The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has extended the deadline for submitting online Value Added Tax (VAT) returns for the March 2026 tax period to April 23. The decision comes as a relief for taxpayers facing technical difficulties and a string of public holidays.
Reasons for the Extension
While the standard deadline for filing monthly VAT returns is the 15th of every month, the NBR issued a special directive on Wednesday (April 15) to push the date back by eight days. The extension was prompted by two primary factors:
-
Public Holidays: The closure of offices and businesses for Pahela Baishakh (the Bengali New Year) disrupted normal operations.
-
System Upgrades: Ongoing technical upgrades to the e-VAT system led to synchronization issues and submission delays for many users.
Official Statement
The NBR’s Public Relations Officer, Al Amin Sheikh, confirmed the move, stating that the extension was granted to ensure that no taxpayer is unfairly penalized due to circumstances beyond their control.
“Considering the convenience of VAT payers and the recent system upgrades, the deadline for filing online returns for the March 2026 tax period has been extended to April 23,” he said.
Avoiding Penalties
Under current regulations, failure to submit a VAT return within the stipulated timeframe typically attracts a fixed fine of Tk 5,000. By extending the window, the NBR aims to encourage more businesses to use the digital platform without the fear of late fees during this transition period.
Field-level offices under the Customs and VAT departments have already been notified of the change via an official letter signed by the revenue authority. This marks the third consecutive month that the NBR has extended the filing deadline to accommodate national holidays and technical transitions.
