The National Board of Revenue has asked its field offices to help taxpayers get user identities and passwords in the shortest possible time to facilitate online filing of tax returns this year.

The taxpayers will have to collect user IDs and passwords from respective circle offices to file returns online, said Kalipada Halder, an NBR member for information management and services.

People can also use last year's IDs and passwords for online filing this year, he said.

The tax administrator sent a letter to all taxes zones last month saying that changes brought in income tax for 2017-18 have been incorporated in the software.

Now the taxpayers can file returns online for the current year, the letter reads.

To get user ID and password, a taxpayer will have to fill up a separate form posted on the website. “This is done to ensure security of taxpayer's information,” Halder said.

The NBR's initiative comes two months ahead of the deadline for filing of income tax return for 2017-18.

The tax administration introduced e-filing on November 1 last year to reduce hassle of the taxpayers and increase transparency and accountability in the tax department.

Last year, 5,000 taxpayers collected user IDs and passwords , but only 273 of them—including Finance Minister AMA Muhith—submitted returns as most of them could not make time to go for e-filing, said Halder.

The NBR also directed the field offices to take steps to encourage taxpayers to go for e-filing, ensure uninterrupted internet connection and upload information of submitted returns in the online system.

The NBR started the initiative for e-filing in 2011 at a cost of Tk 78.98 crore. Of the amount, Tk 12.98 crore came from government funds and the rest from the Asian Development Bank.