition

of any tax, rate, duty or impost, whether general, local or special, and tax shall be construed

accordingly. Rate is a local tax imposed by local government on its residents or the property

owners of the locality, a duty is a tax levied on a commodity, and an impost is a tax imposed for

an entry into a country. Under the provision of article 83 of the Constitution, "no tax shall be

levied or collected except by or under the authority of an Act of Parliament".

Bangladesh inherited a system of taxation from its past British and Pakistani rulers. The system,

however, developed based on generally accepted canons and there had been efforts towards

rationalizing the tax administration for optimizing revenue collection, reducing tax evasion and

preventing revenue leakage through system loss.

Taxes include narcotics duty (collected by the Department of Narcotics Control, Ministry of

Home Affairs), land revenue (administered by the Ministry of Land and collected at local Tahsil

offices numbered on average, one in every two Union Parishads), non-judicial stamp (collected

under the Ministry of Finance), registration fee (collected by the Registration Directorate of the

Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs) and motor vehicle tax (collected under the

Ministry of Communication).

The tax structure in the country consists of both direct (income tax, gift tax, land development

tax, non-judicial stamp, registration, immovable property tax, etc) and indirect (customs duty,

excise duty, motor vehicle tax, narcotics and liquor duty, VAT, SD, foreign travel tax, TT,

electricity duty, advertisement tax, etc) taxes.

The present land revenue system of Bangladesh has its base in the East Bengal state acquisition

and tenancy act 1950 which established a direct contract between the taxpayer and the

government.

The most important tax on the value of transferred property is the non-judicial stamp tax (levied

under the Stamp Act 1899), which has been in existence since January 1899. Current rates of

non-judicial stamp duty are provided in the First Schedule of the Finance Act 1998, ranging from

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Tk 4 to Tk 10,000 in case of absolute rate, or from 0.07% to 1.5% of the value of consideration

in case of ad valorem rate. The judicial stamp tax is being levied under the Court Fees Act 1870,

although the levy of court fees originated in the introduction of the Bengal Regulation No. 38 of

1795.

The first sales tax was introduced in the former Central Provinces of India in 1938. In Bengal,

sales tax was adopted in 1941. In 1948, sales tax was transferred as a central tax under the

General Sales Tax Act of 1948. The Sales Tax Act 1951 came into force on 1 July 1951 by

repealing the Pakistan General Sales Tax Act of 1948. Until 1982, sales tax was being collected

under the 1951 Act, which was replaced by the Sales Tax Ordinance 1982. The VAT law was

promulgated by repealing the Business.

Income tax was first introduced in the subcontinent by the British in 1860 to make up the

revenue deficit caused by the sepoy revolt, 1857. After independence of Bangladesh, income tax

was made effective under the Income Tax Act 1922 passed on the basis of the recommendations

of the All-India Income Tax Committee appointed in 1921. Currently, income tax has been

imposed under the Income Tax Ordinance 1984 (ITO) promulgated on the basis of

recommendations of the Final Report of the Taxation Enquiry Commission submitted in April

1979. Income taxpayers (assessees) are classified as individuals, partnership firms, Hindu

undivided families (HUF), associations of persons (AOP), companies (publicly traded and

private), local authorities, and other artificial juridical persons. Tax rates and scope of taxable

income differ based on residential status of an assessee (resident or non-resident).

From fiscal or assessment year, (AY) 2000-01, there is a filing threshold of annual total income

of Tk. 100,000 applicable for individuals (including non-resident Bangladeshis), partnership

firms, HUF, AOP and assessees other than companies and local authorities. In case an identity of

this group has a total annual income less than this level, he is not required to submit tax return

but if someone's income is higher, he is to pay a minimum tax of Tk. 1,000.

Bangladesh inherited a system of taxation from its past British and Pakistani rulers.

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There are 3-divisions under the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and Secretary leads each

division.

The Chairman of NBR (National Board of Revenue) is working under Internal Resource

Division (IRD).

NBR is the apex body of the Tax Administration.

It consists of two parts:

(1) Customs & VAT

(2) Income Tax

Both are under the same authority. There are 4-members under NBR.

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MOF(Ministry Of Finance)

FD (Finance Division)

IRD (Internal Resource Division)

ERD (Economic Relations Division)


Under the NBR, a Commissioner of Taxes is the head of the department and he is in

charge of a taxes Zone. There are 8-Zones in Bangladesh.

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Income

Assessable Income Non-Assessable Income

Non-taxable Income


Income: Income means anything received in cash or in kind unless exempted by laws.

1) Assessable Income: Assessable Incomes are those incomes, which are included in the

determination of total income of a taxpayer.

a) Taxable Income: Taxable Incomes are those incomes that the tax is to be paid on

those incomes.

b) Non- Taxable Income: Non – taxable income is taken into total income for

taxation rate purpose but no tax is to be paid on this part of income.

2) Non- Assessable Income: Non- assessable incomes are those incomes which are not

included in the determination of total income of a taxpayer.

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Taxable Income

Classification of Tax System

Single Tax Multiple Taxes


1. Single Tax: Only one tax for everybody. Single tax is the poll tax or the head tax or

adolescent tax, which is imposed on a person simply because he is there in the society.

2. Multiple Taxes: A system under which different types of taxes shall be levied by the

govt. according to suitability. Ex. Income Tax, VAT.

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Types of Taxation

Direct TaxIndirect Tax

Progressive TaxRegressive Tax

Proportional Tax


a) Direct Tax: Direct tax is a sort of tax the impact of effect incidents and which fall back on the

person on whom it is imposed.

