Bangladesh plans to introduce a uniform 15% value-added tax (VAT) rate across all sectors, NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan said on 21 April 2026, adding that there will be “no compromise” on advance income tax (AIT) collected at the import stage.
Bangladesh government plans to introduce a uniform 15% value-added tax (VAT) rate across all sectors, National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan said at a pre-budget meeting on 21 April 2026.
He said “Standard VAT rate will be applied equally for all. Those eligible will receive rebates. However difficult it may be, we will move in this direction.”
The NBR chief emphasised that there will be “no compromise” on advance income tax (AIT), which is collected at the import stage.
At present, while the standard VAT rate is set at 15%, the NBR applies reduced or truncated rates across different sectors in response to business demands. Development partners have consistently argued that these variations distort the tax system.
Earlier, NBR was considering making VAT registration, known as a Business Identification Number (BIN), mandatory for opening or maintaining business bank accounts, in a move aimed at widening the VAT net.
