Be proactive to boost revenue collection: adviser to tax lawyers

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed has urged tax lawyers to play a proactive role in strengthening the country’s revenue collection efforts by helping curb tax evasion.

“Represent your clients as a bridge, not a barrier. Please don’t keep the government in the dark. Help us,” he said.

The adviser made the remarks today while inaugurating the tax representative management system software at the National Board of Revenue (NBR) headquarters in Dhaka.

Calling the launch of the software a milestone, the adviser said tax lawyers are central to building the nation’s economic infrastructure. He urged stakeholders, particularly tax professionals, to embrace transparency and efficiency.

“This software will ease tax filing for individuals, businesses, and government officials alike. It’s not just a technological upgrade; it’s a shift in mindset,” he said.

Reflecting on the shortcomings of the existing system, Ahmed pointed to excessive paperwork, long delays, and a lack of recognition for those working within the revenue administration.

“Often officers do thankless work. They process assessments, yet taxpayers complain, ‘He made me run around for days,'” he said.

Criticising a culture of unnecessary bureaucracy, the adviser called on service providers to respect people’s time and act with greater professionalism.

“If you keep telling a client to ‘come today, come tomorrow,’ that’s harassment,” Ahmed said.

“There’s an old saying: you don’t serve sweets on someone’s head, you serve them on a plate.”

“I myself sometimes say, don’t just give advice, get it done. I tell my driver, ‘Don’t come to me about your licence renewal, just pay whatever is needed and complete it,'” he added.

The adviser also recalled a former government official telling him, “To get a telephone line, I had to give a bribe.”

“He said it so directly. You have to call 50 times and still nothing happens, so you end up paying. Sometimes I even joke, ‘Here’s some tea money. Whether you drink the tea or not, that’s up to you.'”

“We need to move away from this system for the sake of ordinary people. Please try. When people receive good service, they’re willing to pay for it. They won’t be stingy,” he added.

NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan also spoke at the event.