EX: Income Tax, Marriage Tax etc.

b) Indirect Tax: Indirect taxes are those burden of which can be passed on others through price

vehicles.

c) Progressive Tax: The tax rate increases as the taxable income/amount increases.

d) Regressive tax: The opposite of a progressive tax is a regressive tax where the tax rate

decreases as the taxable income/amount increases.

e) Proportional Tax: In between is a proportional tax, where tax is fixed as the amount to

which the rate is applied increases.

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a) Resident taxpayer: Anyone who lives in the taxable territory for 182 days in the income

year or 365 days in the last four years preceding the income year and 90 days in the income year

than he is a resident.

b) Non- resident: A nonresident is a person who is not a resident.

Assesses and Tax payers are not apart from each other rather alike.

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Types of the Assesses

Corporate Assesses

Public Ltd. Co. listed with

Stock Exchan

gePrivate Ltd.

Co.Insuranc

e Companies

Banks

Corporation

s Financial Institutio

ns

Non-Corporate Assesses

Individuals AOP(Association Of

Person)

FirmsH.U.F(Hind

u Undivided Famil

y)


Firm:

The head office of the firm should be registered in Bangladesh. Then it will be permitted as a

resident. Otherwise, the higher rate of taxes will be imposed on the firm as a non-resident.

Companies:

Given below are under companies of Non-Corporate Assesses.

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# W h o p a y ta x e s .# m u s t im p o se ta x o n h im /h e r .

T a x P a y e

rs

# w h o m a y n o t p a y ta x e s .# m a y n o t b e im p o se d o n h im /h e r .

A ss es s e s

Private Company

Public Company

Bank Insurance Company

Other Statutory Institution


Tax avoidance is the legal utilization of the tax regime to one's own advantage, in order to reduce

the amount of tax that is payable by means that are within the law. By contrast tax evasion is the

general term for efforts to not pay taxes by illegal means. The term tax mitigation is a synonym

for tax avoidance. Its original use was by tax advisors as an alternative to the pejorative term of

tax avoidance. Latterly the term has also been used in the tax regulations of some jurisdictions to

distinguish tax avoidance foreseen by the lawmakers from tax avoidance which exploits

loopholes in the law.

Based on these concepts arises the pillars of Tax Protesters as well as Tax Resistance:

Some of those attempting not to pay tax believe that they have uncovered interpretations of the

law that show that they are not subject to being taxed: these individuals and groups are

sometimes called tax protesters. An unsuccessful tax protestor has been attempting openly to

evade tax, while a successful one avoids tax. Tax resistance is the declared refusal to pay a tax

for conscientious reasons (because the resister does not want to support the government or some

of its activities). Tax resistors typically do not take the position that the tax laws are themselves

illegal or do not apply to them (as tax protesters do) and they are more concerned with not

paying for particular government policies that they oppose.

Responses to tax avoidance:

Avoidance also reduces government revenue and brings the tax system into disrepute, so

governments need to prevent tax avoidance or keep it within limits. The obvious way to do this is

to frame tax rules so that there is no scope for avoidance. In practice, this has not proved

achievable and has led to an ongoing battle between governments amending legislation and tax

advisors' finding new scope for tax avoidance in the amended rules.

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Tax evasion:

By contrast, tax evasion is the general term for efforts by individuals, firms, trusts and other

entities to evade taxes by illegal means. Tax evasion usually entails taxpayers deliberately

misrepresenting or concealing the true state of their affairs to the tax authorities to reduce their

tax liability, and includes, in particular, dishonest tax reporting (such as declaring less income,

profits or gains than actually earned; or overstating deductions).

Illegal income and tax evasion:

Who earn income by illegal means (gambling, theft, drug trafficking etc.) is required to report

unlawful gains as income when filing annual tax returns. Suspected lawbreakers have therefore

been charged with tax evasion when there is insufficient evidence to try them for their non-tax

related crimes. Other times tax evasion can be used as a "one more nail in the coffin" by

prosecutors by stating that if a person earns illegal income, s/he may also be guilty of tax

evasion. Those who attempt to report illegal income as coming from a legitimate source could be

charged with money laundering.

Evasion of Value Added Tax (VAT):

During the latter half of the twentieth century, Value Added Tax (VAT) has emerged as a

modern form of consumption tax through the world. Producers who collect VAT from the

consumers may evade tax by under-reporting the amount of sales.

Control of evasion:

Level of evasion depends on a number of factors one of them being fiscal equation. People's

tendency to evade income tax declines when the return for due payment of taxes is not obvious.

Evasion also depends on the efficiency of the tax administration. Corruption by the tax officials

often render control of evasion difficult. Tax administrations resort to various means for

plugging in scope of evasion and increasing the level of enforcement.

Public opinion on tax avoidance:

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Tax avoidance may be considered to be the dodging of one's duties to society, or alternatively the

right of every citizen to structure one's affairs in a manner allowed by law, to pay no more tax

than what is required. Attitudes vary from approval through neutrality to outright hostility.

Attitudes may vary depending on the steps taken in the avoidance scheme, or the perceived

unfairness of the tax being avoided.

Corruption by tax officials:

Corrupt tax officials cooperate with the tax payers who intend to evade taxes. When they detect

an instance of evasion, they refrain from reporting in return for illegal gratification or bribe.

Corruption by tax officials is a serious problem for the tax administration in a huge number of

underdeveloped countries.

The distinction in various jurisdictions of Tax Evasion and Tax Avoidance:

The use of the terms tax avoidance and tax evasion can vary depending on the jurisdiction. In

general, the term "evasion" applies to illegal actions and "avoidance" to actions within the law.

