Written by Md Rakib Hassan — Income Tax Practitioner with 10+ years of tax compliance and audit experience across Bangladesh and the UK. Former accounts manager at a UK chartered accounting firm managing 1,000+ clients, with direct experience resolving multi-year tax audit disputes with HMRC and the NBR. Currently Finance Controller at a UK-based multinational tech group.


Every financial year, Bangladesh’s National Board of Revenue updates its withholding tax framework through SROs and Finance Acts. For FY 2025–26, the changes are more substantive than most years. Driven by the Finance Ordinance 2025, S.R.O. No. 157-Law/Income Tax-12/2025 (dated 26 May 2025), S.R.O. No. 269-Law/Income Tax-14/2025 (dated 24 June 2025), and the newly introduced VDS Rules 2025 (S.R.O. No. 182-Ain/2025/310-Mushak), the TDS VDS rates Bangladesh FY 2025–26 landscape has seen targeted revisions across key sectors.

This blog provides a comprehensive, section-referenced rate comparison — current FY 2025–26 versus prior FY 2024–25 — so finance teams can update payment procedures without delay.


Legal Framework for TDS VDS Rates Bangladesh FY 2025–26

The current rate structure derives from:

  • TDS Rules, 2024 — as amended by SRO 157-Law/Income Tax-12/2025 (26 May 2025) and SRO 269-Law/Income Tax-14/2025 (24 June 2025)
  • VDS Rules, 2025 — introduced through SRO 182-Ain/2025/310-Mushak (27 May 2025)
  • Finance Ordinance, 2025 — effective 1 July 2025

Any payment processed from 1 July 2025 must apply these revised TDS VDS rates Bangladesh FY 2025–26 or risk a 50% surcharge under Section 142 for incorrect deductions.


Table A: Key TDS Rate Changes for FY 2025–26

Section 89 — Contractors and Suppliers

This is the most widely applicable TDS section for companies making payments for goods and services.

ParticularsFY 2025–26FY 2024–25Change
General supply of goods / manufacturing / conversion / printing / packaging5%5%No change
Supply of cigarettes, bidi, tobacco and tobacco products10%10%No change
Oil supplied by oil marketing companies (petroleum/lubricant)0.60%0.60%No change
Oil supplied by dealer/agent (ex. petrol-pump stations)1%1%No change
Oil supplied by oil refinery companies1.5%2%Reduced
Gas transmission companies3%3%No change
Gas distribution companies0.6%2%Reduced
Supply of paddy, agricultural commodities, jute, salt, edible oil, sugar, spices, cotton, yarn, and all fruits0.5%1%Reduced
Supply of books (non-government)3%5%Reduced
Supply of trading goods to a trader5%5%No change
Supply of industrial raw materials to a manufacturer3%3%No change
Sub-contracts by 100% export-oriented garment industries1%5%Significantly Reduced
Supply of raw materials used in recycling industry1.5%5%Significantly Reduced

The reductions for export-oriented garment sub-contractors (5% → 1%) and recycling industry raw materials (5% → 1.5%) represent meaningful policy changes that directly affect cash flow for these sectors. Finance teams in RMG and recycling businesses must update their payment templates immediately.


Section 90 — Deduction from Services

The service sector carries the highest volume of TDS transactions for most businesses. These are the key TDS VDS rates Bangladesh FY 2025–26 for service payments:

ParticularsFY 2025–26FY 2024–25Change
Advisory/consultancy — Individual15%10%Increased
Advisory/consultancy — Other than individual7.5%10%Reduced
Professional fees — Individual15%10%Increased
Professional fees — Other than individual7.5%10%Reduced
Technical service fee, know-how, technical assistance10%10%No change
Catering, cleaning, security, manpower supply, event management, courier, packing — Commission10%10%No change
Same as above — Gross bill2%2%No change
Indenting commission7.5%8%Reduced
Internet service5%10%Significantly Reduced
Freight forward bill (including commission)1.5%2.5% & 10%Reduced and simplified
Any other service not mentioned above10%10%No change

The most significant change for day-to-day operations is the individual vs non-individual split for advisory and professional fees. Previously a flat 10%, the rate now depends entirely on whether the service provider is an individual (15%) or a company/firm (7.5%). Finance teams must obtain confirmation of supplier entity type before processing any advisory or professional service payment.

The reduction in internet service TDS from 10% to 5% also has wide applicability — essentially every business paying ISP bills is affected.


Section 109 and 110 — Rent

ParticularsFY 2025–26FY 2024–25Change
Rent of property10%5%Doubled
Rent of convention hall, conference centre etc.10%5%Doubled

This is one of the most impactful rate changes in the TDS VDS rates Bangladesh FY 2025–26 update. Companies paying commercial rents must immediately adjust their payment processes — failure to deduct 10% where 5% was previously applied creates a full shortfall liability for the withholding entity.


