Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina launches an online tax payment system at a programme at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka yesterday.

Anybody with a debit or credit card and internet access can pay tax from home, instead of queuing for hours at a bank.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) yesterday introduced an online tax payment system at a function at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina first paid her advance income tax online for 2012-13.

For the next one week, people will be able to pay tax only through Sonali Bank. Another 25 banks will join the system in 15 days or one month, said Kanan Kumar Roy, coordinator of the e-payment system and director general of the Directorate of Inspection (Taxes) of the NBR.

“More banks will join the system later,” he said.

NBR's e-payment website, www.nbrepayment.org, is easy to use, secure and completely free of charge. Only registered users can make e-payments and get the full functionality of the site.

There will be separate sections for income tax, VAT and customs duty in the profile form of each taxpayer.

The website will ask for card number and password once a user enters his account. Then the income tax will be automatically deducted from the card and the user will be able to see the amount deducted on the screen.

The system is also integrated with Sonali Bank (the settlement bank), QCash (e-payment processor), customs database and integrated budgeting and accounting system of the Controller General of Accounts Office.

The NBR introduced an online return submission system last year on a trial basis in two zones and the tax administrator aims to enable all taxpayers to submit returns online by 2013.

The Daily Star/ Bangladesh/ 27-May-2012