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Session II: RECENT AND UPCOMING FISCAL REFORMS IN SOUTH AISA

This presentation discusses the evolution of fiscal reforms in Bangladesh, with a focus on recent and upcoming initiatives. It covers the salient features of the current fiscal scenario, growth trends, major reforms, and areas of research interest. The presentation highlights the weaknesses of the tax system, revenue structure, and the need for reforms to address issues such as low revenue mobilization and tax evasion. The presentation also explores the major fiscal reforms in income tax, including changes in the tax base, tax rates, administrative measures, and special tax incentives.

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Session II: RECENT AND UPCOMING FISCAL REFORMS IN SOUTH AISA

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  1. CENTRE FOR POLICY DIALOGUE (CPD) B A N G L A D E S H a c i v i l s o c i e t y t h i n k – t a n k Workshop on COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH ON SOUTH ASIA TAX SYSTEMS Session II: RECENT AND UPCOMING FISCAL REFORMS IN SOUTH AISA Singapore: 08-09 August 2010 Fiscal Reforms in Bangladesh: Evolution, and Future Initiatives Presentation by Mustafizur Rahman mustafiz@cpd.org.bd

  2. Fiscal Reforms in Bangladesh: Evolution, and Future Initiatives Presentation Outline • Introduction: Salient Features of Bangladesh’s Current Fiscal Scenario • Growth Trends and Revenue Structure of Bangladesh • Major Fiscal Reforms in Recent Times • Fiscal Initiatives in the Budget for FY2011 • Medium Term Fiscal Plan • Areas of Research Interest

  3. 1. Introduction: Salient Features of Bangladesh’s Current Fiscal Scenario Salient Features of Tax System Notwithstanding the various fiscal reforms of the recent past, Bangladesh fiscal system continues to suffer from a number of major weaknesses: • Low Level of Revenue Mobilisation • Regressive Nature of Taxation • High Tax Incidence • Low Tax Base • High Degree of Tax Evasion • Limited Administrative Capacity • Resource Constraints (Human and Logistics) • Centralised Taxation System • Cumbersome Legal Procedures

  4. 2. Growth Trends and Revenue Structure of Bangladesh Over the past years total revenue and tax receipts as % of Bangladesh GDP have increased – from 6.5% and 5.5% respectively in FY1982 to 11.2% and 9.4% respectively in FY2010 Tax receipts roughly generate four-fifth of total revenue National Board of Revenue (NBR) is the apex tax authority of the government which is entrusted to mobilise tax revenue Average annual growth of total tax revenue for FY1982-1991 period was 13.77%; it came down to 11.8% during FY1992-2001. However, average annual growth picked up between FY2002-2010 and was 14.21% Revenue and Tax Revenue as % of GDP • However, tax-GDP ratio is still significantly low when compared to other countries (average tax revenue as % of GDP in South Asian countries is about 12%)

  5. Growth Trends and Revenue Structure of Bangladesh • Customs duty (import tariff) used to be the preeminent contributor to the revenue envelope in the early 1980s – accounting for 42% of total tax revenue of the country in FY1982 and 35% in FY1992 • In FY1992 VAT was introduced with a view to gradually replace the sales tax; over the years VAT emerged as one of the major components of tax revenue • However, dependency on the tax collection at import stage was high at that point – 51% of total tax collection originated from CD, VAT and SD at import stage

  6. Growth Trends and Revenue Structure of Bangladesh • 1990s was the decade of trade liberalisation in Bangladesh as import duty was slashed considerably (average duties coming down from about 60% to 20%) • As a result, in FY2010, the share of CD and total tax collection at import stage declined to 14.7% (35% in FY1992) and 35.3% (51% in 1992) respectively • VAT emerged as the predominant component of tax mobilization: VAT (import plus local) as % of total tax revenue has gone up from 22% in FY1992 to 33% in 2002 and a further 37% in FY2010 • Contribution of Income tax has increased over the last decade – from 16% of total tax in FY1992, to 18% in FY2002 and finally 26.4% in FY2010

  7. 3. Major Fiscal Reforms in Recent Times: Income Tax • Tax Base • Introduction of ‘initial exemption limit’ (tax-base as ‘total income’) instead of ‘filing threshold system’ (tax-base as ‘taxable income’) in FY1993 • Current tax exemption limit: Tk 165,000 (USD2,357); per capita annual GNI – USD700 • Tk. 180,000 (USD2,571) for Female and Senior citizens (65 years and above) • Tk. 200,000 (USD2,857) for persons with disability • Tax Rate • Income tax rate in Bangladesh maybe considered to be high.

