Ambitious revenue target may lead to taxpayer harassment: MCCI
Three task forces on income tax, VAT, customs are working to boost revenue mobilisation, finance adviser to PM .
The Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) has warned that the government's ambitious revenue collection target for fiscal 2026-27 could lead to harassment of taxpayers at the field level unless accompanied by comprehensive reforms in tax administration.
MCCI President Kamran T Rahman voiced the concern today (17 June) while delivering the welcome address at a post-budget discussion jointly organised by MCCI, Standard Chartered Bangladesh and the Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh (PRI) at the M Anis Ud Dowla Conference Hall in Dhaka.
Pointing to the National Board of Revenue's (NBR) recent weak performance, Kamran said achieving the new revenue target of Tk6.95 lakh crore without comprehensive structural reforms would be extremely difficult and that the pressure to do so could lead to harassment of taxpayers at the field level.
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Despite the concern, Kamran welcomed several business-friendly measures proposed in the budget, including initiatives to modernise tax and revenue administration, expand digitalisation and improve the ease of doing business.
He also expressed hope that the recommendations and insights generated during the discussion, held ahead of the budget's final approval in parliament, would contribute to policymaking and provide practical guidance for the relevant authorities.
Separate task forces formed for tax, VAT and customs
Speaking at the same event, Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, adviser to the prime minister on finance and planning, said the government has formed three separate task forces on income tax, VAT and customs to strengthen revenue mobilisation by reducing tax evasion and tax fraud rather than placing a heavier burden on compliant taxpayers.
He said each task force has been assigned monthly action plans and specific milestones, with progress being reviewed regularly to ensure accountability and effective implementation.
To address delays in project implementation, the adviser said the government has initiated reforms across the entire project cycle – from formulation and approval to implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
As part of the effort, a dashboard-based monitoring system is being introduced to track project progress in real time. The government is also working to implement an open-data policy to enhance transparency in policymaking and research.
Titumir further said the government has adopted a three-phase economic strategy – Recovery, Restoration and Reconstruction for Acceleration – centred on boosting consumption, investment, public expenditure and export diversification.
