The long-standing call for reduced mobile call rates and internet package costs has yet to be addressed, and now users are facing higher expenses. The current government intends to impose an additional supplementary duty on mobile phone services, with a new notification expected soon.
Sources from the National Board of Revenue (NBR) confirm that the interim government has approved adding a 3% supplementary duty to the existing 20% on mobile services. The approval has also been granted by two ministries, and the notification is anticipated shortly.
Under the previous Awami League government, the supplementary duty on mobile services was raised from 15% to 20% in the 2024-25 fiscal budget. As a result, users currently pay 28.10 Taka in supplementary duty, VAT, and surcharge for every 100 Taka recharge. An additional 6.10 Taka is deducted for revenue sharing and minimum tax, and 20.40 Taka for indirect taxes, totaling 54.60 Taka in taxes when users recharge 100 Taka.
If the supplementary duty increases by another 3%, users will face a 56.30% tax rate on their recharges.
