Why tax evasion so rampant?
In many countries of Europe and North America each member of work force has an allotted Social Security number wherein a certain portion of tax collected from him/her is deposited to be ultimately paid back periodically during retirement and/or when the person becomes infirm, because this is a time when income wanes but expenses on living and medical bill soar. This stimulus works to encourage payment of tax a person is her/his youth.
In Bangladesh, an honest taxpayer, who has paid taxes to the state coffer, say over the decades, will find none around to look after in his old age or during his unproductive days. His only support would be the money he had laid aside.
Great minds have been presenting annual budgets, year after year, in resounding voice portraung a up rosy picture for the nation in the spacious hall of the Jatiyo Shangsad (parliament) to the thumping of table by Members of Parliament )MPs). But alas! Nobody addressed the root cause as to why some people dodge tax.
Until such time as the basic security of taxpayers in their sunset years or in lean days is adequately taken care of, tall talks of GDP-Tax ratio, incremental tax net etc will continue to sound hollow.
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