The filing of returns by individual taxpayers has crossed the 2.7-million mark this fiscal year, thanks to an effective measure for mandatory submission of tax-return slip to avail services.
They will be able to submit tax returns until 01 January 2023 for tax year 2022-23.
Officials said the National Board of Revenue (NBR) would receive tax returns from a large number of new taxpayers having taxpayer identification number (TIN).
The number of TIN-holders or registered taxpayers under income tax wing has reached more than 8.0 million this year.
Last year, some 2.4 million submitted their tax returns under the wing.
In the current fiscal budget, the NBR made submission of proof of submission of return (PSR) mandatory for the people willing to avail 38 types of services, including opening and continuation of bank accounts.
Visiting several tax offices on Thursday, the FE found all the tax zones furnished with small booths to deliver services to their respective taxpayers.
Many TIN-holders are seeking help from the booths to prepare their tax returns. However, many taxpayers at the zones said they preferred to file returns at tax fair instead of coming to tax offices.
The NBR has not hosted any large-scale tax fair in the past three years in a bid to avoid huge expenditure and social gatherings due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We used to submit returns at tax fair in festive mood since 2010," said Ferdousi Begum, a schoolteacher who came with her husband to file returns at tax zone-01.
It is difficult to find out tax offices as those are scattered over the city, she said.
At tax fair, all taxpayers could find the booths of the tax offices in one place, Ms Ferdousi added.
She, however, appreciated the services provided by tax zones in their respective booths to support taxpayers submit tax returns and obtain TINs.
The deadline for submission of tax return was on 30 November 2022. The revenue board extended time until December 31 following taxpayers' request.
However, as December 30 and 31 are public holidays, taxmen would allow taxpayers an additional day for submission of returns.
