In a significant step toward strengthening revenue collection and expanding the tax net, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has reorganized and expanded its Customs and VAT wings, creating 12 new units including commission rates, customs houses, and specialized offices.

According to a government order issued by the Internal Resources Division (IRD) on Tuesday (October 14), the reform plan includes both structural changes and a substantial increase in manpower. A total of 3,597 new positions have been created—373 cadre posts and 3,224 non-cadre posts—across existing and newly formed offices, the NBR confirmed in a press release issued today.

The initiative aims to enhance revenue mobilization, promote economic self-reliance, and improve service delivery, while fostering a more business-friendly environment through a modernized and efficient indirect tax system.

The reform plan, initially proposed by the NBR, received approvals from the Ministry of Public Administration, Finance Division, and Cabinet Division before being finalized by the IRD.

Key highlights of the reform:

12 new units to be established in three phases:

5 new VAT commission rates

4 new customs houses

3 specialized offices

Expansion of existing offices, including:

Additional operations at Dhaka Airport’s third terminal

Broader scope for customs and VAT intelligence

Strengthening decentralized field-level operations

The NBR believes the reform will significantly improve institutional capacity in indirect tax administration, help raise the country’s tax-to-GDP ratio, and stimulate investment by facilitating trade.

Officials say the overhaul is also geared toward meeting medium- to long-term development goals, including digitalizing revenue administration, expanding the taxpayer base, and reducing dependency on foreign aid through enhanced domestic resource mobilization.

The reform reflects a broader push by the government to ensure fiscal sustainability as Bangladesh continues its transition to a middle-income economy.