Section 114 — Purchase of Electricity

ParticularsFY 2025–26FY 2024–25Change
Purchase of electricity power4%6%Reduced

Section 116 — Agent Commission for Foreign Buyers

ParticularsFY 2025–26FY 2024–25Change
Commission/remuneration to agent of foreign buyer7.5%10%Reduced

Section 135 and 106 — Securities and Government Bonds

ParticularsFY 2025–26FY 2024–25Change
Interest on securities15%10%Increased
Interest on Government Securities10%5%Doubled

Section 91 — Royalties and Franchise

ParticularsFY 2025–26FY 2024–25Change
Royalties, franchise, patents, trademarks etc.10%10%–12%Simplified

Table B: Key VDS Rate Changes for FY 2025–26

The new VDS Rules 2025 bring significant changes to the rates applicable under the TDS VDS rates Bangladesh FY 2025–26 framework. The following are the most notable movements:

ServiceCodeFY 2025–26FY 2024–25Change
Non-AC HotelS001.1010%7.5%Increased
DockyardS003.2015%10%Increased
Construction FirmS004.0010%7.5%Increased
Printing PressS007.00/S008.1015%10%Increased
Indenting OrganisationS014.0015%5%Tripled
Community CentreS017.0015%N/ANew
Procurement ProviderS037.0010%7.5%Increased
Transport Contractor (non-petroleum)S048.00(b)15%10%Increased
Participants in board meetingsS053.0015%10%Increased
Clearing and maintaining of premisesS065.0015%10%Increased
Repairing/servicing of taxable goodsS031.0015%10%Increased
Credit Rating AgencyS099.5015%7.5%Doubled

The most dramatic VDS change is the indenting organisation rate tripling from 5% to 15%. Any business in the trading or import facilitation sector that uses indenting agents must immediately apply the new 15% VDS rate and reissue supplier agreements if payment terms were based on the prior rate.


Goods and Services Exempt from VDS

Understanding what is not subject to VDS is equally important for applying the TDS VDS rates Bangladesh FY 2025–26 correctly. Exemptions under SRO 182-Ain/2025/310-Mushak include:

  • Goods supplied by manufacturers with a Tax Invoice (Mushak 6.3) at any VAT rate
  • Services subject to VAT at any rate not included in the mandatory VDS list
  • Supply of utilities: fuel, gas, water (WASA), electricity, telephone, and mobile bills
  • Goods and services exempt under the 1st Schedule of the VAT & SD Act 2012
  • Zero-rated supplies under Section 21 of the VAT & SD Act 2012
  • Where a furniture manufacturer, advertising agency, or satellite channel broadcaster issues an invoice duly attested by the Revenue Officer at 15%
  • Invoices issued through EFD or SDC incorporating the purchaser’s name and BIN

The 50% Surcharge — Still Applies in FY 2025–26

Regardless of which rate applies, the TDS VDS rates Bangladesh FY 2025–26 surcharge rules remain unchanged under Section 142:

  1. If the payee cannot produce Proof of Submission of Return (PSR), the TDS rate is 50% higher than the applicable rate.
  2. If payment is not made by bank transfer, the TDS rate is 50% higher.

Both conditions can apply simultaneously, meaning a standard 10% rate could become 15% (PSR absent) or even higher where both conditions apply.

Under the Finance Ordinance 2025, this surcharge is now more rigorously enforced, with disallowed expenses for improper TDS taxed at the regular rate even for entities otherwise eligible for reduced rates.


TDS Deposit Deadlines — FY 2025–26

Period of DeductionDeposit Deadline
July to May (any deduction)Within 2 weeks following the end of the deduction month
1st–20th JuneWithin 7 days from the day of deduction
21st–28th JuneNext day after deduction
29th–30th JuneSame day as deduction

VDS Deposit and Certificate Issuance — FY 2025–26

Deposit deadline: VDS must be deposited on or before filing the VAT return of the relevant tax period.

Mushak 6.6 Certificate issuance:

  • For registered withholding entities: within 3 working days of filing the VAT return
  • For non-registered withholding entities: within 3 working days of depositing the VDS to the Treasury

Certificate copies:

  1. Main copy → VAT Circle Office (with original TR Challan)
  2. 2nd copy → Supplier
  3. 3rd copy → Retained by withholding entity for 5 years

Action Checklist for FY 2025–26 TDS/VDS Compliance

Based on the updated TDS VDS rates Bangladesh FY 2025–26, every organisation should immediately:

  • [ ] Update all vendor payment templates with revised TDS rates (especially rent, advisory, internet, securities)
  • [ ] Distinguish between individual and non-individual service providers for Section 90 payments
  • [ ] Apply the new 15% VDS rate to indenting organisations (up from 5%)
  • [ ] Apply the new 15% VDS rate to transport contractors (non-petroleum, up from 10%)
  • [ ] Confirm PSR status for all regular vendors and contractors
  • [ ] Ensure all payments above threshold are via bank transfer (or apply 50% surcharge)
  • [ ] Brief accounts payable teams on the new community centre VDS category (previously not listed)

Conclusion

The TDS VDS rates Bangladesh FY 2025–26 changes are not minor adjustments. Rent rates have doubled. Advisory rates now depend on entity type. Indenting VDS has tripled. Internet service TDS has halved. For finance controllers and accounts payable teams, applying the wrong rate is not just a compliance failure — it creates a liability that the withholding entity must bear, not the payee.


Disclaimer: Rate information is based on the Finance Ordinance 2025, SRO 157 and SRO 269-Law/Income Tax/2025, and VDS Rules 2025 SRO 182. Always verify against the latest NBR orders before applying rates. Compiled with reference to the work of Sonjib Chandra Pal, ACA.


Leave a Reply