Tofail: Top taxpayers to get CIP status

The highest taxpayers of the country will be awarded with the prestigious Commercially Important Person (CIP) status, said Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed.

“I will try to take necessary initiatives to honor them with CIP status after conversations with the finance minister,” he said.

Tofail Ahmed made the announcement in response to a such proposal made by the NBR yesterday at the opening ceremony of the week-long Income Tax Fair.

National Board of Revenue Chairman Md Ghulam Hussain placed the proposal to give the top taxpayers CIP status.

The fair is being held at the capital’s Officers Club premises.

On contribution of income tax in revenue earning, commerce minister said while the budget for FY1972-73 was announced Tk787 crore with 7% earning from income tax, it has increased to Tk2,50,500 crore in the current fiscal with 10% revenue from income tax.

He lamented that only 18 lakh out of 16 crore population are paying

tax and 12 lakh of them are paying regularly. “The number needs to be increased.”

Tofail Ahmed asked the NBR to look after the tax collection process properly so that the taxpayers do not confront any hassle in the system.

In his speech, NBR Chairman Ghulam Hussain said the income tax will be the largest source of revenue earning from the current year.

The revenue authority awarded tax cards to the highest and long time taxpayers at a function on Monday marking the National Income Tax Day.

Ghulam Hussain said the tax card recipients requested the board to give  them CIP status.

“As the authority of awarding CIP status is at the hand of commerce ministry, I request the minister to consider the proposal,” said NBR chief.

The Income Tax Fair began yesterday at the capital’s Officers’ Club premises, which aims to attract at least 8 lakh taxpayers and get new more taxpayers.

NBR officials said the board is planning to collect Tk1,500 crore revenue from the fair.