The term "mitigation" is also used in some jurisdictions to further distinguish actions within the

original purpose of the relevant provision from those actions that are within the letter of the law,

but do not achieve its purpose.

Most countries impose taxes on income earned or gains realized within that country regardless of

the country of residence of the person or firm. Most countries have entered into bilateral double

taxation treaties with many other countries to avoid taxing nonresidents twice -- once where the

income is earned and again in the country of residence (and perhaps, for Bangladeshi citizens,

taxed yet again in the country of citizenship) -- however, there are relatively few double-taxation

treaties with countries regarded as tax havens. To avoid tax, it is usually not enough to simply

move one's assets to a tax haven. One must also personally move to a tax haven (and, for

Bangladesh nationals, renounce one's citizenship) to avoid tax.

Double taxation on the professional is accumulated to VAT and Income tax.

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From the definition of direct tax we came to know that these taxes are borne by tax payers and

cannot be passing on to any other persons. In the case of direct taxes connection between the

taxpayer and the revenue authorities is direct and personal. Direct taxes consist of:

1. Income tax

2. Gift tax

3. Corporation tax

4. Capital gain tax

5. Foreign travel tax

6. Urban property tax etc.

Income tax: Income tax is paid on income. It is administered through the Income Tax

Ordinance, 1984 and notifications made time to time under the Ordinance. As per section 2(62)

as amended through the Income Tax Ordinance, 1984 and includes any additional tax, excess

profit tax, penalty, interest, fee, or other charges leviable or payable under the Income Tax

Ordinance, 1984. Income tax is one of the major sources of revenue for government.

Gift tax: Gift taxes are charged on gifts. If any person transfers any movable or immovable

property voluntarily and without consideration or with an inadequate consideration, of any

money or money’s worth to another person then the transfer of the property will be treated as

gift. Gift tax is supervised by the Gift Act, 1990. The rates of the gift tax are prescribed in the

schedule to the Gift Tax Act 1990.

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VAT+ Income Tax=double taxation on the professionals


Corporation tax: According to the definition of corporation has a separate entity. Therefore tax

is also imposed on corporations. But tax rate varies among different corporations according to

their structure.

Capital Gain tax: Capital gain arises out of disposal of capital assets. We need to give capital

gain taxes if our income from capital gain meets the requirements of Income Tax Ordinance,

1984. It will be discussed more broadly under the head of income from capital gain in our

dissertation.

Urban property tax: Property taxes are imposed on property. Like land development tax, land

revenue, city corporation tax etc. Tax is also imposed on property when we sell it but it comes

under income from capital gain.

It is said that the rate of income tax in Bangladesh is the lowest among all of the countries of the

world. For the betterment of the country as well as the taxpayers tax rates are keep on changing

from time to time. The rates of income tax vary from assessee to assessee. The tax rate of an

individual tax payer is not same as the tax rate applicable to a corporate assessee.

Tax rate for an individual: An individual tax payer is taxed according to the five stairs of

taxation. Tax rate of a non corporate tax payer as per Finance Ordinance, 2007 is:

First tk. 1,65,000 Nil

Next tk. 275000 @10%

Next tk. 325000 @ 15%

Next tk. 375000 @ 20%

On balance @ 25%

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Minimum tax, however, cannot be less than tk.2000.

Tax rate for corporate:

Type of the corporation Tax rate

Public limited company listed with the stock exchange 30%

Private limited company 40%

Bank, insurance companies and other financial

institutions

45%

Garment industries 10%

Agro-processing industries exempted

Mobile phone operators 45%

Tax rate for a non resident: Tax rate for a non resident is 25% of his or her income. But a

Bangladeshi non resident will pay the normal rate of tax as per the five stairs of taxation.

There are seven heads of income. To compute one tax payer’s total income we have to consider

income of that individual from all these seven heads. These seven heads of income are-

Income from Salary (sec 21)

Income from Securities (sec 22)

Income from Property, Land, House (sec 24)

Income from Agriculture (sec 26)

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Income from Business and Profession (sec 28)

Income from Capital Gains (sec 32)

Income from Other Sources (sec 33)

These heads of income are discussed below.

Income from Salary

The basic salary one salaried person gets and the other benefits he or she receives from the

institute as a member of the institute are to be calculated while computing the total income.

Besides, there are some allowances which the tax payer gets; those are given below.

Whatever the amount the taxpayer gets as conveyance expense or allowance taka 18000

shall be exempted from the conveyance allowance. But if the taxpayer is provided with a

full time transport service (as for example- governmental employees), then 7.5% of the

basic salary shall be added to the total income as a notional income; and if the taxpayer is

provided with part time transportation facility then only 5% of the basic salary shall

be added with the total income.

The salaried person can be provided with rent allowance or house facilities. If the

taxpayer is given the house rent allowance then 50% of the basic salary or taka 15000

per month whichever is less shall be exempted from the total salary. But if the employer

provides the house instead of house rent allowance then 25% of the basic salary shall be

added to the total income as notional income from the residential house.

If the salaried person is also provided with the medical allowance then the properly

utilized portion of the medical allowance is to be deducted from the medical allowance

as expense and the rest of the amount shall remain with the total income to be taxed. If

the full medical allowance is being utilized then that entire amount shall be treated as the

medical expense.

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Besides all these the dearness allowance, special allowance for overtime, bonuses,

entertainment allowance, and the employees’ contribution to recognized provident fund

all these shall be added with the total income.

Pension that one taxpayer gets shall not be taxed as it is entirely non-assessable.

Income from Interest on securities

Securities: Security means acknowledgement of indebtedness by the Govt. towards

the members of the public who buy the security certificate issued by the Govt.

