DHAKA, 13 April — The government has taken initiatives to bring foreigners under an effective tax network to check flight of local currency that they are earning in Bangladesh.
Foreigners who stay in the country for at least 90 days will be required to get an Income Tax Clearance Certificate (ITCC) or Income Tax Exemption Certificate (ITEC) from authorities concerned before leaving the country, the Bangladesh Observer reported today.
A departing foreigner has to submit the relevant certificate to the Immigration Office to be given clearance for departure.
Exempted from the rule are members of the diplomatic or commercial missions, officials and employees of foreign governments and international organizations and their spouses and children, persons below 18 years of age, foreign technicians working in the country's Export Processing Zones (EPZ) and power sectors for over three years since arrival.
"It is not a new law. We are just implementing the provision of submission of ITCC for foreign nationals leaving Bangladesh, as per provision of section 107 of Income Tax Ordinance 1984," said an officer of the Taxation Department.
The official said they would not monitor whether a foreign national is paying tax as per the existing rules of the country. The system would check flight of local liquid assets by foreigners who are visiting Bangladesh on tourist visa, and working here, the official added.
