NBR chief promises simpler budget, reduced unreasonable tax burden
National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan today said the upcoming national budget would focus on creating a more business-friendly tax environment through simpler tax laws and the reduction of unreasonable tax burdens. "The government is committed to improving the country's business environment through simplified taxation and rational tax measures. Improving compliance and ensuring truthful financial reporting by businesses would be essential to achieving those objectives," he said.
The NBR chief made the remarks while presiding over a business session on "Improving Financial Statement Quality: Role of CFOs, Accountants, Managements and Oversight Bodies" at the "Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) Summit 2026" at a hotel in the city. Financial Reporting Council (FRC) organised the summit in collaboration with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) and the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB).
Mahatab Uddin Ahmed, FCMA - Founder, Buildcon Consultants Ltd; Suraiya Zannath, FCA - Vice President; Ala Uddin, FCA - ICAB Council Member, DMD & CFO MetLife; Zinnia T Huq, FCMA - CFO & Finance Director, Unilever Bangladesh; and Nabil J Ahmad - Executive Director, FRC took part as panellists at the session. Highlighting challenges in the tax system, The NBR chief said that many businesses continue to complain about a high effective tax burden despite a significant reduction in corporate tax rates over the years from nearly 50 percent to around 20 percent.
He attributed part of the problem to inaccurate and manipulated financial reporting, which often forces revenue authorities to adopt discretionary assessments and policy interventions to recover potential revenue losses. According to him, widespread underreporting of turnover and omission of cash transactions have become major concerns in corporate reporting practices, creating friction between taxpayers and tax officials.
He said dishonest financial disclosures not only hurt government revenue collection but also create unfair competition by allowing non-compliant businesses to evade taxes while compliant taxpayers suffer disadvantages. The NBR chief stressed that transparent and accurate financial statements are vital for ensuring a fair taxation system, protecting investors, strengthening banking stability and restoring confidence in the wider economy. He also underscored the importance of strengthening the FRC to ensure better oversight and accountability in financial reporting practices across the country.
