The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has made online VAT return submission compulsory for 11 major production and service sectors, according to an official order issued on Sunday.
The directive, signed by NBR Member (VAT Policy) Md. Azizur Rahman, mandates businesses in the specified sectors to file their VAT returns exclusively through the designated e-VAT portal.
The decision has been taken under Section 64(5) of the Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Act, 2012, and Rule 118A of the VAT and Supplementary Duty Rules, 2016.
Under the new order, the mandatory online filing applies to eight manufacturing sectors—cigarettes, mobile phones, MS products, pharmaceuticals, beverages, cement, tiles, and paints and varnishes.
Additionally, three service sectors have been brought under the requirement: insurance, banking and non-banking financial services, and mobile financial services.
The order further states that if any registered entity involved in the listed sectors is also engaged in other business activities, the obligation to submit VAT returns online will apply to all its operations.
Previous directives regarding mandatory online submissions will be considered void following the issuance of this new order. The NBR also retains the authority to add or remove sectors from the list at any time, the notification said.
