The deadline for submitting income tax return for 2017-18 ends today amid a positive response from taxpayers, with the final tally of submissions expected to be higher this year compared to that in the previous year.

“We received very good response from taxpayers this year,” said Md Abdur Razzaque, member for tax administration and human resources management at the National Board of Revenue, adding that the youth seemed particularly enthusiastic.

As of November 28 of the fiscal year, taxmen received 11.25 lakh returns from individual taxpayers, up 48 percent year-on-year, according to officials.

Razzaque expects that the total number of return submissions to rise 28 percent year-on-year to 20 lakh.

“Many people who obtained taxpayers identification numbers last year will submit return this year.”

Another reason for the higher number is increased compliance by private sector employees, he said.

To allow taxpayers to complete tax procedures and pay tax, the NBR has been holding “Tax Week” since November 24 at its field offices for the second year.

The event, which comes on the heels of the countrywide tax fair in early November, wraps up today.

The NBR will observe November 30 as Tax Day throughout the country to raise awareness on the need to pay tax.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith and State Minister for Finance and Planning MA Mannan are expected to inaugurate a rally to observe the Tax Day in the morning.

Taxmen said they would accept returns from taxpayers until 10:00pm today to facilitate the office-goers to furnish their annual income and wealth statements within the deadline.

To enable the taxpayers to pay tax, banks have started keeping their branches open until 8:00pm since November 29 in line with a Bangladesh Bank directive.

This year the tax administration has brought changes to rules that require employers to ensure returns submission by their employees.

Unless employees with taxable income submit tax returns, expenses claimed by the employers as salary payment in favour of the employees will not be accepted and taxmen will have the authority to disallow the expenses, officials said.

The NBR last year made it mandatory for public sector employees drawing more than Tk 16,000 in monthly salary to have a TIN. It also made submission of returns binding for public sector employees with a basic salary of Tk 16,000 and more.

Taxmen said the measure would increase compliance and boost collection of payroll tax, which accounts for 2 percent of the total tax collection in a year.

Following the move, the number of e-TINs has doubled to more than 31 lakh from 16.51 lakh in June 2015.

Non-submission of returns within the deadline would yield a penalty.

However, taxpayers will be able to seek additional time from tax offices to furnish returns. If they are given extra time, they will have to pay a late fee.