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Executive Summary “At-a-Glance”

Bangladesh is currently not a Continuous Transaction Controls (CTC) or clearance country for e-invoicing. There is no live, legislated mandatory domestic B2B or B2G e-invoicing regime. However, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) is actively pursuing digitalization initiatives, with significant developments indicating a future shift towards e-invoicing.

Key Points:

Status: Announced / early-stage (procurement and consultation). NBR issued an Expression of Interest (EoI) for an “e-Invoice System” on 24 October 2024.
Legislative Developments: The Finance Bill 2026 introduces enabling provisions for electronic tax invoices (Mushak 6.3) and digital record-keeping, allowing electronic issuance via ERP.
Current Model: A hybrid post-audit model, combining device-based fiscalisation (Electronic Fiscal Devices/Sales Data Controllers – EFD/SDC) for retail sales with an online VAT return platform (“e-VAT”). No per-invoice government clearance is operational.
Rationale: Driven by a low tax-to-GDP ratio (7.5%), a large VAT compliance gap, and International Monetary Fund (IMF) program conditionality which explicitly commits authorities to “introducing e-invoice system.”
Formats: No structured e-invoice syntax (UBL/CII/XML) is mandated. The statutory invoice is the Mushak 6.3, which can now be issued electronically.
Go-Live Dates: No e-invoicing issuance or receipt obligation date has been legislated.

Key Risks/Uncertainties:No published e-invoicing timeline.
Significant execution risk, highlighted by the EFD program’s underperformance (approx. 11,000–18,000 devices installed against a 300,000 five-year plan).
Legislative ambiguity in Finance Bill 2026, which states provisions “may be made mandatory” rather than an unconditional mandate.

International Context: Bangladesh is a “follower/late entrant” in CTC e-invoicing, lagging behind regional peers like India and not aligned with EU (ViDA) or OECD CTC benchmarks. It is not a Peppol Authority.

1. Current VAT Digitalization Landscape

Bangladesh’s journey towards tax digitalization involves several overlapping strands:

Legislative Overhaul: The Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Act, 2012 (Act No. 47 of 2012), implemented in July 2019, modernized the VAT framework with online registration, returns, and account mechanics. [1][2][19]
VAT Online Project (“e-VAT”): A World Bank-supported NBR program designed to centralize VAT administration onto a single automated platform, accessible via vat.gov.bd. The system, formerly IVAS, was renamed “e-VAT” in December 2025. [8][11][31] The deadline for businesses to migrate onto the e-VAT system and enter historical hard-copy returns was 30 June 2026. [30][32]
Fiscalisation (EFD/SDC): Since 2020, Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFDs) and Sales Data Controllers (SDCs) capture retail sales data in near-real time, primarily targeting about 25 retail and service categories in major city areas (Dhaka and Chattogram). [26][7] The EFD program has faced significant challenges in deployment, with only a fraction of planned devices installed. [27][28]

2. Emerging E-invoicing Initiative

While not yet mandatory, an e-invoicing system is in active development:

Procurement: NBR’s VAT wing issued an Expression of Interest on 24 October 2024 to select a firm to design, build, and operate a web-based “e-Invoice System.” NBR views this as a shift from hardware-centric EFDs to software-based transaction controls. [6][25]
Legislative Enablement: The Finance Bill 2026 is a crucial step, introducing provisions that permit the statutory Mushak 6.3 VAT challan to be issued and preserved electronically via ERP or prescribed VAT software. It also legally recognizes digital records as admissible evidence. [20][33]
Model (Planned): The procured e-invoice system is “designed around clearance-style modules” (registration, purchase, sales, invoice, coefficient, return, payment), indicating an intent for government validation of invoices, but it is “not yet operational.” [6] The initial rollout is intended to begin with large taxpayers, who contribute roughly 50% of VAT revenue. [25][39]

3. Rationale for Tax Digitalization

The push for digitalization, including e-invoicing, stems from fundamental economic and fiscal challenges:

Low Tax-to-GDP Ratio: Bangladesh has “one of the lowest tax-to-GDP ratios in the world — reported at 7.5% in 2022 and 7.4% in FY24.” [37][13] NBR aims for 10.5% by FY35. [13]
VAT Gap & Compliance: VAT accounts for nearly 40% of national revenue. With approximately 792,000 VAT-registered entities but only about 500,000 filing returns, there is a substantial compliance gap. [38][26]
Fraud Prevention: E-invoicing and fiscalisation are seen by NBR as “tools to widen the net, curb invoice fraud and reduce the VAT gap.” [25][35] A QR code system on packaged goods is also being introduced to curb evasion. [35]
IMF Conditionality: A significant external driver is the US$4.7bn IMF arrangement (approved January 2023), under which authorities committed to “introducing e-invoice system” and expanding electronic filing and payment. [13][14]

4. Scope and Formats

Transaction Scope: No e-invoicing transaction scope has been legislated. The general VAT regime requires a Mushak 6.3 tax invoice for taxable supplies. Planned e-invoicing will likely start with large taxpayers, focusing on B2B. B2G, intra-regional, and export flows are not yet specifically addressed for e-invoicing. [22][25]
Mandatory Formats: No structured e-invoice syntax (UBL/CII/XML) has been mandated. The statutory tax invoice, Mushak 6.3, may be issued on paper or electronically via ERP/prescribed VAT software as per Finance Bill 2026. Unstructured/PDF and paper invoices remain valid. [20][23]
International Standards: Bangladesh has no adoption of international e-invoicing standards such as EN 16931, Peppol BIS 3.0, UBL 2.1, or UN/CEFACT CII, and is not a Peppol Authority. [18]

5. Operational Model & Technical Aspects

Hybrid Post-Audit: The current system operates as a hybrid model. EFD/SDC provides near-real-time capture of retail sales data, while VAT liability is self-assessed and reported periodically through the e-VAT platform. There is no real-time, per-invoice government clearance step today. [7][11]
Invoice Lifecycle (Current):Creation: Registered persons issue Mushak 6.3. Finance Bill 2026 permits ERP issuance.
Fiscalisation (Retail): EFD-mandated businesses record sales on EFD/SDC, generating an NBR-QR-coded receipt.
Reporting: Output/input VAT is aggregated into monthly Mushak 9.1 returns filed on e-VAT.
Validation: Validation occurs via periodic return processing and audit, not per-invoice clearance. [2][7][11][20]
Archiving & Retention: VAT documents must be retained for five (5) years. Finance Bill 2026 permits preservation “in secured servers using ERP software or prescribed VAT software,” treating these as “legally admissible evidence.” No explicit domestic-storage or data-localization obligation was identified. [4][19][20][33]
Penalties: Failure to issue a tax invoice (Mushak 6.3) attracts a fixed penalty, reported at BDT 10,000. General VAT irregularities range from BDT 10,000 to BDT 100,000. Late payment carries 1% interest per month. [19]

