National Board of Revenue Audits Over 5,000 More Taxpayers; Check Your TIN Online
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of Bangladesh has selected an additional 5,014 taxpayers for income tax document audits, bringing the total number of audited taxpayers to over one lakh. The latest list of selected taxpayers was recently published by the NBR, with the selection process being entirely automated. This initiative aims to verify the accuracy of submitted income tax returns, a process that had been suspended for several years and resumed last fiscal year. To check if their return has been selected for audit, taxpayers can visit the NBR website and search an Excel sheet using their Tax Identification Number (TIN). Previously, 15,494 taxpayers were selected in July of last year, followed by 72,341 in April, and now the latest batch of 5,014. The NBR is undertaking these audits to ensure taxpayers are providing accurate information and paying the correct amount of tax. The selection process for the 2023-24 tax year considered returns submitted automatically. Out of over 1.28 crore TIN holders, approximately 42.5 lakh filed returns last year. The NBR has specified criteria for selection, choosing a maximum of 200 and a minimum of 20 taxpayers per circle, ensuring no manual interference in the selection process. This automated approach fulfills a long-standing demand from taxpayers and civil society for a transparent audit selection mechanism.
The NBR's move to an automated, transparent audit selection process for income tax returns addresses historical demands for fairness and reduces potential for corruption. By making the selection criteria and lists publicly accessible via the NBR website, the initiative enhances taxpayer confidence and encourages compliance. This systemic shift, driven by technology, aligns with global trends towards digital governance and data-driven public administration. The NBR's focus on verifying tax compliance and return accuracy is crucial for fiscal health, especially as the number of taxpayers grows. Future iterations could explore risk-based audit models that further optimize resource allocation while maintaining fairness and transparency, ensuring the system remains robust against evolving economic landscapes and taxpayer behaviors.
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