The National Board of Revenue plans to look into whether foreign satellite television channels broadcasting in Bangladesh are paying taxes properly.
"We get an insignificant amount of taxes from the foreign TV channels and cable operators. We will discuss the matter with the information and telecom ministries," NBR Chairman Md Ghulam Hussain said yesterday.
Currently, distributors of foreign channels have to pay 15 percent VAT (value added tax) and 25 percent supplementary duty.
Hussain shared the plan with reporters after a meeting with the representatives of Association of Television Channel Owners at the NBR headquarters.
The platform demanded cuts in corporate income tax for TV channels, according to Hossain.
Leaders of the association said it is the advertisers who pay VAT for giving advertisements in the print media, but in case of advertisements in the electronic media, owners of the television channels have to pay the VAT.
At the meeting, the NBR formed a four-member panel to recommend steps to develop a uniform tax framework for the print and electronic media.
The panel will submit its recommendations by April 15.
The NBR will also examine how local firms pay to the Indian satellite channels for the advertisements of their products.
Currently, a number of Indian channels broadcast advertisements of a local ago-processing company, Pran.