NBR Warns Against Illegal "Zero Tax Returns," Citing 5-Year Prison Sentence

Dhaka, Bangladesh – August 10, 2025 – The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has issued a stern warning against the practice of filing so-called "zero tax returns," declaring it a legally punishable criminal offense. The press release aims to dispel misinformation circulating on social media that suggests taxpayers can fulfill their obligations by simply entering "zero" in all fields of their income tax return.

The NBR clarified that there is no provision for a "zero return" under the Income Tax Act, 2023. The law mandates that all taxpayers must accurately declare their genuine income, expenses, assets, and liabilities in their returns.

According to the statement, submitting a return with falsely declared zero values is a criminal act. The revenue authority has noted that some taxpayers, influenced by misleading social media posts, have been providing untrue information on their returns.

Under sections 312 and 313 of the Income Tax Act, 2023, providing false or inaccurate information on a tax return is punishable by up to five years of imprisonment.

The NBR emphasized that it is a legal and civic duty for every taxpayer to provide a correct declaration. Even if a taxpayer's income falls below the taxable threshold, and thus no tax is due, they are still legally obligated to file a return with accurate information. The option to file a return with all information marked as "zero" does not exist in the law.

The Board urged all taxpayers to act as responsible citizens by accurately reporting their financial details, thereby contributing to national development. It strongly advised the public to ignore fraudulent social media campaigns about "zero returns" to avoid severe legal consequences, including imprisonment and financial penalties.