Withdraw 15% vat on laptops, printers and toner cartridges: BCS

Bangladesh Computer Society (BCS) has urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to withdraw the proposed additional 15 per cent VAT on laptops, printers and toner cartridges in the budget for FY2022-23.

“Currently, individual parts of the computer costs more in Bangladesh than global market standard and presently, almost 99 per cent of laptops in Bangladesh are imported,” BCS said in a written statement on Tuesday.

Earlier, the government proposed a fresh 15 per cent VAT on imported laptop computers and computer accessories for FY23 in an effort to promote locally-manufactured electronic products.

ALSO READ: Budget FY23: Fresh 15% VAT proposed on imported laptops, accessories

BCS also raised concerns that prices of computers and accessories have risen by 30 per cent due to the Covid-19 pandemic and rising shipping costs.

“The recent rise of the dollar has also led to an additional 10 per cent increase in the price of computers in Bangladesh. In addition, the imposition of 15 per cent additional VAT might take the total tax payable at 55 per cent,” it added.

As a result, the minimum cost of a laptop computer will be out of reach of middle and lower middle-class students, small and medium entrepreneurs and freelancers.