The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has identified that nearly two-thirds of e-return filers declared zero taxable income in the 2023–24 fiscal year, raising concerns about income concealment.

Of the 1.5 million online tax returns filed, around 1 million claimants reported no taxable earnings, NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan said on Monday during a pre-budget meeting with the Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF). The same trend was observed in manually submitted returns, he added.

During the meeting, ERF President Doulot Akter Mala presented budget proposals for the 2025–26 fiscal year. Key recommendations included raising the tax-free income limit to Tk 0.5 million, ensuring tax refunds, introducing online tax returns for all, reducing tax rates on essential goods and healthcare, and imposing a wealth tax on high earners.

The current tax-free income ceiling for individual taxpayers is Tk 350K. Khan cautioned against increasing the threshold, arguing that it could reduce the already limited taxpayer base. He stressed the need to strengthen enforcement measures, suggesting an area-based approach to ensure the fair treatment of businesses.

He also announced plans to phase out reduced tax rates and integrate beneficiaries of fiscal policies into the standard tax system. The NBR is considering scrapping excise duties for small deposit holders and borrowers while introducing significant changes in income tax policies in the next budget.