  8. Major Fiscal Reforms in Recent Times: Income Tax • Administrative Measures • Introduction of large Taxpayers Unit (LTU) for income tax in FY1999 • Introduction of withholding tax being final discharge of tax liability in FY1999 (at present total items are 20 in number out of 44 items under source-tax) • Advance income tax payment on quarterly basis if tax-base exceeds a limit • Assessment on the basis of report of a outsourced chartered accountant in FY2001 • Introduction of Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) in FY2004 • Mandatory provision for Tax Identification Number (TIN) for registration of assets and business (land, vehicle etc.) in FY1991 • Introduction of online submission of tax returns for personal income at a pilot basis in FY2011 • Strengthening of inspection, survey, search and seizure

  9. Major Fiscal Reforms in Recent Times: Income Tax • Special Tax Incentives • Tax holiday • 4 years (for Dhaka and Chittagong) to 6 years (other areas) up to FY2011 • 10 years for export-oriented industries in EPZs • 15 years for power generation companies from FY2010 (along with other tax-exemptions on their expenditures) • Accelerated depreciation scheme • Exemption of agriculture farming activities (excepting two areas) • Periodic initiatives to allow “whitening of black money”

  10. Major Fiscal Reforms in Recent Times: Indirect Tax • Introduction of VAT through repeal of Sales Tax, Business Turnover Tax and shifting of 90% of excisable goods and services in FY1992 • VAT rate: 15% • Truncated rates are common – However, upward revision of truncated rates and significant withdrawal of truncated rates through introduction of standard rates in FY2011 (28 services from 52) • Zero tax on export • LTU-VAT was established with effect from 1 October 2004 • Provision of tariff value for VAT since FY1993 • Provision of withholding VAT was made applicable for both goods and services

  11. Major Fiscal Reforms in Recent Times: Indirect Tax • Introduction of trading-stage VAT and provision for delegation of Magistracy power to the VAT officers since FY1997 • Introduction of VAT refund system since FY1998 • Introduction of license to VAT consultants since FY1999 • Introduction of compulsory registration irrespective of annual turnover since FY2000 • Introduction of advance trade VAT (ATV) on commercial importers since October 1, 2004 and replaced by VDS (VAT deducted at source) at import-stage since FY2011 • New provision to issue a unified registration number to each registered person for VAT and income tax purposes incorporated in FY2008; however, this has not been implemented as yet •  Customs, Excise and VAT Appellate Tribunal established from October 1, 1995 • Provision of outsourcing of external auditing professional since 1993-94

  12. Major Fiscal Reforms in Recent Times: Indirect Tax • Excise, Taxes & Customs (ETAC) Data Computerization Project with major finance from the World Bank (December 1989 - June 1999) for IT-based tax management system • Implementation of ASYCUDA (Automated SYstem for CUstoms DAta) software, which was launched as a project of the NBR in 1991 with financial assistance from UNDP. The project was redesignated as SPEED (Special Processing of Electronically Entered Declaration) at the implementation stage • Infrastructure Development Surcharge (IDSC) was first imposed in FY1997 at import stage and was later withdrawn in FY2008

  13. Major Fiscal Reforms in Recent Times: General Reforms • Help Desk opened at the NBR Head Office in November 2007 to help visitors and other persons seeking assistance with regard to income tax, VAT and customs duty • Citizens Charter of the NBR published in January 2008

  14. Fiscal Initiatives in the Budget for FY2011 • Following “Plan of Action” is to be implemented in FY2011 : • Freeze/take over of bank accounts of tax defaulters. • Bilateral meeting with the aim of settling outstanding income taxes • Strengthen monitoring mechanism with a view to ensure deposit of withholding tax and outstanding income tax • Strengthen legal initiatives to end large-revenue related disputes and appealed legal cases in the higher courts of law • Settle audit disputes • Retrieve household asset holding number from municipality and trade-license related information of businesses and thus identify new tax payers • Identify forged TIN • Regular visit in order to coordinate the works of field level offices • Establish tax offices at district level • Create tax related database

  15. 5. Medium Term Fiscal Plan Revenue and Tax Revenue as % of GDP • The government in its Sixth Five Year Plan has set a target to improve revenue-GDP ratio and tax-GDP ratio to 14.1% and 11.8% respectively by FY2015 • Reforms aimed at strengthening tax administration and improving taxpayer services during FY11-15 will continue to focus on the following measures: • Improve monitoring of tax collection and the impact of measures to expand the tax net • De-link tax collection from tax officials by allowing payment through banks and/or online rather than through tax offices

  16. Medium Term Fiscal Plan • Improve procedures for ensuring timely deposit of tax revenues at the point of collection • Establish a special tribunal to prioritise resolution of long-standing tax payment cases • Improve publicity and information to encourage individuals and firms to register and pay tax • Undertake action to fill vacant positions in NBR (currently 8,000), improve on-the-job training and undertake other capacity building measures • Develop one-stop service centres to provide information and advice to taxpayers and create a more positive tax compliant environment • Further simplify tax forms and improve tax payment procedures such as payment through mobile phones • Implement an integrated automation strategy covering taxpayer submissions, assessment, permissions and approvals, and payments • Make all rules, regulations, SROs, notices and other orders available on the NBR website immediately after they had been issued • Introduce e-governance and online tax payment systems

  17. 6. Areas of Research Interest • Indepth Review of Fiscal Reforms in Bangladesh • Economic Cost-Benefit Analysis of Fiscal Incentives in Manufacturing Sector • Incidence of Indirect Tax • Equity Dimensions in Bangladesh’s Tax System • Modalities to Broaden Income Tax Base

  18. THANK YOU

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