NBR to educate students on tax

The National Board of Revenue has taken an initiative to develop contents for primary and high school students to educate them on the necessity of paying tax.

The NBR has recently asked 11 officers to submit articles on the importance of income tax and VAT for the state and citizens' responsibilities.

It has also formed a three-member editorial panel to review the essays and prepare two articles/texts for primary and high-school students.

The NBR will ask the education ministry to incorporate the contents in the textbooks of primary and high schools, a senior official of the tax authority said. The main objective is to raise tax-related awareness and build responsible citizens, the official said. The idea comes in the backdrop of very poor tax compliance among people and widespread allegations of tax evasion.

Less than 1 percent of the population pays income tax. But tax officials believe the rate of compliance and tax payment should be higher considering the growth of the economy and rising income of people.

Officials said the contents on income tax and VAT would be developed for inclusion in the textbooks of class IV or V and of higher classes where students are given basic education on society or Bangladesh issues.