BSS, Khulna :
The weeklong income tax fair that ended Monday (Monday) drew a large number of taxpayers which reflected rising popularity for such a showcase that gave one-stop service for taxpayers.
A total of 70,102 taxpayers visited the weeklong fair that logged Tk 29.10 crore in tax receipts, said Md. Golam Mostofa, Income tax commissioner of Khulna Zone. In 2013, some 30,734 taxpayers visited the then weeklong fair which logged Tk 19.66 crore, he said.
Some 13,120 tax returns were submitted in the fair, up from 8,298 the previous year, he added.
He also said, 458 people signed up for fresh TINs, up from 452 the previous year. Some 295 of existing taxpayers also re-registered for online TINs during the fair.
The weeklong tax fair held in Khulna zone for the fourth time, he said adding that four daylong tax fair was also held in nine districts under this zone.
Expressing satisfaction Income Tax Commissioner Mostofa said people have shown interest about the online TINs registration and people in all walks of life visited the fair with fanfare and festivity that inspired all the tax officers and employees.
While visiting the fair yesterday, this correspondent found huge crowd who came for submitting tax returns, registration and re-registration for online TINs.
A doctor of a private clinic Dr. Lutfun Nahar Mukta told BSS, “I am surprised and impressed by the service here. It was beyond my expectation.”
This was her first time visit at the income tax fair which the Khulna Income Tax Zone has been organizing since 2011 to motivate people to pay taxes by extending tax-related assistance to existing and potential taxpayers.
Mukta said she was visiting the fair to learn to pay her taxes herself. “I want to pay taxes alone, without the assistance from a tax lawyer,” she said. Before that she completed online re-registration for TIN.
Ex-sub assistant engineer of Power Development Board (PDB) Md. Momrez Ali and a resident of City’s Iqbal Nagar area told BSS, “I have completed all the formalities in one hour.”
“It is good that one does not require moving from one table to another. All procedures can be completed at one place,” he added.
The event that started on September 16, has offered taxpayers scope for getting taxpayer identification numbers online and submitting tax returns on the spot without visiting the tax office.
