ICT trade bodies demand VAT-free internet
Leaders of three ICT trade bodies today in a pre-budget discussion urged the government to withdraw value-added tax (VAT) on internet use in the next budget, which is currently 15 percent for all sorts of uses.
They have placed this demand in a meeting organised by Bangladesh Computer Council at ICT division on behalf of all the related stakeholders of the ICT business entrepreneurs.
Sami Ahmed, Component Team Leader of government’s Leveraging ICT project under ICT division placed this demand before the planning and finance state minister M A Mannan and senior officials of national board of revenue.
While ICT state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak and ICT related different trade bodies’ leaders were also present at that time.
Earlier they also placed same demand but government didn’t meet that demand.
“We want withdrawal of vat from citizen level using, but if that is not possible we want this withdraw from our business purpose uses. As internet is life blood for our business,” said Towhid Hossain, general secretary of Bangladesh Association of Call Center and Outsourcing.
The industry also demanded 20 percent cash incentive for software and IT enable services export.
Both Mannan and NBR senior officials also said they will take this demand as their serious consideration before finalizing the budget for 2017-18 fiscal.
