As the submission of income tax returns was not found to be satisfactory against the total taxpayers identification numbers (TINs) this year, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has decided to be tough against the errant taxpayers.

According to NBR data, only 22 lakh of the 46 lakh TIN-holders submitted tax returns this year.

“This is disappointing, and there’s no option but to be tough against the errant TIN holders,” a senior NBR official told UNB.

He said a large number of people used to take TINs just to complete their necessary works where its submission is mandatory.

“But, after finishing their jobs, these people don’t bother to submit their income tax returns or pay the income tax to the national exchequer,” he said.

“For example, one person needs to have TIN for purchasing a land or a flat. For that s/he takes a TIN, but later that person forgets or does not bother to submit the income tax return or pay the income tax. We want to hunt down such people and compel them to pay their due income taxes,” the NBR official said.

According to the Income Tax Ordinance, the punishment for not submitting income tax return is Tk 1,000 for one time and Tk 50 for each delayed day.

The NBR is thinking to be harsher against the errant taxpayers as it would be easier for them to catch the taxpayers as they have taken TIN that requires the National Identification Number (NID).

“Yes, we expected to get better revenue collection at the end of the income tax return submission deadline, but the number of income tax return is disappointing,” he said.

The revenue collecting authority has asked its field offices to track the people who have not submitted tax returns this year despite having taxable income.

NBR Chairman Md Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan recently in a press conference mentioned that his office has directed the field officers to contact those who have TINs and taxable income but did not submit the income tax returns.

Bhuiyan said he asked the NBR field offices to ensure return submission and tax payment by those non-filers.

The number of total tax returns grew 10 percent to 22 lakh this year which will be increased by nearly 50,000 after companies file returns by mid-January.

The NBR official said they asked all the tax zones to submit their reports after reviewing the overall situation of their respective tax zones.

It asked the zone offices to take actions as per law against the e-TIN takers who did not submit their income tax return in due time.

The total revenue collection for the running 2019-20 fiscal was estimated to be Tk 3,77,810 crore where the NBR will contribute Tk 3,25,660 crore. The tax revenue from non-NBR sources was estimated at Tk 14,500 crore, while non-tax revenue at Tk. 37,710 crore.

Of the grand amount for the NBR, Tk 1,13,912 crore will come from income, profit and capital tax, while Tk 1,23,067 crore will be contributed by VAT, supplementary tax will provide 48,153 crore, Tk 36,498 crore will come from import duty, Tk 54 crore from export duty, Tk 2,239 crore from the excise duty and Tk 1,677 crore as other taxes.