Dhaka: The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has introduced a new mandate requiring the use of information from the ASYCUDA System to enhance transparency and accuracy in income tax assessment.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the NBR announced in a press release that tax officials are now instructed to collect actual data on the value of imported goods and the advance income tax (AIT) paid at the import stage from the Business Intelligence (BI) Server of the ASYCUDA System. This data will be utilized in assessing income tax liabilities.
An order issued on March 4, 2026, outlines detailed guidelines for income tax officials on utilizing the BI Server of the ASYCUDA System. The directive specifies that during audits, case reopenings, or correction orders, Range Officers must gather relevant data from the BI Server if the taxpayer is an importer. This data includes the value of imported goods and the actual amount of advance income tax paid at the import stage, which must be communicated in writing to the respective Circle Officers for assessment purposes.
Commissioners and Inspecting Range Officers will have access to the BI Server from designated IP-bounded computers. The collected data will be recorded regularly in a specified register by the Inspecting Range Officers. Initially, assessing officers will not have direct access to the BI Server; instead, they will receive information through the Inspecting Range Officers.
The NBR stated that using data from the ASYCUDA System’s BI Server will facilitate easy verification of imported goods’ quantity and value and the advance income tax collected at the import stage during income tax case resolutions. This initiative aims to ensure transparent and accurate credit of advance income tax, prevent tax evasion, increase revenue collection, and expedite the disposal of income tax cases with transparency and accountability.
Additionally, the move is expected to simplify and expedite the income tax refund process. The NBR expressed optimism that this initiative will foster a new era of information exchange between the Customs and Income Tax wings, enhancing transparency in tax assessments and reducing unnecessary business harassment.