Staff Reporter :
National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan has announced stricter measures to address gold smuggling, simplify tax procedures, and ensure fair pricing of essential goods.
Speaking at a press briefing after inaugurating a passenger service help desk at the airport customs on Sunday, the chairman highlighted discrepancies between the volume of gold within the country and its official import records.
“This imbalance must be brought under regulatory frameworks. Any aircraft found facilitating gold smuggling will face severe consequences, including route permit revocation and operational bans,” he warned.
The chairman revealed plans to launch a mobile application next year to enable taxpayers to submit returns digitally, marking a step towards full automation of the tax payment process.
Emphasising the importance of reducing direct contact between taxpayers and officials, he noted that this initiative would help minimise complications.
To facilitate easier tax payments, debit and credit card transactions have been introduced. For payments below Tk 25,000, a processing fee of Tk 20 will apply, while payments exceeding this amount will incur a maximum fee of Tk 50.
Additionally, all corporate tax returns are expected to move online by next year.
Ahead of Ramadan, the NBR is focused on maintaining stable prices for essential commodities.
The chairman assured that efforts are being made to ensure reasonable prices for potatoes, onions, and sugar.
To further ease consumer burdens, he announced plans to reduce duties on dates shortly.
He highlighted the success of recent tariff reductions, which have helped stabilise sugar prices and lowered import duties on eggs.
However, he noted that international price increases for soybean and palm oil have driven up edible oil prices in local markets.
These measures aim to enhance regulatory oversight, promote transparency in tax administration, and mitigate the impact of global price fluctuations on local consumers.