Debentures: Debentures means an acknowledgement of indebtedness by public Ltd.

Company towards the members of the public who buy the debenture certificate issued

by the public Ltd. Company.

Interest on securities up to Tk. 5000 is exempt.

Interest on debentures alone is exempt up to Tk. 20000 only.

But, the exemption from the both taken together shall not exceed Tk. 20000.

If the investments are made out of loans from any financial institutions, the interest

payable there on shall be deducted from income on securities.

Income from house property

Tax from the house property shall be ascertained on the basis of annual value of house property.

Annual value: Annual value is the reasonable rate which the house owner is

expected to get from time to time.

Or

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Annual value is the reasonable rent at which house can be let out from time to time

Or

The actual rent, whichever is higher.

Only the house owner shall be assessed to pay tax.

When the share of house property each definite and as ascertainable income then

tax shall be calculated on the basis of specific share.

Deductions from income from house property:

Any sum payable to Government as land development tax or rent on

account of the land comprised in the property.

The amount of any premium paid to insure the property against risk of

damage or destruction.

Where the property is subject to a ground rent , the amount of such rent.

Expenditures for repairs and others

i. An amount equal to one fourth of the annual value of the property

where the property is used for residential purpose.

ii. An amount equal to thirty per cent of the annual value of the

property where is used for commercial purpose.

Where, the whole of the property is let out and it was vacant during a

part of the year, a sum equal to such portion of the annual value of the

property as is proportionate to the vacancy of such part.

Income from Agriculture

Any receipts out of cultivation of land and the use of buildings, premises, and land appurtenant

thereto shall be considered as the income from agriculture after some considerations. The

allowable deductions under agriculture are given below.

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Agricultural income shall be determined after allowing a deduction of 60% from receipt

from agriculture as agricultural expenses to avoid the no acceptable evidences of the

production cost of cultivation.

If the agriculturist does not have any other income source other than the agriculture then

he or she will get exemption of more taka 40000 after the deduction of 60% of the

receipts as the agricultural expense.

There are some agricultural incomes which are also considered as the business income. As for

example- income from tea garden is bifurcated between agricultural income and business

income at the ratio of 60% and 40% consecutively. Income from rubber cultivation is also

bifurcated at the same ratio.

Income from business and profession

Income from business and profession is the most important head of income because the largest

amount of tax is collected from this head. The term business include any trade, commerce or

manufacture or any adventure or concern in the nature of trade , commerce or manufacture.

Profession means some sorts of engagement by virtue of which a person can earn money

through his or her personal qualification.

Chargeability: The following income should be considered under income tax ordinance e of

1984.

(a) Profits and gains of any business or profession carried on, or deemed to be carried on, by the

assessee at any time during the income year;

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(b) Income derived from any trade or professional association or other association of like nature

on account of specific services performed for its members;

(c) Value of any benefit or perquisite, whether convertible into money or not, arising from

business or the exercise of a profession;

(d) The amount, the value of the benefit and the trading liability referred to in section 19(15);

(e) The excess amount referred to in section 19(16);

(f) The excess amount referred to in section 19(18);

(g) The sale proceeds referred to in section 19(20);

1 [(h) the amount of income under section 19(23).]

Explanation.-- Where speculative transactions carried on by an assessee are of such a nature as

to constitute a business, the business (hereinafter 1 Ins by F.A. 1994 referred to as "speculation

business") shall be deemed to be distinct and separate from any other business.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Ordinance,-

(a) The profits and gains of any business of insurance and the tax payable thereon shall be

computed in accordance with the provisions of the Fourth Schedule;

(b) the profits and gains from the exploration and production of petroleum (including natural gas)

and the tax payable thereon shall be computed in accordance with the provisions of Part A of the

Fifth Schedule;

(c) the profits and gains of any business which consists of, or includes, the exploration and

extraction of such mineral deposits of a wasting nature (not being petroleum and natural gas) as

may be specified in this behalf by the Government, carried on by an assessee in Bangladesh shall

be computed in accordance with the provisions of Part B of the Fifth Schedule.

1[(3) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other provisions of this

Ordinance, in the case of Bangladesh Shilpa Bank, Bangladesh Shilpa Rin Sangstha 2[,

Investment Corporation of Bangladesh] and any commercial bank including the Bangladesh

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Krishi Bank and Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank, the income by way of interest in relation to

such categories of bad or doubtful debts as the Bangladesh Bank may classify in the income year

in which it is credited to its profit and loss account for that year or, as the case may be, in which

it is actually received, whichever is earlier.]

29. Deductions from income from business or profession.—

(1) In computing the income under the head "Income from business or profession", the following

allowances and deductions shall be allowed, namely:-

(i) The amount of any rent paid for the premises in which the business or profession is carried on

:

Provided that if a substantial part of the premises is used by the assessee as a dwelling-house,

the amount shall be a proportionate part of the rent having regard to the proportionate annual

value of the part so used;

(ii) the amount paid for the repair of the hired premises in which the business or profession is

carried on if the assessee has undertaken to bear the cost of such repair; Provided that if a

substantial part of the premises is used by the assessee as a dwelling-house, the amount shall be a

proportionate part of the sum paid for such repair having regard to the proportionate annual value

of the part so used;

(iii) the amount of any interest paid or any profit shared with a bank run on Islamic principles in

respect of capital borrowed for the purposes of the business or profession;

Provided that if any part of such capital relates to replenishing the cash or to any other asset

transferred to 1[any other entity, when lending of money is not the business of transferor], the

amount shall be proportionate part of the interest so paid or the profit so shared having regard to

the proportion of such capital so used;

