This quarterly newsletter covers VAT, customs and income tax changes issued in Bangladesh in the quarter to December 2025, with the SRO, notification or circular reference given for each item.

On VAT and customs, SRO No. 438 dated 3 November 2025 replaces the 2009 order for public and private EPZs and continues duty-free imports; the key change is an explicit exemption from Advance Tax on EPZ imports. Use of the Customs Bond Management System (CBMS) becomes mandatory from 1 January 2026 for all Utilization Permission services to bonded warehouse licence holders. NBR set out the conditions under which supplies to genuine exporters may be treated as deemed exports under Rule 18(b) of the VAT and SD Rules 2016, including internal back-to-back L/Cs, payment in foreign currency and an approved bonded warehouse. VAT refunds are now automated through iVAS integrated with iBAS++ and paid via BEFTN, and manual refund applications are no longer valid. Customs duty on dates under HS heading 08.04 is cut from 25% to 15% until 31 March 2026, and the authentic English text of the VAT and SD Act 2012 has been published.

On income tax, the authentic English text of the Income Tax Act 2023 was published, and the Income Tax (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 replaces references to the National Board of Revenue with the Revenue Policy Department and the Revenue Management Department.