Bangladesh’s National Board of Revenue (NBR) failed to meet its revenue collection target for the 14th consecutive fiscal year, according to a report published on August 11, 2026. In the latest fiscal year, it collected Tk 415,473 crore against a revised target of Tk 503,000 crore, leaving a shortfall of about Tk 85,000 crore. The target had initially been set at Tk 499,000 crore, raised to Tk 554,000 crore midyear, and later reduced after collections lagged.

NBR annual report data show that the agency met its original target only five times over the past two and a half decades. It has met a revised target only seven times, and has not achieved either an original or revised target since fiscal year 2015-16. Revenue collection nevertheless grew by more than 12 percent in the latest fiscal year. The exception was fiscal year 2019-20, when collections declined 1.96 percent amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Policy Exchange of Bangladesh chairman Masrur Reaz cited flawed target setting, structural economic constraints, weak tax compliance culture and limited institutional capacity at NBR. He said 65 percent of institutions remain outside VAT registration. NBR officials said targets are set without its role or adequate analysis, while its capacity is not expanded. The BNP government formed separate task forces for customs, VAT and income tax, but the target was still missed.