(iv) any sum paid or credited to any person maintaining a profit and loss sharing account or

deposit with a bank run on Islamic principles by way of distribution of profits by the said bank in

respect of the said account of deposit;

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(v) an amount not exceeding 2[five percent] of the total income carried to any special reserve

created by such financial institution and for such purposes as may be approved by the

Government in this behalf, if the aggregate amount standing in such reserve does not exceed the

paid up share capital of the institution;

(vi) the amount paid on account of current repairs to buildings, machinery, plant or furniture

used for the purposes of the business or profession;

(vii) the whole or the proportionate part of the amount of any premium paid for insurance,

against risk of damage, destruction or loss of buildings, machinery, plant or furniture, stocks or

stores according as the whole or part thereof is used for the purposes of the business or

profession;

(viii) in respect of depreciation of building, machinery, plant or furniture, being the property of

the assessee and used for the purposes of business or profession, the allowances as admissible

under the Third Schedule;

(ix) in the case of a ship, being a passenger vessel plying ordinarily on inland waters, or a

fishing trawler, which is entitled to a special depreciation allowance under paragraph 8 of the

Third Schedule, an investment allowance of an amount equivalent to twentypercent of the

original cost to the assessee for the year in which the ship or the trawler is first put to use for

public utility;

Text Box: P1P Subs. for “a newly set up industrial undertaking or to an extension of an existing

industrial undertaking whose income is exempted from payment of tax” by F. O. 2007

P2P Subs. for “ten per cent” by F. O. 2007

1[(x) in the case of any machinery or plant (other than office appliances and road transport

vehicles) which is entitled to accelerated depreciation under paragraph 7 of the Third Schedule,

an investment allowance, for the year in which the undertaking starts commercial production, at

the following rates, namely:-

(a) if the undertaking is set up in areas specified in this behalf by the Board, an amount

equivalent to 25 percent of the actual cost to the assessee;

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(b) in other cases, an amount equivalent to 20 percent of the actual cost to the assessee; ]

2 [(xa) where an assessee being a company registered under 3[the Companies Act, 1913 (VII of

1913) or Company ACT 1994, 1994 invests any amount in the purchase of any new plant or

machinery for installation in an industrial undertaking set up in Bangladesh and owned by it for

the purpose of balancing, modernisation or replacement of the plant or machinery already

installed therein, an investment allowance at the rate of twenty-five percent of the amount so

invested;]

(xi) where any building , machinery or plant which, after having been used by the assessee for

the purpose of his business, has been discarded, demolished or destroyed in any income year or

any such asset has been sold, transferred by way of exchange or compulsorily acquired by a

legally competent authority or exported outside Bangladesh in any income year, an obsolescence

allowance to the extent and computed in the manner specified in paragraph 10 of the Third

Schedule;

(xii) in the case of any animal which has been used by the assessee for the purpose of business or

profession otherwise than as stock-in-trade, has died or become permanently useless for such

purpose, an amount equivalent to the difference between the original cost of the animal to 1

Omitted by F.A. 2005 Ins. By F.A. 1989,deleted by F.A. 2004 23 Subs. For “the companies Act.

1913(vii of 1913)” by F.A. 1995 the assessee and the sum, if any, realised by sale or other

disposition of the carcass, as the case may be, of the animal;

(xiii) any sum paid on account of land development tax or rent, local rates or municipal taxes in

respect of such premises or part thereof as is used by the assessee for the purpose of business or

profession;

(xiv) any sum paid in the income year to an employee as bonus or commission for services

rendered where such sum would not have been payable to him as profit dividend if it had not

been paid as bonus or commission and is reasonable with reference, except in the case of

payment of festival bonus, to -

(a) the general practice in similar business or profession,

(b) the profits of the business or profession in that year, and

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(c) the pay and other conditions of service of the employee:

1[provided that no deduction on account of bonus other than festival bonus, to its employees

shall be allowed to a banking company under this clause if such banking company is allowed

deduction from its income under clause (xviiiaa)]

(xv) the amount of any debt or part thereof which is established to have become irrecoverable

and has actually been written off as such in the books of accounts of the assessee for the income

year if the debt or part thereof has been taken into account in computing the income of the

assessee of that income year or an earlier income year and, in the case of the business of banking

or money-lending carried on by the assessee, represents money lent in the ordinary course of

business;

(xvi) where any amount of debt or part thereof which has actually been written off as

irrecoverable in the books of accounts of the assessee in any income year but has not been

allowed on the ground that it has not then become irrecoverable, so much of such debt or part

thereof as has been established to have become irrecoverable in any subsequent income year

shall be allowed as a deduction in that income year;

(xvii) where any such debt or part thereof is written off as irrecoverable in the books of accounts

of the assessee for an income year and the Deputy Commissioner of Taxes is satisfied that such

debt or part thereof became irrecoverable in an earlier income year not falling beyond a period of

four years immediately preceding the income year in which it was written off, the Deputy

Commissioner of Taxes may, notwithstanding 1 Ins. By F.A. 19993 & deleted by F.A. 2002

anything contained in this Ordinance, allow such debt or part thereof as a deduction for such

earlier income year if the assessee accepts such finding of the Deputy Commissioner of Taxes

and re-compute the total income of the assessee for such earlier income year and make the

necessary amendment; and the provisions of section 173 shall, so far as may be, apply thereto the

period of four years referred to in sub- section (4) of that section being reckoned from the end of

the year in which the assessment relating to the income year in which the debt or part thereof is

written off was made;

