The National Board of Revenue (NBR) will take a tough stance against individuals who did not file income tax returns, NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan said today.

The NBR has already instructed its tax officials to issue notices to non-filers, collect their bank and other relevant information, and even inspect bank accounts, he said.

Tax officials are actively working to assess tax liabilities in order to take further action, Khan added.

He made the remarks during a pre-budget discussion for the 2025-26 fiscal year at the NBR headquarters in the capital's Agargaon.

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Currently, there are about 1.13 crore taxpayer identification number (TIN) holders at both individual and corporate levels.

"Despite three deadline extensions, only 35 percent of TIN holders have submitted their tax returns," he said.

The NBR chief also hinted at a possible extension of prospective tax measures in response to a recommendation from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB).

"There is an allegation of policy inconsistencies in Bangladesh. Now, we are planning to extend the 'prospective tax system' for the next four to six years," Khan said.

In the current fiscal year, the NBR introduced the prospective tax system for two years to enable taxpayers, including firms, to determine their tax rates in advance instead of waiting until the end of the income year.

Additionally, the NBR chairman hinted at a possible reduction in tax rates for land and apartment transfers.

Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, president of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB), emphasized the need for a comprehensive review of tax policies to attract more foreign direct investment.

Maria Howlader, president of ICAB, along with representatives from professional bodies, including the Bangladesh Tax Lawyers Association and VAT professionals, also participated in the discussion.