All services under single roof at Chattogram Income Tax Fair 

Engineer Jahid Absar, a Chattogram resident, submitted his income tax return at the Income Tax Fair being held at Chattogram. 

In order to avoid the trouble at the income tax office, for the past few years, Jahid has been exclusively submitting his returns at the fair.

The fair, jointly organised by four tax zones of Chattogram, was crowded with many taxpayers like Jahid on Saturday. 

Tax calculation, filling up forms accurately, depositing money and the return slip, and all other services have all been brought under one roof at the fair. 

"I can get all services related to tax return at the fair and within a short time," said Jahid Absar, adding that otherwise, he would have had to go from one table to another for submitting his return at the tax office.

While visiting the fair on Saturday, The Business Standard saw a large crowd gathered at the GEC Convention Centre – the venue of the fair – calculating their taxes and submitting returns. 

Upon entering the convention centre, visitors can find the Information and Help Desk at the main gate, from where taxpayers can register their names and collect forms. 

They can then deposit money at any stall of the three banks. Apart from this, the guidelines for new taxpayers on how to fill up application forms is also displayed on screens.

Bappa Das Gupta of Chittagong Grammar School who came to submit his return said, "I have come to submit the return for the first time and I am satisfied with the service. Everyone is very helpful. As a result, I have managed to submit the return without any mistake."

Another taxpayer, Engineer Majedur Rahman, who works at the Amin Jute Mills, said, "I have been submitting returns at the fair for a few years. Due to businesses submitting returns at other times, which leads to hassles for individual taxpayers, I prefer submitting my return at the fair."

Md Iqbal Hossain, the tax commissioner at Chattogram Tax Zone – 1, said, "Taxpayers are getting all the required services at the fair. That is why people wait for the fair for submitting their returns. 

"Moreover, there are separate booths for women, differently-abled people, freedom fighters and military personnel." 

From filling up the form to depositing money, everything is done under one roof, which attracts people to the fair. 

Services for registration of new TINs (Tax Identification Numbers) and activating old TINs are also provided at the fair, Iqbal added.

The National Board of Revenue has been organising the annual fair across the country for the last 10 years in order to raise awareness about the necessity of tax payment for national development, and to encourage more people to start the practice.

The last date for submission of income tax returns for individual taxpayers is November 30, which has been named as the "Tax Day."

In 2018-19 fiscal year, the four tax zones in Chattogram realised Tk11,177 crores from 4.34 lakh registered taxpayers.