6. Key Risks and Uncertainties

Senior leadership should be aware of several significant risks:

Unconfirmed E-invoicing Timeline: “No published e-invoicing timeline — vendor award, pilot and go-live dates are unconfirmed as of the cut-off date.” [6][25] This creates uncertainty for business planning.
Execution Risk & EFD Underperformance: The EFD program has “materially underdelivered” (≈11,000–18,000 devices installed against a 300,000 five-year plan). This history suggests potential for significant slippage and challenges in the e-invoicing rollout. [27][28]
Legislative Ambiguity: Finance Bill 2026’s wording is enabling (“may be made mandatory”) rather than a firm, unconditional mandate, leaving the precise scope and compulsion of future e-invoicing uncertain. [20][34]
Operational Challenges: Businesses have reported “persistent difficulties with the online VAT-return system,” indicating that the net administrative burden remains a concern. [44]

7. Implications and Actionable Insights for Businesses

Given the evolving landscape, businesses operating in Bangladesh should consider the following:

Monitor Developments Closely: Treat e-invoicing as a watch item. Actively track the outcome of the NBR’s e-Invoice System procurement and any announcements regarding pilot programs or timelines. [6]
Leverage Voluntary Electronic Invoicing: The Finance Bill 2026’s allowance for issuing and preserving Mushak 6.3 electronically via ERP creates a voluntary pathway. Businesses should explore adopting this where efficient to gain experience and prepare for future mandates. [20]
Prepare Master Data: Ensure ERP master data is “clearance-ready” by maintaining accurate Business Identification Numbers (BINs) for suppliers and customers, correct VAT rates, and complete mandatory Mushak 6.3 fields. This will minimize rework when a mandate eventually arrives. [2][20]
Verify Regulations: Current VAT registration thresholds and specific penalty amounts should be verified against the latest Finance Act and NBR guidance before reliance, as some figures can conflict across sources. [19][43]
SME Impact: Be aware that NBR intends to sequence e-invoicing with large taxpayers first, which may provide a grace period for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). However, readiness levels among SMEs remain low. [25][38]
Understand NBR’s Role: NBR is the tax authority, standard-setter, and platform operator. Enlisted VAT software firms support compliance, but no global CTC providers are currently operationally embedded. [10][41]

This briefing draws extensively from “CTC / Continuous Transaction Controls Analysis for Senior Leadership,” which cites numerous official NBR, IMF, World Bank, and advisor publications, as well as VATupdate.com for recent briefings.

Extended article

CTC / Continuous Transaction Controls Analysis for Senior Leadership

Information cut-off date: 2 July 2026. All statements reflect sources available on or before this date. Every substantive statement carries an inline citation [n] resolving to the numbered source list in Chapter 20. Where information is unavailable, not yet legislated, or not applicable, this is stated explicitly rather than omitted. Sources older than 12 months or apparently superseded are flagged inline. Local-language terms are given in Dutch with an English gloss on first mention.

One-line orientation: Bangladesh is not a Continuous Transaction Controls (CTC) or clearance country. It has no mandatory domestic B2B or B2G e-invoicing regime and no continuous transaction reporting (CTR) or invoice-clearance system in force. VAT compliance is centred on the VAT Online Project and electronic return filing administered by the National Board of Revenue (NBR), but electronic invoicing remains outside a nationwide mandatory CTC framework. As of 2 July 2026, no enacted domestic B2B e-invoicing or digital-reporting mandate requires taxpayers to transmit invoices to the tax authority in real time or near real time. [1][2][4]

Chapter 0 — Executive Summary “At-a-Glance”

Country: People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Tax authority: National Board of Revenue (NBR). Information cut-off date: 9 July 2026.

Status: Announced / early-stage (procurement and consultation). There is no live, legislated Continuous Transaction Controls (CTC) e-invoicing mandate in Bangladesh. The EY E-invoicing Developments Tracker, as of 17 June 2026, records Bangladesh as “Not applicable” for B2G, B2B, B2C and horizon scanning [22]. NBR has, however, issued a formal Expression of Interest (24 October 2024) to procure an “e-Invoice System” [6], and the Finance Bill 2026 introduces enabling provisions for electronic tax invoices and digital record-keeping [20][33].
Model: Not yet defined for e-invoicing. The current digital-VAT architecture is a hybrid post-audit model combining device-based fiscalisation (EFD/SDC, real-time sales-data capture) with an online VAT-return/e-payment platform (“e-VAT”, formerly the VAT Automation System / IVAS) [7][31]. The procured e-invoice system is designed around clearance-style modules (registration, purchase, sales, invoice, coefficient, return, payment) but is not yet operational [6].
Mandatory format(s): No structured e-invoice syntax (UBL/CII/XML) has been mandated. The statutory tax invoice is the Mushak 6.3 (মূসক ৬.৩) VAT challan under Section 51 of the VAT & SD Act 2012; Finance Bill 2026 permits Mushak 6.3 to be issued and preserved electronically via ERP/prescribed VAT software [20][23].
Key go-live dates: No e-invoicing issuance or receipt obligation date has been legislated. Nearest binding digital date: 30 June 2026 deadline for businesses to migrate onto the e-VAT system and enter historical hard-copy returns (now passed) [30][32].
Taxpayers in scope (current digital measures): EFD/SDC fiscalisation targets ~25 retail and service categories in the Dhaka and Chattogram city-corporation areas [26]; the planned e-invoice rollout is intended to begin with large taxpayers, who contribute roughly 50% of VAT revenue [25][39].
Central platform / operator: NBR is the tax authority [4]. EFD/SDC deployment and the EFD Management System (EFDMS) are operated under contract by Genex Infosys Limited [26][42]. The online return platform is NBR’s e-VAT system at vat.gov.bd [11][31].
Penalty exposure (headline range): General VAT irregularity penalties under the VAT & SD Act 2012 run from BDT 10,000 to BDT 100,000, with late-payment interest of 1% per month (up to 24 months) [19]; failure to issue a tax invoice attracts a fixed penalty (reported at BDT 10,000 under Section 85) [19].
ViDA alignment: N/A. Bangladesh is not an EU Member State; the EU VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) package adopted March 2025 does not apply. Bangladesh is not a Peppol Authority [18] and has no OECD CTC commitment, though IMF programme conditionality is pushing tax-administration digitalisation [13].
Top 3 open risks / uncertainties: (1) No published e-invoicing timeline — vendor award, pilot and go-live dates are unconfirmed as of the cut-off date [6][25]; (2) Execution risk — the EFD programme has materially underdelivered (≈11,000–18,000 devices against a 300,000 five-year plan) [27][28]; (3) Legislative ambiguity — Finance Bill 2026 wording is enabling (“may be made mandatory”) rather than an unconditional mandate, so scope and compulsion remain uncertain [20][34].

