EU official expects Bangladesh’s e-tax returns to triple this year

The number of online tax return submissions in Bangladesh is projected to rise to 1.5 million this fiscal year, a significant jump from 500,000 filed last year, Michal Krejza, Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh, hopes.

“We hope that the number of people using this service center and submitting electronic tax returns will rise quickly,” Krejza remarked at the official launch of the new e-Return Service Centre at the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Bhaban in Dhaka’s Agargaon on Sunday.

The new Service Centre, aimed at facilitating electronic tax return submissions, was inaugurated by NBR Chairman Md. Abdur Rahman Khan and Krejza. The initiative is part of the NBR’s broader mission to simplify the tax submission process for citizens, with EU support under its Public Financial Management Programme.

Krejza noted that while only 500,000 people filed e-returns last year, the figure is expected to rise to between 1 million and 1.5 million this year, describing this increase as "tremendous".

The EU has been a longstanding partner in Bangladesh’s financial reforms, and Krejza highlighted that this collaboration is key to supporting the country’s development goals. “Now we see a particularly important window of opportunity for reforms,” he said, praising the NBR chairman’s forward-thinking approach. These reforms are crucial for Bangladesh's development, as NBR is central to securing the revenue necessary to finance future progress, he added.

The newly launched Service Centre, which has been in operation for two to three years but recently moved to the NBR Bhaban, is staffed by trained NBR officials. It provides direct assistance to taxpayers using the e-Return system, aiming to make the tax submission process easier and more efficient.

“It is now much easier for the center to operate from this new location,” Krejza said, commending the cooperation between the EU and NBR. “So, keep up this good collaboration.”

The e-Return website (etaxnbr.gov.bd) offers comprehensive resources, including a user manual, FAQs, and a help section. For further assistance, taxpayers can contact the Service Centre on 09643717171, available weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm. Additionally, a ticketing function on the website allows users to report issues or submit queries directly to the NBR (https://ticket.etaxnbr.gov.bd/).