Reduced disputed tax deposit to bring relief to businesses, speakers say

Business leaders and finance professionals have welcomed a substantial reduction in the disputed tax required to be deposited before filing appeals with the Tax Appellate Tribunal, describing the measure as one of the most taxpayer-friendly provisions in the proposed Finance Bill 2026.

They said the existing requirements often created significant financial burdens on businesses and individuals seeking to challenge tax assessments, particularly in cases involving large disputed amounts, according to a press release.

The newly introduced reform could help reduce the volume of unresolved tax disputes by encouraging taxpayers to seek timely resolution through formal legal channels, they said.

The observations came at a seminar on the Finance Bill 2026 organised by Rahman Rahman Huq (RRH), Chartered Accountants, in Dhaka on Sunday, according to a press release.

The seminar brought together senior executives from multinational companies, foreign investors, local business groups, banks and financial institutions to discuss the impact of the proposed tax reforms.

Business leaders and tax professionals also noted that lower deposit requirements would ease cash-flow pressures on companies by reducing the amount of capital tied up during lengthy litigation proceedings.

However, they expressed concern over the proposal to introduce a mandatory deposit of a portion of the disputed tax amount before filing an appeal with the Commissioner (Appeals), arguing that the measure could create an additional financial burden on taxpayers at the very first stage of the dispute resolution process.

Speaking at the event, RRH Senior Partner Adeeb H. Khan highlighted the importance of a stable and predictable tax framework in fostering investment, economic growth and voluntary compliance.

RRH Partner M. Mehedi Hasan presented a detailed analysis of the proposed reforms and their implications for different sectors of the economy. The seminar was also attended by Ashraf Zaman Ali and Tazul Islam, partners of RRH, along with other senior professionals of the firm.

As part of its ongoing commitment to knowledge sharing and professional excellence, RRH has been conducting annual Finance Bill seminars for the past 14 years, enabling clients and stakeholders to remain informed about important tax and regulatory developments.

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