Chapter 1 — Introduction & Country Context

1.1 Tax digitalisation journey leading to the mandate

Bangladesh’s indirect-tax modernisation runs through three overlapping strands. The first is the legislative overhaul: the Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Act, 2012 (Act No. 47 of 2012) replaced the VAT Act 1991 and was brought fully into force on 1 July 2019, introducing a modernised VAT framework with online registration (BIN), online returns and account-current mechanics [1][2][19]. The second is the VAT Improvement Program (the “VAT Online Project”), a World Bank-supported NBR programme designed to connect VAT circle offices, divisional offices and commissionerates onto a single automated platform [8][16]. The third is fiscalisation at the point of sale through Electronic Cash Registers (ECRs) and, from 2020, Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFDs) / Sales Data Controllers (SDCs) intended to stream retail sales data to NBR in real time [26][7].

The e-invoicing initiative is the newest strand. On 24 October 2024 NBR’s VAT wing issued an Expression of Interest to select a software-development firm to design, build and operate a web-based “e-Invoice System” [6]. NBR framed this as a pivot away from the hardware-centric EFD approach toward software-based transaction controls [25].

1.2 Rationale (VAT gap, fraud prevention, modernisation, alignment)

Bangladesh has one of the lowest tax-to-GDP ratios in the world — reported at 7.5% in 2022 and 7.4% in FY24 [37][13]. NBR’s Medium- and Long-Term Revenue Strategy (MLTRS), published May 2025, targets a tax-to-GDP ratio of 10.5% by FY35 [13]. VAT accounts for close to 40% of national revenue [26], and NBR data indicate roughly 792,000 VAT-registered entities of which only about 500,000 file returns [38], underscoring a large compliance gap. E-invoicing and fiscalisation are positioned by NBR as tools to widen the net, curb invoice fraud and reduce the VAT gap [25][35].

1.3 Positioning: early mover / follower / alignment

Bangladesh is a follower/late entrant on CTC e-invoicing. It has no operational mandate while regional peers are already live — India, for example, requires structured e-invoices via the Invoice Registration Portal (IRP) for businesses above the ₹5 crore turnover threshold, returning an IRN and QR code [24]. Bangladesh’s device-based fiscalisation places it closer to the earlier “fiscal cash register” generation of controls than to modern clearance CTC systems [7][17].

1.4 Supranational authorisation / derogation

Not applicable. As a non-EU state, Bangladesh requires no EU Council Implementing Decision or derogation from Articles 218/232 of the EU VAT Directive, and Directive 2014/55/EU (B2G e-invoicing) does not apply. The principal external driver is IMF programme conditionality: under the US$4.7bn arrangement approved 30 January 2023 (US$3.3bn ECF/EFF plus US$1.4bn RSF) [14], the authorities committed to “introducing e-invoice system” and expanding electronic filing and payment, with structural benchmarks on digital tax-administration transformation [13].

Chapter 2 — Regulatory Framework

2.1 Primary legislation

The core statute is the Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Act, 2012 (Act No. 47 of 2012), in force from 1 July 2019 [1][2][3]. Tax invoices are governed by Section 51 (“Tax invoices”), which requires every registered person to “issue a serially numbered tax invoice” at the time the taxable supply is made [2]. Credit and debit notes are governed by Section 52 (“Credit notes and debit notes”) [2]; withholding-VAT (VDS) certificates by Section 53 [23]. The standard VAT rate is 15% [19].

2.2 Implementing regulations, decrees, orders

The implementing rules are the Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Rules, 2016 [45]. The Mushak 6.3 (মূসক ৬.৩) VAT invoice/challan is prescribed under Rule 40(1) of the 2016 Rules, read with Section 51 of the Act [23]. Return, adjustment and coefficient forms are likewise prescribed by the Rules (see Chapter 8). EFD/SDC obligations and the categories of business required to fiscalise are set through NBR statutory regulatory orders (SROs) and general orders; the specific SRO numbers governing the EFD mandate were not verified from a primary NBR source at the cut-off date and should be confirmed against the NBR gazette before reliance [7].

2.3 Circulars, administrative rulings, FAQs, enforcement / postponement statements

NBR maintains a public VAT FAQ that confirms the tax-invoice definition (“Form VAT-6.3 shall be considered as the tax invoice”) and the five-year record-retention rule [4]. NBR has issued repeated enforcement and deadline statements on the e-VAT migration, most recently extending the hard-copy-return-entry deadline to 30 June 2026 [30][32]. The Finance Bill 2026 (see 2.1/Chapter 6) is summarised authoritatively by KPMG in Bangladesh [20][21].

2.4 Supranational / international legal basis

Not applicable for EU instruments. The relevant international anchor is the IMF Extended Credit Facility / Extended Fund Facility / Resilience and Sustainability Facility programme and its structural benchmarks on tax digitalisation [13][14][15]. Bangladesh has made no OECD CTC or Peppol commitment [18].

Chapter 3 — Scope of the Mandate

3.1 Transactions in scope

No e-invoicing transaction scope has been legislated as of 9 July 2026 [22]. Under the general VAT regime, a Mushak 6.3 tax invoice is required for taxable supplies of goods and services by registered persons (domestic B2B and B2C) [2][4]. The planned e-invoice system is intended to begin with large taxpayers [25]. B2G, intra-regional and export flows are not yet addressed by any dedicated e-invoicing rule; cross-border reporting equivalent to the EU Digital Reporting Requirements does not exist [22].

3.2 Special transactions

Withholding VAT (VAT Deducted at Source, VDS) is a prominent feature: designated withholding entities deduct VAT and issue a Mushak 6.6 certificate under Section 53 [23]. Contract-manufacturing / inter-premises transfers use dedicated Mushak forms (e.g., Mushak 6.5); the exact rule number for Mushak 6.5 was not verified [23]. Margin, travel, second-hand and investment-gold special schemes are not specifically addressed in the sources reviewed and should be treated as “no dedicated e-invoicing guidance published to date.”

