DHAKA: National Board of Revenue (NBR) has moved for collecting revenues from the foreign artistes’ concerts and other functions inside Bangladesh.

NBP sources said the main tax administration authorities have already sent a letter to the cultural affairs ministry on the matter.

In the letter, NBR urges the ministry not to give permission to the foreign artistes to hold programs without NBR’s clearance on revenue collection.

According to the sources, sending a letter recently, the NBR tax department has asked the cultural affairs ministry and the ministry has assured the NBR on the matter.

A reliable source inside NBR told banglanews that programs with foreign artistes are organized by several people and organizations in Bangladesh. But the government is not given any revenue from the artistes’ honorarium and the event arrangements.

NBR found allegations of tax evasion after investigating for a long and decided to collect revenue; but the complexities arises as there is no law regarding this, added the source.

An NBR first secretary, wishing anonymity, told banglanews, difficulties appear in collecting revenues from the foreign artistes and the programs attended by them due to having no law.

Earlier, finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith has ordered the NRB to take imitative in making a law to collect revenue from the foreign artistes’ honorarium.

He also directed NBR to take the revenue through its clearance paper till formulating the law.

Authorities concerned, however, began working on the matter. “Works to make a draft of the law are underway,” said the first secretary.

BDST: 1327 HRS, SEP 03, 2014