If you have not yet filed your income tax return for the income you earned between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026, you have until 31 December 2026 to file without paying anything extra. From 1 January 2027, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) adds extra tax to every late return.
This year is different. The familiar 30 November “Tax Day” is no longer the cut-off. Under the Finance Act 2026, you can now file at any time during the year, but when you file changes how much you pay. Early filers got a discount until 30 September. Late filers will pay more. And the NBR can no longer extend the deadline, so there will be no last-minute extension to rely on.
In this post I explain the new filing windows, the tax-free limit and tax rates that apply to this return, and the mistakes I see most often.
The new filing windows and who must file
The NBR announced the windows in a press release on 2 August 2026, under section 173 of the Income Tax Act, 2023. For this return (income year July 2025 to June 2026):
| When you file | What happens | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul – 30 Sep 2026 | Rebate of 5% of tax payable, up to Tk 25,000 | Closed |
| 1 Oct – 31 Dec 2026 | Normal tax. No rebate, no extra tax | Open now |
| 1 Jan – 31 Mar 2027 | Extra 2% of tax payable, minimum Tk 3,000 | Coming |
| 1 Apr – 30 Jun 2027 | Extra 5% of tax payable, minimum Tk 5,000 | Coming |
| After 30 Jun 2027 | Delayed return: 10% of tax or Tk 5,000, whichever is higher | Avoid |
Who must file? You need to file if your income is above the tax-free limit, and also in many cases where you need a Proof of Submission of Return (PSR): for example, a loan above Tk 20 lakh, a credit card, a trade licence, a car, or a property deed above Tk 10 lakh in certain areas. If you hold a TIN, the safest course is to file every year, even if you owe no tax.
Online is mandatory. Individual taxpayers must file through the e-return system at etaxnbr.gov.bd. Only these people may still file on paper: taxpayers aged 65 or above, persons with disabilities, Bangladeshis living abroad, foreign nationals working in Bangladesh, and legal representatives of a deceased taxpayer. Anyone else who cannot file online needs written approval from their tax office.
Tax-free limit and tax rates for this return
For assessment year 2026-27, the Finance Act 2026 sets the general tax-free limit at Tk 4,00,000. The 5% slab has been removed, so the first taxable taka is now taxed at 10%.
| Taxpayer | Tax-free limit |
|---|---|
| General individual | Tk 4,00,000 |
| Women and anyone aged 65+ | Tk 4,50,000 |
| Persons with disabilities, third-gender taxpayers | Tk 5,25,000 |
| Gazetted war-wounded freedom fighters and July fighters | Tk 5,50,000 |
| Parent or guardian of a person with a disability | Extra Tk 50,000 per child |
Income above the limit is taxed in these slabs:
| Income above the limit | Rate |
|---|---|
| First Tk 3,00,000 | 10% |
| Next Tk 4,00,000 | 15% |
| Next Tk 5,00,000 | 20% |
| Next Tk 20,00,000 | 25% |
| The rest | 30% |
A quick example. A salaried man with a taxable income of Tk 8,00,000 pays nothing on the first Tk 4,00,000, then 10% on Tk 3,00,000 (Tk 30,000) and 15% on the last Tk 1,00,000 (Tk 15,000). His gross tax is Tk 45,000, before any investment rebate.
A few other numbers to know:
- Minimum tax: Tk 5,000 if your income is above the limit. A first-time filer pays a minimum of Tk 1,000.
- Investment rebate: the lowest of 3% of taxable income, 10% of eligible investment, or Tk 7,50,000. The investment percentage fell from 15% to 10% this year.
- Salary deduction: one-third of salary income or Tk 5,00,000, whichever is lower, is exempt.
Other changes in the Finance Act 2026 worth knowing
For individuals
- No more deadline extensions. The NBR’s power to extend the filing date has been repealed. The window system replaces it.