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1[(xviii) in respect of provision for bad and doubtful debt made by a bank for overdue

agricultural or rural loan, a sum equal to one and a half per cent of such overdue loan or the

amount of actual provision for such bad or doubtful debt in the books of the assessee, whichever

is the less; Provided that if any amount out of the amount so allowed is ultimately recovered, the

same shall be deemed to be a profit or the year in which it is recovered];

2[(xviiia)in respect of provision for bad and doubtful debt made by Bangladesh Shilpa Bank or

Bangladesh Shilpa Rin Songstha for overdue loan, a sum equal to five per cent. of such overdue

loan or the amount of actual provision for such bad or doubtful debt in the books of the assessee,

whichever is the less; Provided that the deduction shall be allowed only in respect of the

assessment years 1987-88, 1988-89, 1989-90 and 1990-91; Provided further that if any amount

out of the amount so allowed is ultimately recovered, the same shall be deemed to be a profit of

the year in which it is recovered;]

3(xviiiaa) in respect of provision for bad and doubtful debt and interest thereon made by a

commercial bank including the Bangladesh Krishi Bank,4[Karmo-Shongshtan Bank] and the

Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank, a sum equal to 5[one per cent] of the total outstanding loan

including interest thereon or the amount of actual provision for such bad or doubtful debt and

interest thereon in the books of the assessee, whichever is less;

1 Deleted. By F.A. 1990

2 Ins by F.A. 1987

3 Ins by F.A. 1990

4 Ins by F.A. 2006

5 Subs. For “five per cent” by F.A 1997 again re-subs. For “three per cent’ by F.A. 2003 re-subs

for ”two percent” by F.A.2005 Provided that the provisions of this clause shall apply only in

respect of such loan as the Bangladesh Bank may, from time to time, classify as bad or doubtful

debt;

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1[Provided further that the deduction shall be allowed only in respect of the assessment years

1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95, 2[1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99 3[, 1999-

2000, 2000-2001 4[, 2001-2002, 2002-2003, 2003-2004 5[2004-2005, 2005-2006 and

2006-2007];]] 6[Provided further that if any amount out of the amount so allowed is ultimately

recovered, the same shall be deemed to be a profit of the year in which it is recovered:]

7[Provided further that no deduction under this clause shall be allowed in respect of—

(a) any amount representing grant allowed by the Government in the form of 15-years Special

Treasury Bonds;

(b) any loan advanced to any government organization, body corporate, local authority,

autonomous body, or any other loan guaranteed by the Government; and

(c) any debt representing loans advanced to any director of the bank, his nominees or

dependants;]

8 [Provided further that no deduction under this clause shall be allowed to an assessee if he

avails himself of the computation of his income from interests on bad or doubtful debts under

sub section(3) of section 28;]

1 Subs. By F.A. 1993

2 Subs. By F.A. 1997 for “and 1995-96 or till the assessment year the actual provision in respect

of which

is equal to the bad and doubtful debts as per Bangladesh Bank’s guideline in this behalf ins. By

F.A. 1995

3 Subs. .for “and 1999-2000” by F.A. 1999

Subs. .for “and 2001-2002” by F.A. 2002 4

5 Subs. .for “and 2004-2005” by F.A. 2005

6 Ins. By F.A. 1995

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7 Ins. By F.A. 1993

8 Ins. By F.A. 1996 &deleted by F.A. 1997

(xix) any expenditure, not being in the nature of capital expenditure, laid out or expended on

scientific research in Bangladesh related to the business carried on by the assessee;

(xx) any expenditure of a capital nature laid out or expended on scientific research in Bangladesh

related to the business carried on by the assessee: Provided that where a deduction is allowed for

any income year under this clause in respect of expenditure represented wholly or partly by any

asset, no deduction shall be allowed under clause (viii) or (ix) for the same income year in

respect of that asset;

(xxi) any sum paid to a scientific research institute, association or other body having as its object

the undertaking of scientific research, or to a University, College, Technical School or other

Institution for the purpose of scientific research or technical training related to the class of

business carried on by the assessee, if such Institute, association or body, or such University,

College, Technical School or Institution is, for the time being, approved by the Board for the

purpose of this clause.

Explanation.--In this clause and in clauses (xix) and (xx),--

(a) "scientific research" means any activities in the field of natural or applied science for the

extension of knowledge;

(b) references to expenditure incurred on scientific research do not include any expenditure

incurred in the acquisition of rights in, or arising out of, scientific research, but save as aforesaid,

include all expenditure incurred for the prosecution of, or the provision of facilities for the

prosecution of, scientific research;

(c) reference to scientific research related to a business or class of business includes--

(i) any scientific research which may lend to or facilitate an extension of that business or, as the

case may be, all businesses of that class;

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(ii) any scientific research of a medical nature which has a special relation to the welfare of

workers employed in that business or, as the case may be, business of that class;

(xxii) any expenditure, not being in the nature of capital expenditure, laid out or expended on any

educational institution or hospital established for the benefit of theemployees of the assessee,

their families and dependents or on the training of industrial workers, if—

(a) no charge is made for services rendered by such institution or hospital or for the training of

the workers; and

(b) No deduction or allowance is claimed for such expenditure under any other clause of this

section;

(xxiii) Any expenditure in the nature of capital expenditure laid out or expended on the

construction and maintenance of any educational institution or hospital established by the

assessee for the benefit of his employees, their families and dependents, or on any institute for

the training of industrial workers, if--

(a) no charge is made for the services rendered by such institution or hospital or for the training

of the workers; and

(b) no deduction or allowance is claimed under any other clause of this section for the same

income year in respect of expenditure represented either wholly or partly by any asset;

(xxiv) Any expenditure laid out or expended on the training of citizens of Bangladesh in

connection with a scheme approved by the Board for purposes of this clause;

(xxv) Any expenditure, not being in the nature of capital expenditure or personal expenses,

incurred by an assessee in connection with visits abroad as a member of a trade delegation

sponsored by the Government;

(xxvi) Any sum paid on account of annual membership subscription to a registered trade

organization within the meaning of the Trade Organizations Ordinance, 1961(XLV of 1961), or

to a professional institution recognized by the Board in this behalf;

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(xxvii) Any expenditure, not being in the nature of capital expenditure or personal expenses of

the assessee, laid out or expended wholly and exclusively for the purpose of the business or

profession of the assessee.