3.3 Excluded / exempt transactions

Exempt goods and services are listed in the First Schedule of the VAT & SD Act 2012 [1]. The full enumerated exemption list was not extracted for this booklet; categories typically exempt (basic food, agriculture, health, education, public transport) should be confirmed against the First Schedule before reliance. Because no e-invoicing mandate exists, there is presently no separate list of transactions excluded from an e-invoicing obligation — the question is not yet legislated [22].

Chapter 4 — Taxable Persons in Scope

4.1 Established domestic entities

Any person whose taxable turnover exceeds the VAT-registration threshold must obtain a 13-digit Business Identification Number (BIN) and register for VAT; NBR states that “every business in the country is required to have a unique Business Identification Number (BIN)” to obtain a VAT registration certificate [5]. Threshold figures conflict across sources and have been amended over time: advisor guidance cites a current VAT-registration threshold of BDT 3 crore (30 million) turnover with turnover-tax enlistment between BDT 50 lakh and BDT 3 crore at 4% [43]; PwC lists a BDT 5 million registration threshold [19]; and the NBR VAT FAQ still quotes the original 2012 Act figures of BDT 8 million (registration) and BDT 3 million (turnover tax) [4]. These figures should be verified against the latest Finance Act before reliance.

4.2 Non-established entities

Bangladesh applies VAT to certain imported/digital services and provides for VAT agents / fiscal representation for non-resident suppliers, but no dedicated e-invoicing obligation attaches to non-established persons because no mandate exists [19][22]. Detailed rules for non-established entities were not verified in this pass and should be treated as “no specific e-invoicing guidance published to date.”

4.3 Voluntary participation models

Voluntary VAT registration is available below the threshold [5]. Finance Bill 2026’s allowance to issue and preserve Mushak 6.3 electronically via ERP effectively creates a voluntary electronic-invoicing pathway ahead of any mandate [20].

4.4 Sector-specific rules and exemptions

Fiscalisation obligations are sector- and location-specific: EFD/SDC use is mandated for roughly 25 retail and service categories (e.g., departmental stores, wholesalers, hotels and restaurants) initially in the Dhaka and Chattogram city-corporation areas, with periodic expansion (e.g., “11 more service providers” added) [26][29]. The full itemised list of mandated categories was not verified from a primary NBR order [29].

Chapter 5 — Implementation Timeline

5.1 Legislative history and milestones

2012: VAT & SD Act enacted (Act No. 47 of 2012) [1].
2014–2020: VAT Improvement Program / VAT Online Project implemented with World Bank support [8][16].
1 July 2019: VAT & SD Act 2012 and 2016 Rules brought fully into force [2][19].
2020 onward: EFD/SDC rollout begins (initial ~10,000-device pilot) [26].
24 October 2024: NBR issues Expression of Interest for the e-Invoice System (Memo 08.01.0000.073.07.01.24), submissions due 28 November 2024 [6].
25 December 2025: NBR renames the VAT Automation System (IVAS) to “e-VAT” [31].
June 2026: Finance Bill 2026 introduces electronic Mushak 6.3 and digital-record provisions [20][33].
30 June 2026: deadline to join e-VAT and enter hard-copy returns [30][32].

5.2 Voluntary / pilot phases and incentives

The EFD programme functioned as a phased fiscalisation pilot; NBR reported measurable VAT uplift at fiscalised outlets (“businesses which used to pay Tk 5,000–6,000 per month … now pay Tk 50,000 monthly after installing EFD”) [28]. Finance Bill 2026’s electronic-Mushak-6.3 allowance is effectively a voluntary onboarding phase for software-based invoicing [20].

5.3 Mandatory go-live dates (issuance vs receipt)

None legislated for e-invoicing. No structured-e-invoice issuance obligation and no receipt/clearance obligation date exist as of 9 July 2026 [22]. The only binding near-term digital date is the 30 June 2026 e-VAT migration/hard-copy-entry deadline [30][32].

5.4 Grace periods and transitional provisions

NBR has repeatedly extended e-VAT migration deadlines, indicating a de facto graduated approach [30]. No e-invoicing-specific grace period exists because no mandate is in force [22].

5.5 Pre-mandate technical milestones

The principal pre-mandate milestone achieved is the e-Invoice System procurement (EoI) [6]. No public test environment, API specification or certificate-registration process for a national e-invoicing platform has been published to date [6][22].

5.6 Known or anticipated postponements

The EFD programme has repeatedly fallen short of targets (≈11,000 devices installed against a 30,000 annual and 300,000 five-year plan) [27][28]. This execution history is the principal reason to treat any future e-invoicing timeline as high-risk for slippage [27].

Chapter 6 — Operating Model (How It Really Works)

6.1 Model type and role of the tax authority

Bangladesh currently operates a hybrid post-audit model. Point-of-sale fiscalisation (EFD/SDC) captures retail sales data for NBR in near-real time, while VAT liability is self-assessed and reported periodically through the e-VAT return platform [7][11]. NBR is the tax authority, standard-setter and platform operator; Genex Infosys operates the EFD/EFDMS layer under contract [26][42]. The procured e-invoice system is designed on clearance-style principles (invoice generation and validation within an NBR platform) but is not operational [6].

6.2 Step-by-step invoice lifecycle (current state)

Creation: A registered person issues a serially numbered Mushak 6.3 at the time of supply [2]; Finance Bill 2026 permits issuance through the taxpayer’s ERP [20].
Fiscalisation (retail): For EFD-mandated businesses, the sale is recorded on the EFD/SDC, which generates a receipt bearing an NBR-generated QR code; issuing a manual invoice without the NBR QR code is treated as a violation for those businesses [7][35].
Reporting: Output/input VAT is aggregated into the periodic Mushak 9.1 return filed on the e-VAT platform, with e-payment/e-challan [11][31].
Validation: There is no per-invoice government clearance step today; validation is via periodic return processing and audit [11].
Retrieval / archiving: See Chapter 13 (five-year retention; digital preservation now permitted) [4][20].

6.3 Authentication and access methods

Access to the e-VAT / e-Return platforms is via NBR-issued user credentials tied to the BIN [5][11]. No national qualified electronic signature (QES) or eID requirement for invoices has been mandated; Finance Bill 2026 relies on ERP-based issuance and secured-server preservation rather than per-invoice QES [20]. Third-party authorisation (agents/software vendors) operates through NBR-enlisted VAT software [10].

6.4 Offline / contingency mode

No national e-invoicing contingency procedure exists because no clearance platform is live [22]. For EFDs, offline capture and later synchronisation are inherent to the device model, but the published contingency/QR-marking and upload-deadline rules were not verified from a primary source [7].

