The National Board of Revenue (NBR) honoured 14 financial institutions, including ten banks, under its Large Taxpayer Unit (LTU) for the first time for receiving tax card as the large taxpayers for fiscal year 2016-17 (FY17).
Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited, Standard Chartered Bank, The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), United Commercial Bank (UCB), Pubali Bank, Dutch-Bangla Bank, IDLC Finance, Uttara Finance and Investment, Infrastructure Development Company and American Life Insurance Company were honoured as large taxpayers.
Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Fazle Kabir handed over crest to the Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of the tax card recipients at the programme organized by the Large Taxpayer Unit (LTU) of the NBR at its Segunbagicha office here.
"It is very encouraging that the large taxpayers are being honoured and it is also a big achievement of the country's financial sector," said the BB governor.
"The central bank and NBR has been working as partner for the country's economic development," the governor added.
Mentioning that the country achieved 7.28 percent economic growth in FY17, Fazle Kabir said the government has targeted to achieve 7.4 percent growth in the current fiscal year and urged all to work together for achieving this target.
NBR chairman Md Nojibur Rahman said taxpayers are showing bravery by paying tax and the NBR is also recognizing the taxpayers. Banks and financial institute sectors are the important area for revenue collection, he added.
He said that 25 percent of the total revenue generated from the corporate sector comes from the banks and financial institutes and the government is spending this money for the development activities including big mega projects.
LTU commissioner Alamgir Hossain said the NBR is giving honor to taxpayers and LTUs to create a revenue-friendly environment and trust for taxpayers.
Speaking at the programme, Managing Director of Islami Bank Md Abdul Hamid Miah thanked the NBR's LTU for honouring the banks and financial institutes and such initiative would encourage the taxpayers to pay tax properly.
The NBR introduced the LTU in 2003 with a total of 939 units. Now the number is 1,177 which include 418 companies-60 banks, 29 financial institutions, 68 merchant banks, 74 manufacturing establishments, 29 life insurance and 48 general insurance firms, 6 mobile operators, 6 sea food and beverage companies, 14 garments units, 27 textile units, 12 pharmaceuticals, 9 companies with multiple products and 36 other establishments.
NBR collected Tk 14,900 crore revenue from the LTUs in FY17 and it has a target to mobilize Tk 18,200 crore from these large taxpayers.
Source: BSS