Dhaka, March 2 -- Installation of Electronic Fiscal Device (EFD) or Sales Data Controller (SDC) machines has been made mandatory in all the highway restaurants of the country aiming to enhance declining Value Added Tax (VAT) collection.

The move by the National Board of Revenue has taken after consumers' complaint VAT is not being properly deposited in the government treasury as the highway eateries do not issue electronic VAT invoices.

According to the NBR, 24-hour business activities are carried out in the restaurants along the highways. Many of them collect VAT but do not deposit it properly.

In order to collect VAT properly, NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan recently issued instructions to install EFD/SDC machines in all the hotels...