The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has formally launched its electronic income tax return service for the 2026-27 tax year, making online filing compulsory for the majority of individual taxpayers as part of a broader effort to modernise tax administration and improve transparency.
According to a statement issued by the revenue authority on Tuesday, individual taxpayers can now submit their annual income tax returns through the government’s e-Tax platform from 22 July.
The move marks another step in Bangladesh’s digital transformation of public services, with the NBR saying that the online filing system has continued to gain public confidence since it was first introduced in 2021.
The authority said the platform recorded its highest level of usage during the 2025-26 tax year, when nearly 4.7 million individual taxpayers submitted their returns electronically.
It described the milestone as evidence of growing public acceptance of digital tax services, allowing people to complete and submit their returns from home without visiting tax offices.
To strengthen the transition, the NBR has issued a special order requiring regular individual taxpayers to submit their returns online.
However, several groups will remain eligible to file paper returns. These include people aged 65 and above, individuals with disabilities who can provide the necessary documentation, Bangladeshi citizens living overseas, representatives filing on behalf of deceased taxpayers and foreign nationals employed in Bangladesh.
The revenue authority also said, "Taxpayers experiencing genuine technical or registration-related difficulties with the e-Return system may submit paper returns, provided they receive prior approval from the relevant Additional or Joint Commissioner of Taxes.”
Alongside the filing service, taxpayers can pay their tax liabilities through the official e-Tax portal using bank transfers or debit or credit cards, as well as mobile financial services, including bKash, Rocket and Nagad.
Once a return has been completed and submitted successfully, users will be able to download both their acknowledgement receipt and income tax certificate immediately through the online system.
To support taxpayers during the filing period, the NBR said, "Assistance will be available on working days during office hours through its dedicated call centre and other digital communication channels.”
The authority has also announced a financial incentive aimed at encouraging early submissions.
Under the new arrangement, individual taxpayers who file their returns between July and September for the 2026-27 tax year will qualify for a tax rebate worth five per cent of their net tax payable, up to a maximum of Tk 25,000.
The incentive will not be available for returns submitted after September. Meanwhile, returns filed after December will attract additional tax in line with existing tax legislation.
The NBR has urged taxpayers to submit their returns within the prescribed timeframe to benefit from the rebate while avoiding additional tax charges.
