Telcos asked to pay Tk 2,048cr SIM replacement tax

National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Wednesday asked four mobile operators of the country to pay Tk 2,048 crore due of SIM replacement tax within the next 90 working days.

 In June 5, the complaint of evasion of Tk 2,048 crore by the four mobile operators was proved as per the verdict of VAT Appellate Tribunal.  

 The verdict said, in the name of SIM replacement four operators--Grameenphone, Banglalink, Airtel and Robi have been selling news SIMs and evading VAT worth of Tk 2,048 crore from 2007 to 2011. The allegation of selling the same SIM twice was raised against the mobile operators.

 According to NBR, from July 2009 to December 2011, the largest operator Grameenphone evaded VAT worth of Tk 1 thousand, 23 crore, 23 lakh 31 thousand. The demand note for that amount of money was submitted to Grameenphone as per the section 55(3) of the VAT Act 1991 in May 18. Grameenphone filed a case in Vat Appellate Tribunal against that demand note.

 The second largest operator Banglalink, from March 2007 to June 2011 released 70 lakh 21 thousand 834 SIMs in the market. The operators showed those SIM as replacement SIM and evaded VAT worth of Tk 532 crore 41 lakh 45 thousand. Up until March 2015, the amount stands at Tk 613 crore. After the government sent a demand note to the operator for realizing the money, they filed an appeal against the demand note in Vat Appellate Tribunal

 Robi, from March 2007 to June 2011 released a total of 51 lakh 81 thousand 797 SIMs in the market. They evaded VAT worth of Tk 414 crore 54 lakh by showing those SIMs as replacement SIM. NBR from its large tax unit (LTU) issued a demand note in May 18, 2015 to the operator. After that the operator filed an appeal against it in Vat Appellate Tribunal

 Airtel from July 2007 to December 2009 evaded VAT worth of Tk 78 crore 78 lakh 24 thousand in the name of SIM replacement. They also filed an appeal later.

 All four operators have lost against their respective appeals.

 About the verdict of the tribunal, TIM Nurul Kabir told the media that they would fix their next step after they get the full copy of the verdict.

 

Telcos asked to pay Tk 2,048cr SIM replacement tax

National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Wednesday asked four mobile operators of the country to pay Tk 2,048 crore due of SIM replacement tax within the next 90 working days. In June 5, the complaint of evasion of Tk 2,048 crore by the four mobile operators was proved as per the verdict of VAT Appellate Tribunal. The verdict said, in the name of SIM replacement four operators--Grameenphone, Banglalink, Airtel and Robi have been selling news SIMs and evading VAT worth of Tk 2,048 crore from 2007 to 2011. The allegation of selling the same SIM twice was raised against the mobile operators. According to NBR, from July 2009 to December 2011, the largest operator Grameenphone evaded VAT worth of Tk 1 thousand, 23 crore, 23 lakh 31 thousand. The demand note for that amount of money was submitted to Grameenphone as per the section 55(3) of the VAT Act 1991 in May 18. Grameenphone filed a case in Vat Appellate Tribunal against that demand note. The second largest operator Banglalink, from March 2007 to June 2011 released 70 lakh 21 thousand 834 SIMs in the market. The operators showed those SIM as replacement SIM and evaded VAT worth of Tk 532 crore 41 lakh 45 thousand. Up until March 2015, the amount stands at Tk 613 crore. After the government sent a demand note to the operator for realizing the money, they filed an appeal against the demand note in Vat Appellate Tribunal Robi, from March 2007 to June 2011 released a total of 51 lakh 81 thousand 797 SIMs in the market. They evaded VAT worth of Tk 414 crore 54 lakh by showing those SIMs as replacement SIM. NBR from its large tax unit (LTU) issued a demand note in May 18, 2015 to the operator. After that the operator filed an appeal against it in Vat Appellate Tribunal Airtel from July 2007 to December 2009 evaded VAT worth of Tk 78 crore 78 lakh 24 thousand in the name of SIM replacement. They also filed an appeal later. All four operators have lost against their respective appeals. About the verdict of the tribunal, TIM Nurul Kabir told the media that they would fix their next step after they get the full copy of the verdict.