6.5 Buyer-side workflow

There is no mandated buyer-side accept/reject or clearance-retrieval workflow; invoice acceptance follows ordinary commercial and VAT input-credit rules [2][19]. Input VAT credit depends on holding a valid Mushak 6.3 and, where applicable, a Mushak 6.6 VDS certificate [23].

6.6 QR / verification code requirements

QR codes are used in two contexts: (a) EFD/SDC receipts carry an NBR-generated QR code [7][35]; and (b) a QR-code system on packaged goods was announced at the pre-budget 2026 stage, “starting with tobacco products … later … all packaged goods such as soap, shampoo, bottled water” [35]. The precise encoded-data specification was not published in the sources reviewed [35].

Chapter 7 — Acceptable E-Invoice Formats

7.1 Mandatory format(s)

There is no mandated structured e-invoice syntax. The statutory instrument is the Mushak 6.3 tax invoice (content prescribed by Rule 40 / Section 51), which may be issued on paper or, under Finance Bill 2026, electronically via ERP/prescribed VAT software [2][20][23]. Unstructured/PDF and paper invoices remain valid [20].

7.2 Relationship to international standards

Bangladesh has no adoption of EN 16931, Peppol BIS 3.0, UBL 2.1 or UN/CEFACT CII, and is not a Peppol Authority [18]. No national CIUS/extension exists [22].

7.3 Voluntary / legacy / transitional formats

Legacy paper Mushak 6.3 and spreadsheet-based invoicing remain in use; hybrid formats such as Factur-X/ZUGFeRD are not referenced in Bangladeshi law [20][23].

7.4 Attachments

No specific national rule on invoice attachments (embedding vs referencing) was identified; treat as “no official guidance published to date” [22].

Chapter 8 — Technical & Functional Requirements

8.1 E-invoice specifications

Mandatory content of a Mushak 6.3 under Section 51/Rule 40 includes: the supplier’s and purchaser’s name, address and BIN; a serial invoice number; date of issue; description, quantity and value of the supply; and the VAT rate and VAT amount; buyer identification is required where the supply value exceeds a de-minimis (reported at Tk 25,000) [2][23]. There is no published national XML schema or field-level validation ruleset for a structured e-invoice [6][22].

8.2 E-reporting specifications

Periodic VAT reporting uses the Mushak 9.1 monthly return (with the budget 2026/27 signalling a move toward quarterly returns as a default in some cases) filed on the e-VAT platform [34][23]. Supporting declarations include Mushak 4.3 (input-output coefficient) and Mushak 6.6 (VDS certificate) [23]. Bangladesh does not operate a SAF-T, JPK or SII-style transaction-level e-reporting standard [22]. Return filing deadline is the 15th of the following month for monthly returns [23].

8.3 Digital signature and integrity

Integrity is presently platform- and record-based rather than per-invoice cryptographic: Finance Bill 2026 permits preservation of records “in secured servers using ERP software or prescribed VAT software,” treating them as “legally admissible evidence” [20][33]. No mandatory QES/e-seal/timestamp per invoice has been legislated [20].

8.4 Real-time / near-real-time / batch processing

EFD/SDC provides near-real-time capture of retail sales [7]. VAT returns are periodic (batch) [11]. No published performance/throughput targets for a national e-invoicing platform exist because the platform is not live [6].

Chapter 9 — Correction of Errors

9.1 E-invoice corrections

Corrections follow the credit note / debit note mechanism under Section 52 of the Act, documented on Mushak 6.4 as a decreasing adjustment (credit note) or increasing adjustment (debit note); each note must carry a serial number, date, and the supplier’s name, address and BIN [2][23]. There is no platform-based resubmission/clearance step because no clearance platform is live [22].

9.2 E-reporting corrections

Amended/corrective VAT returns are made through the e-VAT platform under NBR procedure; specific corrective-return deadlines and notification duties were not verified from a primary source and should be confirmed against the Rules 2016 and NBR guidance [11][45]. NBR can reopen assessments retrospectively during audit (advisor guidance references a five-year audit reach) [23].

Chapter 10 — Transmission & Workflow

10.1 Central platform

The central digital-VAT platform is NBR’s e-VAT system (formerly IVAS / VAT Automation System) at vat.gov.bd, operated by NBR [11][31]; the EFD Management System (EFDMS) is operated by Genex Infosys [7][26][42]. No dedicated national e-invoicing exchange platform is live [6].

10.2 Transmission channels

Current channels are the e-VAT web portal (returns, e-challan, e-payment, input-output filings) and EFD/SDC devices (retail sales data) [7][31]. There is no Peppol Access Point network and no published national e-invoicing API [18][6].

10.3 Accredited service providers / certified intermediaries

NBR publishes a list of enlisted VAT software firms [10]; advisor rankings identify locally active vendors such as SmartVAT, PrismVAT (Divine IT), VATAX (Skylark Soft), Troyee and Mediasoft [41]. There is no accreditation regime for e-invoicing service providers because no mandate exists; “NBR-approved/enlisted” claims should be checked against the official NBR list [10][41].

10.4 Interoperability

No interoperability with Peppol, a national B2G e-invoicing platform, or cross-border exchange frameworks exists [18][22].

10.5 Deadlines and timing

Retail sales are captured in near-real time on EFDs [7]; VAT returns are filed periodically (monthly Mushak 9.1, due the 15th of the following month; budget 2026/27 signals quarterly returns in cases) [23][34]. There is no T+X e-invoicing transmission deadline because no e-invoicing obligation exists [22].

Chapter 11 — Self-Billing

1 Legality: No general self-billing (recipient-created tax invoice) regime was identified in the VAT & SD Act 2012 or Rules 2016; treat as not provided for (reasoned inference, not a directly quoted prohibition) [2][45].
2 Platform routing: Not applicable — no e-invoicing platform is live [22].
3 Authorisation: No self-billing authorisation procedure identified [45].
4 Mandatory content: Not applicable [45].
5 Self-billing flag/notation: Not applicable [45].
6 Foreign-buyer restrictions: Not addressed in sources reviewed [45].
7 Buyer-side approval: The nearest analogue is withholding VAT (VDS), where the buyer/withholding entity issues a Mushak 6.6 certificate under Section 53 — this is a withholding mechanism, not self-billing [23].

Chapter 12 — Triangulation & Special Scenarios

1 Triangulation: No dedicated e-invoicing rule; intra-EU-style triangulation is not a feature of Bangladeshi VAT [22].
2 Chain transactions: No dedicated guidance published to date [22].
3 Cross-border reverse charge: Bangladesh applies VAT to certain imported services via reverse-charge/withholding mechanics; no e-invoicing-specific treatment exists [19][22].
4 Zero-rated and exempt supplies: Exports are zero-rated and exemptions are listed in the First Schedule of the Act; annotation is via the standard Mushak 6.3 fields, with no dedicated e-invoicing exemption-code scheme [1][19].
5 Local nuances: VDS/withholding (Mushak 6.6) is the dominant special mechanism [23]; VAT groups, fiscal representation and construction-sector rules exist under the general regime but have no dedicated e-invoicing provisions [19][22].

