Tax Structure and Its Relationship with Economic Growth – Bangladesh Context

Abstract

Purpose: The paper aims to explain the current tax structure of Bangladesh. It also intends to identify the relationship between different categories of taxes and the country’s economic growth.

Methods: Data have been gathered from different publications of the government for a period of 29 years from 1989-90 to 2017-18. Both descriptive and inferential statistics are utilized to achieve the purpose of the study.

Results: Results reveal that tax revenue constitutes, on average, 84.20% of the total revenue of the Government of Bangladesh, while 70.47% of the total tax comes from indirect sources. VAT has been found as the largest source of tax revenue (34.12% of the total tax) followed by income tax (27%). Supplementary duty and customs duty contribute significantly to the national exchequer amounting to approximately 15% of the total tax each. Concerning the influence of taxation on economic growth, indirect taxes are found significant. When corporate and personal income taxes are considered, only personal income tax is identified as having a significant impact on economic growth. As far as the specific categories of taxes are concerned, customs duty, excise duty, and non-tax revenue are found significant, while income tax, VAT, supplementary duty, and other taxes do not have any significant relationship with the economic growth of Bangladesh.

Implications: The paper recommends enhancing the collection of indirect tax, as well as expansion of the tax net to bring more and more people under the umbrella of taxation rather than increasing the tax rate which may impede entrepreneurial enthusiasm at the individual level.

Limitations: The study combines some types of taxes such as import duty, export duty, narcotics duty, land tax, motor vehicle tax, surcharge, etc. under one heading, namely other taxes. As such the impact of these taxes per se on economic growth remains unveiled.