(2) Where any premises, building, machinery, plant or furniture is not wholly used for the

purposes of business or profession, any allowance or deduction admissible under this section

shall be restricted to the fair proportional part of the amount, which would be allowable if such

premises, building, machinery, plant or furniture was wholly so used.

Explanation.--For the purposes of this section, the expression “plant” includes ships, vehicles,

books, scientific apparatus and surgical and other instruments or equipment's used for the

purpose of business or profession.

30. Deduction not admissible in certain circumstances.--

Notwithstanding anything contained in section 29, no deduction on account of allowance from

income from business or profession shall be admissible in respect of the following, namely:-

(a) any payment which is an income of the payee classifiable under the head "Salaries" if tax

thereon has not been paid in accordance with provisions of Chapter VII;

1 [(aa) any payment made by an assessee to any person if tax thereon has not been deducted and

credited in accordance with the provisions of Chapter VII and g~j¨ value-added tax thereon has

not been collected or deducted and credited in accordance with the provisions of 1991

(b) any payment by way of interest, salary, commission or remuneration made by a firm or an

association of persons to any partner of the firm or any member of the association, as the case

may be;

(c) any payment by way of brokerage or commission made to a person who is not a resident in

Bangladesh unless tax has been deducted there from under section 56;

(d) any payment to a provident fund or other fund established for the benefit of the employees

unless the employer has made effective arrangements to secure that tax shall be deducted at

source from any payments made from the fund which are taxable being income falling under the

head "Salaries";

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2[(e) So much of the expenditure by an assessee on the provision of perquisites, as defined in

clause (45) of section 2, to any employee as exceeds taka 3[two lakh]: Provided that the

provision of this clause shall not be applicable to an employer where perquisites were paid to an

employee in pursuance of any Government decision published in the official Gazette to

implement the recommendation of a Wage Board constituted by the Government;]

(f) Any expenditure in respect of the following as is in excess of the amount or rate prescribed in

this behalf and as is not, in the cases of sales and services liable to excise duty, supported by

excise stamp or seal, namely :-

(i) entertainment;

(ii) foreign travels of employees and their dependents for holidaying and recreation ;

(iii) publicity and advertisement; and

1 [(g) Any expenditure ten percent of the profit under the head of Head Office expenses by a

company not incorporated in Bangladesh under (Company Act, 1994 (h) any payment by way of

royalty , technical services fee, technical knowhow fee or technical assistance fee exceeding

2[five percent] of the profit;]

3[(i) Any payment by way of salary or remuneration made otherwise than by crossed cheque or

bank transfer by a person to any employee having gross monthly salary of taka fifteen thousand

or more;

(j) Any expenditure by way of incentive bonus exceeding ten per cent of the disclose net profit;

(k) Any expenditure by way of overseas traveling exceeding one per cent of the disclosed

turnover.]

4[30A. Provision for disallowance- Notwithstanding anything contained in sections 28, 29 and

30, the Deputy Commissioner of Taxes shall not make any disallowance or deduction for any

year from any claim made by an assessee in the trading account or profit or loss account without

specifying reason for such disallowance or deduction.]

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Income from capital gain

Tax shall be payable by an assessee under the head "Capital gains" in respect of any profits and

gains arising from the transfer of a capital asset and such profits and gains shall be deemed to be

the income of the income year in which the transfer took place.

Computation of capital gains

(1) The income under the head "Capital gains" shall be computed after making the following

deduction from the full value of the consideration received or accruing from the transfer of the

capital asset or the fair market value thereof, whichever is higher, namely:-

(a) any expenditure incurred solely in connection with the transfer of the capital asset; or

(b) the cost of acquisition of the capital asset and any capital expenditure incurred for any

improvements thereto but excluding any expenditure incurred for any improvements thereto but

excluding any expenditure in respect of which any allowance is admissible under any provisions

of sections 23,29 and 34;

(c) in respect of which any allowance is admissible under any provisions of sections 23, 29 and

34.

(2) For the purpose of this section, "cost of acquisition of the capital asset" means-

(i) where it was acquired by the assessee by purchase, the actual cost of acquisition; and

(ii) where it became the property of the assessee-

1 [(a) by succession, inheritance or devolution; or];

(b) under a deed of gift, bequest or will; or];

2 [(c) by succession, inheritance or devolution; or ];

3[(cc) under a deed of gift, bequest or will; or

(ccc) under a transfer on a revocable or irrevocable trust; or]

(d) On any distribution of capital assets on the liquidation of a company; or

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(e) On any distribution of capital assets on the dissolution of a firm or other association of

persons or the partition of a Hindu undivided family ;

Tax rate for capital gain

Tax rate for capital gain varies from assessee to assessee. Followings are the tax rates for

individual and corporate.

Individual: For an individual if capital gain arises within 5 years of purchase then normal rate of

tax shall be applicable on the capital gain. But if capital gain arises after 5 years of purchase then

either capital gain tax or normal rate whichever is beneficial for the tax payer.

