3% taxpayers file returns in 2 weeks

Only 2 lakh or 3 per cent of the total taxpayers filed returns in the first two weeks of the tax fair month in November, official data show.

The total number of taxpayers is 67 lakh.

Coronavirus forced the suspension of the tax fair for a second consecutive year. According to the National Board of Revenue (NBR), in the last year’s fair month, 23 lakh taxpayers filed returns. Back then, there was 62 lakh registered taxpayers.

NBR officials said the last week of the fair month might see a massive crowd like last year. “The turnout is low this time,” an NBR official said.

Till October this fiscal, 3 lakh taxpayers filed returns. From Nov 1 to Nov 15 (half of the tax fair month), 2 lakh taxpayers filed returns. “This is quite low compared to last year,” the official said.

Visiting some of the tax zones in the capital, this correspondent saw a low turnout at the booths.

There are 1.54 lakh TIN holders under Tax Zone-10. Of them, over 50 per cent file regular income tax returns. The medical community is a large part of the taxpayers in this tax region. But, till last Sunday, only over 6,000 had filed their returns. Last year, more than 27,000 taxpayer filed returns.

On Monday, nine booths had been set up in front of Tax Zone-10 located in Shegunbagicha. Many stalls are equipped with glasses to prevent the spread of Covid infection. E-TIN service or income tax return forms were being provided free of cost.

However, the presence of taxpayers was relatively low. Although officers and employees were present to pay the tax, almost every booth was empty.

Lutful Azeem, the commissioner of Tax Zone-10, told The Business Post that officials are trying to ensure maximum tax service. However, the number of taxpayers was far below expectations.

He said a vast number of taxpayers might submit their returns in the last week of November.

Hatem Ahmed, a taxpayer of the zone, filed his return on Monday. He said he liked the environment and paid income tax without any hassle.

A similar picture was seen in Tax Zone-6 in Bijoynagar. Taxpayers in Dhanmondi, Kalabagan and, and Green Road areas are under this zone. Besides, the officials of private banks are also this zone’s regular taxpayers.

So far, 1.43 lakh taxpayers have registered for e-TIN under Tax Zone-6. As a tax region, it has the highest number of taxpayer returns. In the last FY, 93,000 out of 1.25 lakh filed their returns. There are 15 booths adjacent to the office to provide tax services but no taxpayer was in sight.