Tax Zone-13 of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) launched a taxpayers' survey on Thursday in the areas under its jurisdiction to find out new taxpayers.
NBR member (income tax) Meftah Uddin Khan inaugurated the survey in a community centre at Jatrabari in the city.
Income tax commissioner Md Bazlul Kabir Bhuiyan chaired the programme titled 'Survey activity and revenue dialogue'.
Speaking at the programme, the NBR member said as the government is planning to bring down the existing tax rates, there is no alternative but to expand the tax net to offset the loss in revenue collection.
He said the tax authority has appointed university students to assist the survey team and monitor their activities. "The survey team will also be under the surveillance of a taskforce to thwart 'pick and choose' approach while carrying out the survey."
Mr Khan also said the tax authority is simplifying the tax payment process by framing a new law that might be placed before parliament in the upcoming session.
In the programme, owners of house property, shop and local market along with businesses shared their views on tax authority and survey activities.
They said the taxmen should not harass or make the taxpayers panicked during their survey.
The NBR member said the tax authority would like to hear from taxpayers over phone, message, email or website.
"The number of total income taxpayers would be 7.0 million, including all bank account holders who are not registering themselves with the tax department."
