Bangladesh’s National Board of Revenue (NBR) has extended the deadline for submitting online VAT returns for the January 2026 tax period until 22 February, following a series of public holidays and technical disruptions that affected businesses across the country.
In an official order, the revenue authority said the decision was taken in the public interest after a prolonged spell of government holidays linked to Holy Shab-e-Barat and the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The consecutive closures limited normal business activities and made it difficult for many VAT-registered entities to complete their compliance procedures within the original timeframe.
The situation was further complicated on 15 February when the One-Time Password (OTP) server of the government’s e-Challan system experienced downtime. The technical issue prevented numerous taxpayers from finalising their online submissions through the e-VAT platform, adding to the disruption caused by the holidays.
In light of these circumstances, the NBR exercised its authority under Section 64 (1A) of the Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Act, 2012, to allow additional time for filing. Officials said the extension is intended to ensure that businesses are not penalised for delays resulting from factors beyond their control.
The revenue authority has urged all VAT-registered organisations to make use of the revised deadline responsibly and submit their January 2026 returns within the new timeframe to avoid penalties. The move is expected to provide relief to businesses while maintaining compliance within Bangladesh’s evolving digital tax system.
