VAT detectives raid Star food shops, resturants; find ‘dodge proof’

VAT Intelligence has claimed to have obtained evidence of evasion in a drive on Star Kabab and Restaurant and all other food shops of Star Group in Dhaka.

The VAT Audit, Intelligence and Investigation Directorate briefed the media after the day-long drive on Monday.

National Board of Revenue (NBR) Member (VAT) Rezaul Hasan said eight teams of detectives took part in the ‘biggest ever’ anti-VAT evasion drive in Bangladesh.

They visited 11 restaurants and hotels of Star Group in Dhanmondi, Wari, Tikatuli, Elephant Road and Thantari Bazar.

“We conducted the drive after finding the primary allegation to be true. VAT papers were seized during the drive,” Hasan said. 

The papers include the Star’s own invoice used in place of VAT invoice and bills charged in plain white papers.

At Elephant Road, Star Hotel and Restaurant manager was caught with such papers, VAT Intelligence official Mohammad Belal Hossain Chowdhury said.

The seized papers indicate the group was evading VAT worth ‘hundreds of thousands of taka’ every day in its outlets, he said.

Star Kabab and Bakery used two Non-Fiscal Electronic Cash Registers with the permission to use only one to evade a huge amount of VAT, he added.

He also said a case would be started after the documents were checked.