Chapter 13 — Archiving & Retention

13.1 Central archiving by the platform

No central e-invoice archive exists (no live platform) [22]. The e-VAT platform stores returns, e-challans and registration data [31].

13.2 Mandatory archiving format(s)

No mandated archival format for structured invoices. Finance Bill 2026 permits preservation “in secured servers using ERP software or prescribed VAT software” [20].

13.3 Retention period

VAT documents must be retained for five (5) years. NBR states records “should be maintained up to 5 (Five) years in order to facilitate assessment of tax” [4]; PwC confirms preservation “for a period of five years from the end of the tax period (month)” [19]. The exact governing section was not verified [4].

13.4 Storage location

No explicit domestic-storage or data-localisation obligation for VAT records was identified; Finance Bill 2026’s “secured servers” language does not specify jurisdiction [20]. Treat cross-border storage rules as “no specific guidance published to date.”

13.5 Integrity, authenticity, readability

Integrity/authenticity now rests on the statutory recognition of ERP/secured-server records as “legally admissible evidence” [20][33]. No mandatory QES/timestamp/audit-trail technology is prescribed per invoice [20].

13.6 Audit accessibility

Records must be producible to NBR on demand and may be “submitted electronically to the VAT authority” [20]. EFD data is available to NBR in near-real time via EFDMS [7].

Chapter 14 — Penalties & Enforcement

14.1 Grace period / graduated enforcement

Enforcement of digital-VAT measures has been graduated, with repeated deadline extensions for e-VAT migration [30]. No e-invoicing-specific penalty regime exists because no mandate is in force [22].

14.2 Penalties by category

Under the VAT & SD Act 2012, failure to issue a tax invoice, credit note, debit note or withholding certificate is penalised under Section 85; advisor analysis attributes a fixed penalty of BDT 10,000 to this failure (Section 85(1)(j)) [19]. General VAT irregularities carry penalties of a minimum of BDT 10,000 and a maximum of BDT 100,000 [19]. For e-VAT non-compliance (failure to migrate/enter hard-copy returns), consequences include frozen closing balances and refund ineligibility rather than fixed fines [30][32].

14.3 Penalty amounts and escalation

Late payment of VAT attracts interest at 1% per month for up to 24 months, in addition to penalties [19]. The exact Section 85 sub-clause and the BDT 10,000 figure derive from advisor interpretation and should be confirmed against the Act text before reliance [19].

14.4 Article references and links

Primary references: Sections 51, 52, 53 and 85 of the VAT & SD Act 2012 [1][2]; e-VAT enforcement statements [30][32].

Chapter 15 — Pre-Filled VAT Returns

1 Available today? No. No pre-filled/pre-populated VAT return facility was identified; returns (Mushak 9.1) are prepared and filed by the taxpayer on the e-VAT/e-Return platforms [11][12].
2 Fields pre-filled vs input required: Not applicable — all fields are taxpayer-input today [11].
3 Announced plans and timeline: No NBR plan for pre-filled returns was found in the sources reviewed [38].
4 Dependency on e-invoicing/e-reporting data: Pre-filling would depend on a live e-invoice/EFD data feed, which does not yet exist at national scale [7][22].
5 Alignment with ViDA pre-filled return provisions: N/A (non-EU) [22].

Chapter 16 — ViDA / International Digital Reporting Readiness

16.1 Country position

N/A to ViDA. Bangladesh is not an EU Member State, so the ViDA package (adopted March 2025) does not apply. Against OECD CTC and regional benchmarks, Bangladesh is behind: no structured e-invoicing, no Digital Reporting Requirements, and device-based fiscalisation still maturing [17][22].

16.2 Alignment of national format and model

There is no alignment with EN 16931, Peppol or UN/CEFACT CII, and Bangladesh is not a Peppol Authority [18]. The principal gaps are the absence of a structured invoice syntax, a clearance/exchange platform, and transaction-level e-reporting [22].

16.3 Cross-border digital reporting

Bangladesh has no cross-border B2B digital-reporting framework and does not participate in the EU’s planned 1 July 2030 cross-border DRR or any equivalent supranational VAT information exchange [22]. Its external alignment pressure comes from IMF conditionality rather than a trade-bloc reporting regime [13].

16.4 Business implications

Multinationals operating in Bangladesh should treat e-invoicing as a watch item, not a compliance deadline: monitor the e-Invoice System procurement [6], adopt the voluntary electronic Mushak 6.3 pathway where efficient [20], and design ERP master data to be “clearance-ready” so that a future mandate can be absorbed with minimal rework (see Chapter 18) [20].

Chapter 17 — Impact on SMEs and Startups

1 Phased onboarding: Digital-VAT obligations have been phased by sector and geography (EFD in city-corporation areas first), which shields many SMEs from immediate fiscalisation [26]. NBR notes small traders contribute under 5% of VAT, motivating a large-taxpayer-first e-invoicing sequence [25].
2 Free government tools, education, helpdesks: NBR provides the e-VAT and e-Return portals free of charge and BIN registration at no cost [5][11][12]; a dedicated SME VAT-digitalisation helpdesk was not identified in official sources [11].
3 Simplified regimes and threshold exemptions: A turnover-tax regime (4%) applies below the VAT-registration threshold, and businesses under the enlistment threshold are outside VAT [43][19] (note threshold conflicts in 4.1).
4 Subsidies, tax credits, grants: No specific e-invoicing subsidy/tax-credit scheme was identified [22].
5 Compliance costs: For fiscalised SMEs, EFD adoption raised recorded VAT liabilities materially at some outlets [28]; software and integration costs fall on the taxpayer via enlisted VAT software [41].
6 Cash-flow and operational benefits: Digital records now qualify as legal evidence, easing audit and refund substantiation [20][33].
7 Net administrative burden vs simplification: Businesses have reported persistent difficulties with the online VAT-return system, indicating the net burden remains contested [44].
8 Market and competitive impact: Fiscalisation can level the field between compliant and non-compliant retailers, but uneven enforcement limits this effect [27].
9 Official assessments of SME readiness: With ~792,000 registrants but only ~500,000 filers, and a large informal economy (~28.3% of GDP), official data imply limited SME digital-VAT readiness [38][40].

