Dhaka: National Board of Revenue (NBR) has brought changes to its policy for increasing the number of recipients of taxpayer award to encourage and inspire the honest taxpayers at district level.

Along with the three highest taxpayers, a women and a youth will be given the award from this year. Besides, if anyone gets the NBR award in long-term taxpayer category once, they would not be eligible for the award in the next five years.

‘We've brought changes to the policy for giving award to the highest and long-term taxpayers at district level. This initiative has been taken to increase the number of recipients for the award. We will also increase facilities for award recipients,’ NBR chairman Nojibor Rahman told BSS.

This amended policy 'The highest and long-term income taxpaying taxpayers award distribution policy-2008' will be effective from the current fiscal year, he added.

He said if the number of best taxpayers is increased, it will create a competition among honest taxpayers that will ultimately help increase revenue earnings. Three out of five highest taxpayers, one highest woman taxpayer, one young male taxpayer (below 40 years) and two long-term taxpayers at district or city corporation level will be nominated for the NBR award.

For becoming eligible for the best taxpayer award, individual taxpayers will have a regular taxpaying record for the last three years. For the long-term taxpayer, individual taxpayers will a regular taxpaying record for at least 15 years.

Loan defaulters, anyone having outstanding tax, anyone against whom there are pending cases relating to income tax, duty or VAT, convicted by court or declared as persona non grata will not be eligible for the NBR award.

A crest, a laminated ID card and a certificate are given as award.