Corporate: For a corporate tax payer tax rate on capital gain is 15% irrespective of the years

when it is sold.

Income from Other sources

If any amount is found credited and no adequate explanation can be offered then it

will be added to income as income from other sources.

If any investment is found to have been made by an assessee and no adequate

explanation is offered then it is considered income from other sources.

Any loan exceeding tk.25000 unless paid by a crossed check, shall be deemed to be

income in the fourth year if it is not paid in the main time.

Trading liabilities has to be paid within 3 years if it is not paid within 03 years then it

will be deemed the income from other sources.

Any expenditure that is not explained adequately, then it will be considered as income

from other sources.

Unexplained expenses on foreign tour shall be added to total income from other

sources.

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Submission of income tax returns is generally due by 30th September in case of non-companies

and by 31st December in case of companies.

Assessment is made in several procedures. They are self assessment, presumptive assessment,

spot assessment, pre-audit based assessment. Certain percent of self assessment cases are

selected for audit.

The assessee can prefer appeal if aggrieved by his assessment. There are three primary forums

for appeal. They are to the Appellate Commissioner/Additional Commissioner/Joint

Commissioner or to the Commission for reviews. The decisions of Appellate

Commissioner/Additional Commissioner/Joint Commissioner can be challenged to the next

Appellate Court named as Appellate Tribunal.

Withholding tax is levy able on a number of items including contractors, imports, transfer of

urban land/building, bank deposits etc.

The income tax wing of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) is now having, seemingly, its

busiest ever time.

The wing is trying, on one hand, to bring in a large number of potential taxpayers under its tax

net and asking the existing ones to comply with the tax rules properly, on the other. Lack of

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awareness, coupled with other systemic problems including tax rates, has been responsible for

keeping the country's tax GDP ratio one of the lowest in the world.

According to the report, the number of taxpayers in the country, as the concerned authorities

expect, would be doubled-an increase of 2.0 million of new taxpayers-- at the end of the 2007-

08. This expectation of appears too ambitious to many people who are someway or other familiar

with the state of affairs relating to revenue collection.

The survey that is being carried out in Dhaka metropolitan area by the NBR to bring in new

income taxpayers under its net is a step in the right direction. The NBR, reportedly, could

interview a little more than 6300 businesspeople over a period of one month and identify more

than 3600 potential taxpayers in Dhaka where the concentration of tax officials is the highest in

the country. [The Bangladesh Journal; The Voice of Bangladesh's New Generation; Sunday,

05.06.2007, 10:53am (GMT+6)]

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has recorded a 193 percent rise in income tax collection

totalling Tk 739.11 crore in the tax year 2007-08 from Tk 252.11 a year ago.

It is mainly because of raising the ceiling of tax-free income. The introduction of Universal Self

Assessment has also augmented tax collection.

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Income Tax of the Budget [2007-2008]

One of the objectives of the tax measures is to induce the tax payers to pay taxes voluntarily.

Some of the measures proposed:

1. Enhance tax exempted income limit for individual tax payers from existing Taka 1 lakh

20 thousand to Taka 1 lakh 65 thousand.

2. Introduction of ‘universal self assessment procedures’

3. Abolish the tax at source on credit card

4. Tax holding benefits to solar energy plants

5. Tax rebate facilities to the non-residential Bangladeshi investors

Hope that the measures taken by the Government will ease the tax system and help in collecting

more revenue from inside.

[Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, ECONOMY.

Tags: Budget, Income Tax

June 14, 2007]

Income Tax: to be the symbol of social status:

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In the Budget Speech, the Finance Adviser declared that CG will make the Income Tax the

symbol of social status.

It is felt that the rich are paying proportionally less income tax to the state than common people

as he can easily satisfy the office. Compare the stress felt by a richer man to pay Tk. 10000 to the

office than paying Tk. 5000 by a middle income man. But consider the loss that is incurred by

the state. So richer people can able to dodge larger amount of money by paying extra cashes to

the office.

Among the taxpayers, it is not taken as credit –who is paying how much. It is rather opposite-

who has dodged how much is taken as credit. Our Governments over the years failed to create a

society where higher tax payers are acknowledged and acclaimed.

What benefit Government is giving to the tax payers. Except the label of CIP, I personally know

nothing.

The ordinary citizen has some suggestions:

1. Government can consider extending the financial benefits on the basis of Income

taxes given by the individuals-such as fixing the amount of loan by the banks and

financial institutions on the amount of taxes, etc.

2. Let the tax of the individuals be disclosed or publicly known. So that culture develop

to compare the taxes, not the income or the wealth,

3. Clean the Income Tax office from corruption so that people of the department do

not consider it as a department to make illegal money ; Few days back I met an

Engineer who passed from BUET and now working as a Deputy Commissioner of

Taxes; but why on Earth a BUET Engineer would choose the Income Tax as his

career department!

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4. Simplify the systems of payment of income tax so that a tax payer does not the need

the help of a middle man ( income tax layer or office man ) to prepare his return

5. Gradually electronic payment system may be introduced where the tax payer will

pay his taxes through internet which is now followed in developed countries

6. Slim down the Income Tax Department, make it more automated. The unnecessary

staffs has created a negative image of the department than doing any good

7. In assessment of the professional income, the help of the professional bodies can be

taken. It will be more accurate and rational than the so called of the so called

Inspectors, who thrive on their twisted assessment; etc.

[Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, ECONOMY, GOVERNANCE.

Tags: , Budget, Income Tax

June 14, 2007]

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