No risk in linking banks with e-returns: NBR Chairman

National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md. Abdur Rahman Khan has assured taxpayers that linking bank accounts with online tax returns is safe and will not compromise personal information.

He said no NBR official will have access to taxpayers’ bank details, and the move will simplify deposit collection and filing.

Speaking at a seminar titled Meet the Business at Agargaon Revenue Bhaban on Wednesday (September 10), the NBR Chairman said the initiative aims to reduce the need for taxpayers to repeatedly submit account statements. Corporate tax returns will also be fully digitized in the future, with the goal of easing compliance and encouraging investment.

Abdur Rahman Khan noted that most taxpayers currently fail to file returns and emphasized that issuing notices to TIN holders is not harassment but a necessary step to ensure compliance. Income tax audits will now be conducted randomly, he added.

On VAT, the Chairman said objections to the current rate are being reviewed and a single, digital-friendly VAT rate may be introduced. He highlighted plans for a QR code-based system to automate VAT collection and curb evasion, noting that 3,000 audits in the past year uncovered significant irregularities.