The National Board of Revenue (NBR) successfully registered 131,000 new Value-Added Tax (VAT) payers in December through a high-intensity nationwide campaign designed to broaden the tax net and enhance domestic revenue mobilization.

This achievement followed the observance of VAT Day on December 10 and VAT Week from December 10 to 15, 2025, operating under the theme "Register on time, pay VAT properly."

To drive compliance and transparency, the NBR launched a specialized registration push from December 10 to 31, setting an initial goal of 100,000 new registrations—a target the agency ultimately surpassed through rigorous field surveys and inspections conducted across all 12 VAT commissionerates, even on public holidays.

The impact of this drive has significantly shifted the country’s fiscal landscape, as the total number of VAT-registered entities has climbed to 775,000, up from 516,000 recorded before the interim government assumed office.

This rapid expansion is critical for the national economy, as VAT remains the largest single contributor to the exchequer, accounting for 38 percent of total revenue collection in the last fiscal year.

By lowering the mandatory annual turnover threshold for registration from BDT 3 crore to BDT 50 lakh, the government has successfully integrated more small and medium-sized enterprises into the formal tax system, allowing for increased revenue growth without the need to raise existing tax rates.

To support this expanding base, the NBR has implemented several technological advancements to simplify compliance, including the eVAT system for online registration and return submissions, electronic treasury payments and an automated refund process that deposits excess VAT directly into taxpayers' bank accounts.

Furthermore, the revenue authority is currently developing a simplified return format specifically for small businesses to reduce administrative burdens and foster voluntary participation.

NBR officials noted that these combined efforts in policy reform and digital transformation are essential for creating a more inclusive and efficient tax environment that supports long-term sustainable development for Bangladesh.