"We'll have to motivate all the people, who are eligible to pay income tax, to come under the tax net," she said while inaugurating the online tax payment system at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital.
She said her government wanted to be independent to meet development goals, and for that revenue earnings should be more than what they were at present.
Hasina also directed the authorities to quickly introduce a VAT e-payment system besides the tax e-payment system to ensure more transparency.
Income Tax Commissioner Kanan Kumar Roy made a presentation on the online tax payment system. A documentary drama was also screened at the event.
The PM said she hoped that revenue earnings would increase after the launch of the online tax payment system and that people would be encouraged to pay tax. "Expatriate Bangladeshis can also avail themselves of the service by visiting the specific portal."
She asked the authorities concerned to gradually improve the online tax payment system to meet the demands of taxpayers, and emphasised regular maintenance of the tax website to handle well the pressure of service seekers, especially in August and September.
The prime minister said her government led had brought about reforms in the overall tax administration -- modernised it and increased the scope of automation along with infrastructural development.
"We've also made the tax payment system easy, launched tax information and service centres, and improved the tax policy and tax management system."
As a result, there has been tremendous success in direct tax collection in the last three years as revenue earnings doubled, she said, adding that there had been around 18 percent growth in the current year.
Hasina said the government had taken the measures to make income tax and VAT act time-befitting. It had also constructed a modern building for the revenue department in the capital apart from expanding the income tax and VAT departments.
Despite the global economic recession, Bangladesh's economy was moving ahead, tackling domestic and international risks, she said, adding all the macro-economic indicators of the country, including GDP growth, import-export, remittance, investment, production, employment and foreign currency reserve, were positive.
"The rural economy has become more active … income of people has increased and so has demand. A good domestic market has been created and we've also made infrastructural development in order to attract local and foreign investments."
She also urged all to gain knowledge on information technology and get used to it. She stressed the need for maintaining progress in different e-services, including e-government, e-commerce, e-health, e-education, e-banking and the latest e-tax payment systems.
She claimed that Bangladesh was moving ahead in pace with the digitalised world.
The prime minister inaugurated the online tax payment system by paying in advance her income tax online for the year 2012-13.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith and PM's Economic Affairs Adviser Mashiur Rahman spoke at the programme as special guests. National Board of Revenue Chairman Nasiruddin Ahmed presided over the function, where FBCCI President AK Azad also spoke.
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Quelle/Source: The Daily Star Online, 27.05.2012
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