Chapter 18 — Practical Implementation Considerations

1 ERP/finance-system impacts: Finance Bill 2026 explicitly contemplates ERP-issued Mushak 6.3, so SAP, Oracle and Dynamics users can configure electronic invoice issuance and secured-server preservation now, ahead of any mandate [20].
2 Master-data prerequisites: Accurate BIN capture for supplier and customer, correct VAT rates/SD codes, and complete Mushak 6.3 mandatory fields are the key data prerequisites; there are no Peppol IDs to maintain (no Peppol) [2][18].
3 Common pitfalls (early rollout): The dominant lesson is execution risk — the EFD programme installed only ≈11,000–18,000 of a planned 300,000 devices, and ~8,000 machines failed NBR import specifications [27][28]. Deadline slippage and enforcement gaps should be assumed in planning [27].
4 Vendor/service-provider landscape: Genex Infosys operates EFD/EFDMS [26][42]; NBR-enlisted local VAT software vendors include SmartVAT, PrismVAT (Divine IT), VATAX (Skylark Soft), Troyee and Mediasoft [10][41]. No global CTC provider (Sovos, Avalara, Pagero, Comarch) is operationally embedded in a Bangladeshi mandate, consistent with the absence of one [41].
5 Governance and internal control: Firms should maintain a clear audit trail for electronic Mushak 6.3 and VDS certificates, reconcile Mushak 4.3 coefficients against actual filings, and monitor the 15th-of-month return deadline as a control KPI [23].

Chapter 19 — Summary & Key Takeaways

1 Scope: No legislated e-invoicing scope; general VAT invoicing (Mushak 6.3) applies to registered persons’ taxable supplies [2][22].
2 Format: No mandated structured syntax; Mushak 6.3 (paper or ERP-electronic under Finance Bill 2026) is the statutory invoice [20][23].
3 Timeline: No e-invoicing go-live date; nearest binding digital date was the 30 June 2026 e-VAT migration deadline (passed); e-Invoice System procurement began 24 October 2024 [6][30].
4 How it works: Hybrid post-audit — EFD/SDC near-real-time retail capture plus periodic e-VAT returns; no per-invoice clearance [7][11].
5 Key obligations: Issue Mushak 6.3; file Mushak 9.1 (15th of month); operate EFD/SDC where mandated; retain records 5 years; migrate to e-VAT [4][7][23].
6 Main risks: No published e-invoicing timeline; severe EFD execution shortfall; enabling-but-ambiguous Finance Bill 2026 wording [6][27][20].
7 SME implications: Large-taxpayer-first sequencing shields SMEs short-term; readiness and filing rates remain low [25][38].
8 ViDA / international readiness: ViDA N/A; behind OECD CTC benchmarks; not a Peppol Authority [18][22].
9 Critical dates & next steps (actionable): Monitor the e-Invoice System procurement outcome and any pilot announcement [6]; adopt voluntary electronic Mushak 6.3 via ERP and align BIN/tax-code master data now [20]; verify current registration thresholds and penalty amounts against the latest Finance Act before reliance [19][43]; complete e-VAT migration and hard-copy-return entry [30].

Chapter 20 — Official References & Sources

20.1 Government portals

NBR (tax authority) — nbr.gov.bd [4]; e-VAT / VAT Online Services — vat.gov.bd [11]; e-Return portal — etaxnbr.gov.bd [12]; EFD/EFDMS user directory [7].

20.2 Legislative texts

VAT & SD Act 2012 (NBR official PDF) [1]; English translation (MCCI) [2]; Laws of Bangladesh index [3]; VAT & SD Rules 2016 (English) [45].

20.3 Technical specifications

NBR e-Invoice System Expression of Interest (module scope) [6]; EFDMS user directory [7]. No national e-invoicing schema/API/test environment published to date [22].

20.4 Tax authority publications

NBR VAT FAQ [4]; NBR VAT registration/BIN guide [5]; VAT Improvement Program overview [8]; LTU-VAT page [9]; enlisted VAT software firms [10].

20.5 Advisor and technology publications

PwC [19]; KPMG Finance Bill 2026 [20][21]; EY E-invoicing Developments Tracker [22]; ICAB manual [23]; Avalara (India peer) [24]; SmartVAT vendor ranking [41]; SRCO thresholds [43].

20.6 VATupdate.com country profile and recent briefings

VATupdate Bangladesh hub [44]; e-VAT rename [31]; 30 June deadline [32]; digital records as legal evidence [33]; budget 2026/27 changes [34].

20.7 Numbered source list

[1] National Board of Revenue (NBR) — Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Act, 2012 (Act No. 47 of 2012), official text. https://nbr.gov.bd/uploads/acts/18.pdf

[2] MCCI — Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Act, 2012 (English translation). https://www.mccibd.org/images/uploadimg/VAT%20&%20SD%20Act_2012%20(English).pdf

[3] Laws of Bangladesh (Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs) — Act No. 47 of 2012 index. http://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/act-1106.html

[4] NBR — VAT Frequently Asked Questions (English). https://nbr.gov.bd/faq/vat-faq/eng

[5] NBR — VAT Compliance Guide: Registration / BIN (details/6). https://nbr.gov.bd/taxtypes/vat-compliance-guides/details/6/eng

[6] NBR — Expression of Interest, ‘Selection of Software Development Firm for e-Invoice System’, Memo No. 08.01.0000.073.07.01.24, dated 24-10-2024. https://nbr.gov.bd/uploads/tendernotice/invoice.pdf

[7] NBR — Electronic Fiscal Device (EFD) / Sales Data Controller (SDC) user directory (EFDMS). https://nbr.gov.bd/frontend_controllers/efd_controller/index/eng

[8] NBR — VAT Improvement Program (VAT Online Project) project overview. https://nbr.gov.bd/project/vat/project-overview/1/eng

[9] NBR — Large Taxpayers Unit (VAT) field office page. https://nbr.gov.bd/about-us/field-office-details/vat/3/eng

[10] NBR — Enlisted VAT software firms list. https://nbr.gov.bd/nbr-enlisted/eng

[11] NBR — VAT Online Services portal (e-VAT). https://vat.gov.bd/

[12] NBR — e-Return portal. https://etaxnbr.gov.bd/

[13] International Monetary Fund — Bangladesh: Combined Third and Fourth Reviews, IMF Country Report No. 25/150 (June 2025). https://www.imf.org/en/-/media/files/publications/cr/2025/english/1bgdea2025001-print-pdf.pdf

