The potential discontinuation of corporate income tax exemptions for tech startups in Bangladesh is raising concerns among experts, who warn of adverse consequences for the sector’s growth and the country’s digitalization efforts.
The CEO of bdjobs.com highlighted the possible impacts, including a decline in investment and software export revenue, which could strain the country’s dollar reserves. He emphasized the sector’s reliance on self-investment or foreign funding, noting that sudden discontinuation of exemptions could halt investment and slow sectoral growth.
The CEO also challenged the NBR’s revenue estimations, suggesting that the government may not collect significant revenue by withdrawing exemptions. He emphasized the potential devastation to companies if exemptions are revoked, compared to the projected revenue gain for the government.