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Unfriendly tax methods slow down collection: survey

Star Business Report
MOST people at grassroots level find the tax payment system unfriendly and feel discouraged to pay taxes due to complexities, according to a survey unveiled yesterday.
The study published by Sushanoner Jonnno Procharavizan (Supro) said 78 percent of 757 persons think tax payment is unfriendly.
Some 63 percent do not feel encouraged to pay taxes because of complexities in the tax system, said Rubayyat Hashmi, a teacher at American International University, sharing the findings of a baseline survey at a national consultation organised by Supro at The Daily Star Centre.
The survey was conducted in Barisal, Kushtia, Rangamati, Hobiganj, Rajshahi and Shariatpur to create baseline data on
different tax related issues and raise voices to establish a pro-poor tax system.
The study also finds that more than half the respondents think the present 15 percent VAT, an indirect tax, is high and it should not be identical for everyone because of income differences among people.
Some 63 percent favour raising the VAT on luxury goods and said the government should not impose VAT on necessary goods for the benefit of the low income groups.
A chunk of respondents feel the wealthy have the ability to access government benefits and sendees more than the poor.
The survey suggested the National Board of Revenue (NBR) establish help desks in each tax circle, ease the process of income declaration and payment, online filing of tax returns, and train and motivate tax officials so that they cooperate
with taxpayers with positive attitudes.
Il also recommended exempting essential goods and services from the purview of VAT for the benefit of the poor.
Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid Bangladesh, said people pay taxes to get better state services, but we do not receive enough data from the government on how the tax money is spent.
"There is a scarcity of safe drinking water. Many roads are broken. People ask why they will pay taxes," she said. "Accountability is very' weak."
She favoured increased public investment in social services, especially health and education, to give a wider percentage of the population the benefit of taxes.
The ActionAid country director also suggested the government reduce dependence on indirect taxes. No foreign company should be given tax-exemption privileges; multinational companies will not
leave Bangladesh due to a lack of tax waiver because Bangladesh is a market of 16 crore people, she said.
Conor Molloy, associate country director in-charge of Oxfam Bangladesh, said awareness building on the tax system is necessary. He preferred a pro-poor tax system and increased state investment in social services.
Kalipada Halder, NBR member for legal and enforcement, said tax exemption creates scope for tax evasion. People shift incomes from other sectors to the sectors that get waivers to evade taxes, he added.
Discussants also expressed frustration over inadequate health, education and other public sendees, despite paying taxes. They demanded the government catch tax evaders and increase the collection of direct taxes to ensure a fair taxation system.
Mustafizur Rahman Khan, chairperson of Supro, chaired the programme.