Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) study shows that tax evasion in the country reached approximately 226,236 crore taka in 2023, reports the Business Standard.
The study, titled "Corporate Income Tax Reform for Graduating Bangladesh: The Justice Perspective", was unveiled at a press briefing at the CPD office in Dhaka on Monday.
Of the total tax evasion, corporate tax evasion accounted for an estimated 113,118 crore taka, which is half of the total amount.
Tax evasion began rising notably in 2011, with estimates climbing to 96,503 crore taka in 2012 and more than doubling to 133,673 crore taka by 2015, the study finds.
Furthermore, the CPD study also found that 65% of businesses reported persistent disputes with tax officials regarding the calculation of their payable tax amounts.
The issue was echoed by many interviewed business leaders, who claimed that tax officials often impose arbitrary tax assessments without proper justification or prior communication. Such practices, they argue, create an intangible burden that often outweighs the tax itself, making the overall tax practice unfair, according to the study.
Moreover, there is a prevailing sense of distrust among the surveyed business entities regarding the extent to which their paid taxes will be utilized in ways that benefit their businesses.
The CPD said primary data for the study, conducted in December 2024, was collected through a survey of 123 companies located in Dhaka and Chattogram.
The survey sample was structured to reflect the sectoral distribution of Bangladesh's capital market, ensuring the inclusion of a broad range of industries.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
