How to submit income tax returns online

With the slogan "Na Darea Line e, Return Din Online e (Submit your return online, avoid waiting in line)," the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has introduced new online facilities for taxpayers. NBR has reopened the income tax return submission service online for everyone.

Individual taxpayers can file their income tax returns from July 1 to November 30 each year. On September 9, NBR launched the online return submission process for the 2024-25 tax year. Now, any taxpayer can submit this year’s income tax return from home by providing income and expenditure details online after registration.

According to NBR, the online tax payment system has been available for some time. Through internet banking, debit and credit cards, and mobile banking, any taxpayer can submit returns and make payments. They can also download and print copies of submitted returns, acknowledgment receipts, tax certificates, and Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) from the same online platform.

Recently, NBR made online return filing mandatory for certain professionals, including government employees in four city corporations, officials of scheduled banks across the country, mobile company officials, and employees of Unilever Bangladesh, British American Tobacco, Marico, Berger Paints, Bata Shoe Company, and Nestlé.

This has reduced taxpayers' difficulties, allowing them to file returns in a corruption-free environment. Consequently, taxpayers' interest in e-return submission is high.

NBR sources report that over 170,000 returns were submitted online this week. The organization expects at least 1.5 million online submissions this fiscal year.

To file an e-return, taxpayers should visit www.etaxnbr.gov.bd and register using their TIN and a biometric-registered mobile number. Once registered, they can proceed with the online return submission.

Unlike the manual process, where various documents are required, e-return submission does not require file attachments. Instead, taxpayers only need to provide information from these documents.

The NBR's call center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 09643717171, where taxpayers can seek assistance if they encounter issues with online registration or return submission.

While some users report issues accessing the online system, tax officials state this is temporary and mainly due to a large number of users accessing the system simultaneously.

NBR had previously introduced online return submission in 2016 at a cost of 510 million BDT, but due to low interest—around 5,000-6,000 annual submissions—the system was discontinued in 2019. A new online system, launched in November 2020 for 20 million BDT, saw over 200,000 taxpayers file returns online in the 2023-24 fiscal year.

Taxpayers with an annual income below 500,000 BDT can complete a one-page return form, which requires 16 pieces of information, including: taxpayer name, NID, TIN, tax circle, tax region, tax year, residential status, contact address with mobile number, sources of income, total assets, total income, taxable income, tax rebate, payable tax, tax deducted at source (if applicable), tax paid with this return, and living expenses.

Certain documents are needed as proof during return submission, including: salary income records, certificates for interest income on securities, lease agreements, municipal tax receipts, mortgage interest certificates, sale or purchase agreements and receipts for capital assets, supporting documents for capital expenditures, dividend warrants for share dividends, and tax deduction at source certificates for interest income.

Currently, a tax return receipt is required for 47 government and private services. Taxpayers interested in receiving these services or investing to claim tax rebates must submit their returns.

NBR has also established service booths across 41 tax regions, covering 869 circles, to provide uninterrupted return submission services until November 30.