- Freelancers and content creators: income from freelancing and content creation is now exempt from income tax. You should still show it in your return.
- Cash loans and deposits: a loan, advance or deposit above Tk 5 lakh received outside the banking channel is now taxed as income from other sources. Keep large transactions in the bank.
- Automatic refunds: individuals with salary, financial asset or agricultural income can get refunds processed within 120 days and paid electronically within 60 days.
- TIN as withholder ID: your TIN now also works as your Withholder Identification Number (WIN).
- Bank account excise duty: no excise duty on balances up to Tk 4 lakh (up from Tk 3 lakh), from 1 July 2026.
- Higher limits ahead: the general tax-free limit is set to rise to Tk 4,50,000 for 2028-29 and 2029-30, and Tk 5,00,000 for 2030-31.
For VAT-registered businesses
- Quarterly VAT returns are now the default, due by the 15th day after the quarter ends. Monthly returns remain optional, due by the last day of the next month.
- Startups: all supplies by a startup, as defined in the Income Tax Act, 2023, are VAT-exempt from 1 July 2026.
- Turnover tax stays at 4% until sector-specific rates are notified.
- Interest waiver: a six-month window from 1 July 2026 lets businesses settle old VAT dues with interest waived (section 137A). That window closes around the end of December 2026, so act now if you have old arrears.
- Lower appeal deposit: the pre-deposit for a VAT appeal falls to 1% at the Commissioner (Appeals) and Tribunal level.
How to file your e-return, step by step
- Register at etaxnbr.gov.bd with your TIN and the mobile number registered under your own NID. Bangladeshis abroad can ask the NBR for a registration link by email using their passport and NID numbers.
- Collect your papers: salary certificate, bank statements and interest certificates, certificates of tax deducted at source, investment proofs (savings certificates, DPS, life insurance, approved shares or funds), and details of your assets and liabilities.
- Enter your income under each head: salary, business, rent, financial assets, and other sources.
- Claim your investment rebate and enter the tax already deducted at source and any advance tax paid.
- Fill in the assets and liabilities statement and the statement of life-style expenses, if required. Make sure your net wealth change matches your income and spending.
- Pay any tax due online through the e-return payment options (bank card, mobile financial services or internet banking).
- Submit and download your acknowledgement slip and PSR. You do not need to upload supporting documents, but keep them safe for at least six years.
If the system gives you trouble, the NBR runs a call centre and help desks at every tax zone. Do not leave it to the last week of December.
Common mistakes and what they cost
- Waiting for an extension. There will be none this year. A return filed on 2 January 2027 pays at least Tk 3,000 extra.
- Using last year’s numbers. The tax-free limit is now Tk 4,00,000 and the 5% slab is gone. Old calculators and old blog posts will give you the wrong figure.
- Not filing at all. Under section 266 of the Income Tax Act, 2023, failure to file can attract a penalty of 10% of the tax on your last assessed income or Tk 5,000, whichever is higher, plus Tk 1,000 for each month of default.
- Having no PSR. Without a PSR, banks and other payers can deduct tax at a rate 50% higher than normal, and many services (loans, credit cards, property registration) will be refused.
- A wealth statement that does not add up. If your assets grew more than your declared income can explain, expect questions from the tax office.
- Taking cash loans from relatives. Amounts above Tk 5 lakh outside a bank can now be treated as your income.
The bottom line
File your return before 31 December 2026. It costs you nothing extra, it gives you your PSR, and it keeps you clear of penalties. If you have VAT arrears, look at the interest-waiver window before it closes.
This article is for general information only and is not legal or tax advice. Figures are taken from the Finance Act 2026 as summarised by PwC Bangladesh and from NBR announcements as of 11 November 2026. Check the latest NBR notices or speak to a qualified tax practitioner before acting.
বাংলা সংস্করণ: আয়কর রিটার্ন ২০২৬-২৭: এখনই যা জানা দরকার প্রত্যেক করদাতার