All field-level value-added tax (VAT) offices will work on a limited scale during public holidays until May 05 to keep the revenue collection process uninterrupted.
As instructed by the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the VAT offices will keep a close contact with the businesses that remained open during the lockdown.
The government declared rounds of general holidays since March 26 that has extended until May 05 to check the coronavirus outbreak in Bangladesh.
Md Jamal Hossain, NBR member for VAT implementation and IT wing, issued letters on Tuesday requesting all field-level VAT offices to work partially at this time.
During the period, VAT officials will collect arrears from businesses, examine VAT returns, clear refund applications of businesses and issue VAT registration or business identification number (BIN).
Other instructions include completing pending work, projecting future revenue collection, maintaining virtual communication with VAT payers and following health warning guidelines to stay safe from COVID-19.
Earlier, the NBR kept VAT offices open from April 12 to 15 amid the coronavirus lockdown to receive VAT returns from businesses.
Due to legal obligations, officials said, VAT return submission deadline could not be extended despite a plea from the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and other businesses.
Despite the current pandemic situation, the revenue board received 30,781 VAT returns with Tk 62.83-billion VAT from April 12 to 15.
The returns have been submitted on the basis of business transactions for the month of March.
Meanwhile, in a separate order, the NBR's income tax wing instructed its field-level tax offices countrywide to keep their offices open for emergency services during the general holidays.
Earlier income tax and VAT offices remained shut during holidays, but customs houses and stations rendered services to keep an uninterrupted supply chain.
Following directives of public administration ministry, the NBR issued orders to keep its VAT and income tax offices open on a limited scale until May 05, 2020.
