Anomalies in tax collection
Against my newly constructed two-storied building at section 11, block A, Mirpur, Pallabi, Dhaka , an amount of Tk 960/00 was imposed as annual corporation tax for the first time in 1997. But all of a sudden the amount of corporation tax was raised to Tk 15,000/00 (fifteen thousand ) on 17.02.2004 . This sky-high increase of tax was made without any inquiry. I brought the matter to the notice of the Divisional Commissioner, Dhaka division, the appellate authority, who after examination of the case reduced the amount to Tk 5,977/00 with retrospective effect. As a result, a huge amount of Tk 41,837/00 stood as arrear which was split up into 7 equal monthly instalments. I paid six instalments in six months . But while paying the 7th and last instalment on 09.10.05, it was detected to my utter surprise that only one instalment was noted in a kutcha register. No trace of other six instalments could be made. The next day I personally called on the Zonal Officer and solicited a clarification. In my presence the staffs concerned could not account for my monthly deposits. I found that the Zonal Officer had no hand in the affairs of levy, realisation, reassessment, enhancement of taxes etc. of the holdings within the corporation area. I also gathered from the Zonal Officer that the office is not audited by any audit authority. The tax collectors collect the tax money in cash. They also collect taxes by personally visiting the tax payers. They are not responsible to the Zonal Officer for their functions and activities. They are directly responsible to the 'Nagor Bhaban'. If properly audited, I am sure, many cases of financial indiscipline, irregularities and even misappropriation will come to light.
The authorities concerned should take immediate steps to remove these anomalies. As the first step, collection of all kinds should be handed over to a scheduled bank.
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