Dhaka: National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan today announced that the primary focus of the national budget for the fiscal year 2026 (FY26) will be the removal of non-tariff barriers to support the business community. Speaking at a pre-budget meeting held at the Revenue Building’s conference room in Agargaon, Khan emphasized the commitment to eliminating hurdles for businesses.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Khan highlighted that creating a business-friendly environment for entrepreneurs is a key target for the upcoming budget. He mentioned that enhancing revenue collection and facilitating a smooth business atmosphere by removing obstacles are central goals. Addressing a potential discrepancy between the tax rate and the effective tax rate, Khan expressed intentions to minimize this gap.
Khan revealed plans for developing an application aimed at business entities lacking proper accounting systems. This app would enable businesses to maintain records, thereby assisting them
in accurately calculating taxes, including VAT. He outlined the broader objectives of enhancing revenue collection, expanding the tax net, and curbing revenue invasion, which significantly contributes to revenue leakage.
The NBR Chairman underscored the need to reduce tax expenditures to zero and suggested that those benefitting from prolonged reduced tax rates and exemptions should start paying taxes at actual rates. While acknowledging some tax exemptions will persist to encourage new investments, he stated it is time to move away from the tax exemption culture.
Emphasizing tariff rationalization, Khan indicated that efforts to address this issue would commence from the fiscal year 2025 (FY25). He acknowledged existing problems related to tariff valuation and HS Code, noting that the NBR plans to tackle these issues separately.