TBT DESK: National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan on Wednesday said the upcoming national budget would prioritise a more business-friendly tax regime through simplified tax laws and the reduction of what he described as unreasonable tax burdens.

He said the government was working to improve the country’s business climate by introducing rational tax measures and making the taxation system easier for businesses to comply with.

Speaking at the “Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) Summit 2026” in the capital, the NBR chief stressed that improving tax compliance and ensuring truthful financial reporting by companies would be crucial to achieving those goals.

The summit was organised by the Financial Reporting Council in collaboration with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh and the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh.

Highlighting challenges in the tax system, Khan said many businesses continued to complain about a high effective tax burden despite corporate tax rates having fallen significantly over the years — from nearly 50 per cent to around 20 per cent.

He attributed part of the problem to inaccurate and manipulated financial reporting, which, he said, often compelled revenue authorities to rely on discretionary assessments and policy interventions to recover potential revenue losses.

According to him, widespread underreporting of turnover and the omission of cash transactions had become major concerns in corporate reporting practices, creating tension between taxpayers and tax officials.

He warned that dishonest financial disclosures not only weaken government revenue collection but also create unfair competition by allowing non-compliant businesses to evade taxes while compliant firms face disadvantages.

The NBR chairman said transparent and accurate financial statements were essential for ensuring fair taxation, protecting investors, strengthening banking stability and restoring confidence in the wider economy.

He also underscored the need to strengthen the Financial Reporting Council to ensure better oversight and accountability in financial reporting practices across the country.