Travel tax may increase by 20-50pc

Dhaka : The National Board of Revenue (NBR), as part of its multipurpose efforts to increase revenue, is pondering to up travel tax by 20-50 per cent in the upcoming budget for FY24, said reports citing an official.

The move will have an impact on the total expenses of individuals and businesses planning and undertaking trips.

Currently, the tax is BDT 500-4,000 for each outbound traveller depending on their destination country and mode of transportation.
"The changes in travel tax and other taxes were finalised for the finance bill at a budget meeting on May 14," said reports citing a revenue board official. 

"If there is no major change, it will be placed as proposed budget on June 1," added reports citing the official. 

The NBR collects travel tax from people travelling abroad, under the Travel Tax Act 2003. The tax amounted to BDT 871 crore in FY22.
Currently, people who travel to SAARC countries need to pay BDT 500-1,200 each depending on their mode of transportation, BDT 4,000 for each outbound traveller to NA, SA, Europe, Africa, Australia, NZ, China, Japan, HK, NK, SK, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Taiwan.