The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has decided to issue a VAT consultancy license in line with the government's plan to plug dodging of value added tax (VAT) through streamlining its collection system.
As part of the plan, the NBR has already sought applications from individuals interested in such licenses from the current fiscal year (FY22), sources said.
"We've already sought applications online . . . interested individuals can apply following the prescribed procedure along with the required documents. Detailed application procedures are available on our website," said an NBR official.
Anyone interested in working as a VAT consultant can apply online. All required documents, including pay-order or bank-draft, have to be sent by post to the Director General of Customs, Excise and VAT Training Academy of the NBR.
"We hope that appointment of such consultants will help NBR to boost collection of VAT through checking dodging of VAT," said the NBR official.
As per the NBR guideline, the applicant must be a Bangladeshi national, and 25 years old on the date of filing the application. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree in any subject from a recognized university.
The last date of application is December 31, 2021, he added.
Individuals, who are in government service, dismissed or fired will not be eligible for a consultant job.
A person convicted in a criminal offense, who has not served more than 5 years after the end of his sentence and whose license has previously been revoked as a VAT consultant, VAT agent clearing and forwarding, freight forwarders or an income tax consultant will not be eligible for the post of VAT consultant, said the NBR.
According to the NBR, age of the applicant will be determined as per the attested certificate of SSC or equivalent examinations. Applicants will have to submit three attested passport size photographs, attested copies of educational and experience certificates, attested copy of National Identity Card and a pay-order or bank draft worth Tk 5000.
After scrutinizing application forms, a list of eligible candidates and examination schedule will be published on the website of Customs, Excise and VAT Training Academy, which will take written and oral examinations at a convenient time, said the NBR official.
According to NBR, overall revenue collection witnessed a 17 per cent growth in the just-concluded fiscal year (FY21) over that of the previous FY20 despite economic slowdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
NBR had been able to collect Tk 2.56 trillion in the FY 2020-21 against Tk 2.18 trillion in the previous FY20.
The income tax wing collected Tk 850 billion, VAT wing Tk 940 billion, and customs wing Tk 770 billion in FY21.
