Mobile phone users’ cost increases

The cost of mobile phone users would be increased as more supplementary duty (SD) has been proposed in the national budget for fiscal year 2020-21.

Finance minister A H M Mustafa Kamal proposed hike of SD on the services being provided using mobile phone SIM/RIM to 15 per cent from the existing 10 per cent.

Currently, mobile phone users have to pay 15 per cent value added tax (VAT), 10 per cent SD and 1 per cent surcharge on the bill of their phone call, internet and other usages.

Now, with the new tax ratio, customers would have to pay 33.25 per cent tax for mobile phone use.

So, users would have to recharge Tk 133.25 for availing a service worth Tk 100 or a user will get services worth Tk 75.05 against each Tk 100 recharge.