TIN must for new electricity connection

Having Tax Identification Number (TIN) has been made mandatory in the proposed budget for residential building owners to get new electricity connections in all city corporations, cantonment boards and headquarters of upazilas.

“Those who already have connections will have to submit their TINs now, along with their electricity bills,” said National Board of Revenue’s Second Secretary (Tax Law-2) Mazharul Haque Bhuyan.

The proposal is part of the NBR’s initiative to increase the number of taxpayers.

Earlier, having TIN was must only for commercial connections.

Currently, there are 3.34 crore electricity customers in the country under six power distributing companies; the number was 1.8 crore in 2009.

There are 18 lakh income taxpayers in the country while 41 lakh have e-TIN.

At present, seven to eight documents are required for getting a new electricity connection.

The documents include signed copy of the application form, two attested recent passport size colour photos, attested copy of registered deed of ownership or occupancy, load assessment form, mutation document of land, attested copy of building plan approved by Rajuk or city corporation, and attested copy of document regarding holding number issued by the city corporation authority.

Three additional documents – clearance from Fire Service, clearance from Environment Department, and trade licence – are required for new industrial connections.

However, electricity distribution companies often provide connections even if some required documents are missing in some special cases.

Mohammad Hossain, director general of the Power Cell, said, “More than 17 documents were required for a new connection before 2017. But considering the hurdles of the customers we have shortened the list to seven.”