[14] IMF — Press Release PR23/25: Executive Board Approves US$3.3bn ECF/EFF and US$1.4bn RSF for Bangladesh (30 January 2023). https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2023/01/30/pr2325-bangladesh-imf-executive-board-approves-usd-ecf-eff-and-usd-under-rsf

[15] IMF — Press Release PR25/213: Combined Third and Fourth Reviews Completed (23 June 2025). https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2025/06/23/pr-25213-bangladesh-imf-concludes-combined-3rd-and-4th-reviews-under-the-ecf-eff-and-rsf

[16] World Bank — Bangladesh VAT Improvement Program (VIP) project document. https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/682911641854332403/pdf/Bangladesh-VAT-Improvement-Program-VIP.pdf

[17] OECD — Tax Administration 3.0 and Electronic Invoicing (2022). https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2022/09/tax-administration-3-0-and-electronic-invoicing_59ac73c5/2ffc88ed-en.pdf

[18] OpenPeppol — Peppol Authorities list. https://peppol.org/members/peppol-authorities/

[19] PwC — Bangladesh Corporate: Other taxes (Worldwide Tax Summaries). https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/bangladesh/corporate/other-taxes

[20] KPMG in Bangladesh (Rahman Rahman Huq) — Salient features of Finance Bill 2026 (Tax and VAT). https://assets.kpmg.com/content/dam/kpmg/bd/pdf/Salient_features_of_Finance_Bill_2026(Tax-and_VAT).pdf

[21] KPMG — Bangladesh: Finance Bill 2026 tax and VAT measures (TaxNewsFlash, July 2026). https://kpmg.com/us/en/taxnewsflash/news/2026/07/bangladesh-finance-bill-2026-tax-vat.html

[22] EY — E-invoicing Developments Tracker (as of 17 June 2026). https://www.ey.com/content/dam/ey-unified-site/ey-com/en-gl/technical/tax-guides/documents/en-gl-einvoicing-developments-tracker.pdf

[23] Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) — CA PL Tax Planning & Compliance Manual (Indirect Tax – VAT Portion). https://www.icab.org.bd/icabadmin/uploads/ckeditor/36051.%20b)%20%20CA%20PL-%20Tax%20Palnning%20&%20Compliance%20Manual%20(Indirect%20Tax-VAT%20Portion).pdf

[24] Avalara — E-invoicing in India (regional peer). https://www.avalara.com/us/en/vatlive/country-guides/asia/india/indian-e-invoicing.html

[25] The Financial Express (Bangladesh) — ‘e-invoice NBR’s latest trial on VAT system’. https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/economy/e-invoice-nbrs-latest-trial-on-vat-system

[26] The Daily Star — ‘Electronic fiscal device: 60,000 to be installed in Dhaka, Ctg this FY’ (August 2023). https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/news/electronic-fiscal-device-60000-be-installed-dhaka-ctg-fy-3400661

[27] The Business Standard — ‘NBR looks to alternatives as its VAT machine fails to boost collection’ (August 2024). https://www.tbsnews.net/nbr/nbr-looks-alternatives-its-vat-machine-fails-boost-collection-923376

[28] The Business Standard — ‘Installing electronic fiscal devices behind increased VAT collection: NBR’ (6 December 2023). https://www.tbsnews.net/nbr/installing-electronic-fiscal-devices-behind-increased-vat-collection-nbr-752642

[29] New Age — ’11 more service providers must use EFD’. https://www.newagebd.net/article/76222/11-more-service-providers-must-use-efd

[30] BSS (Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha) — ‘NBR extends deadline for e-VAT return’ (7 June 2026). https://www.bssnews.net/business/393281

[31] VATupdate — ‘NBR Renames VAT Automation System to e-VAT, Streamlines All Online VAT Services’ (25 December 2025). https://www.vatupdate.com/2025/12/25/nbr-renames-vat-automation-system-to-e-vat-streamlines-all-online-vat-services/

[32] VATupdate — ‘NBR Sets 30 June Deadline for Businesses to Join e-VAT System’ (10 June 2026). https://www.vatupdate.com/2026/06/10/nbr-sets-30-june-deadline-for-businesses-to-join-e-vat-system/

[33] VATupdate — ‘Finance Bill 2026: VAT Digital Records Recognized as Legal Evidence’ (2 July 2026). https://www.vatupdate.com/2026/07/02/finance-bill-2026-vat-digital-records-recognized-as-legal-evidence/

[34] VATupdate — ‘Bangladesh Budget 2026/27 VAT Changes: Key Reforms, Exemptions and Compliance Updates’ (16 June 2026). https://www.vatupdate.com/2026/06/16/bangladesh-budget-2026-27-vat-changes-key-reforms-exemptions-and-compliance-updates/

[35] The Business Standard — ‘NBR to introduce QR code system for packaged goods to curb VAT evasion’ (26 April 2026). https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/nbr-introduce-qr-code-system-packaged-goods-curb-vat-evasion-1421856

[36] The Financial Express — ‘NBR mulls QR Code band-roll to stop tobacco tax evasion: Chairman’ (18 March 2025). https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/nbr-mulls-qr-code-band-roll-to-stop-tobocco-tax-evasion-chairman

[37] The Business Standard — ‘Tax to GDP ratio 7.5%, lowest in world: Planning minister’ (1 December 2022). https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/tax-gdp-ratio-75-lowest-world-planning-minister-543010

[38] The Business Standard — ‘VAT registration may become mandatory for business bank accounts’ (9 April 2026). https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/vat-registration-may-become-mandatory-business-bank-accounts-1406706

[39] The Business Standard — ‘Business recovery drives up VAT collection from large taxpayers’ (1 February 2022). https://www.tbsnews.net/nbr/business-recovery-drives-vat-collection-large-taxpayers-365281

[40] World Economics — Informal Economy, Bangladesh. https://www.worldeconomics.com/Informal-Economy/Bangladesh.aspx

[41] SmartVAT — ‘Top 10 NBR Approved VAT Software Companies in Bangladesh for 2026’ (20 May 2026). https://smartvat.com.bd/blog/top-10-nbr-approved-vat-software-bangladesh-2026/

[42] bdnews24 — ‘NBR signs deal with Genex Infosys to install 300,000 devices’. https://bdnews24.com/business/az2gdgxn2m

[43] SRCO (Snehasish Mahmud & Co.) — BIN registration / VAT thresholds guidance. https://srcobd.com/bin-registration-vat/

[44] VATupdate — Bangladesh country hub. https://www.vatupdate.com/category/bangladesh/

[45] NBR / vatbd.com — Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Rules, 2016 (English). http://vatbd.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/VAT-and-SD-Rules-2016-English.doc

Bangladesh— E-Invoicing & E-Reporting Country Booklet