Muhith to review mobile phone bill tax

Dhaka, Jun 8 (bdnews24.com)—Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith has promised a rethink of the government proposal to slap 2 percent tax at source of mobile phone bill.

"It is really a matter to look back on. We will obviously review the decision," said Muhith at a customary press conference at Osmani Memorial Auditorium on Friday, a day after he presented the budget for 2012-13 fiscal to Parliament.

The next budget proposes the tax on the total bill for post-paid subscribers and on the sale of top-up cards or during recharge in case of pre-paid users.

Currently, 90 million mobile-phone users across the country pay 15 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on bills, according to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.

Muhith also proposed deducting one percent tax at source on the total amount received by International Gateway (IGW) Services and five percent on the amount paid by IGW to other operators for international phone calls.

Opposition BNP has criticised the government plan, saying it will only add public sufferings.

bdnews24.com/arh/eh/shs/bd/1740h

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