Platform: Android

We are all aware of having to pay a value added tax (VAT) of 15% when making certain purchases, that go to the government. Unfortunately, some dishonest shopkeepers and restaurant owners do not give this tax to the government albeit taking the extra 15% money from you. This evasion is a civil offense.  

VAT Registration Checker is an Android app by AppArnest that you can use to check whether or not the business is properly registered. That way, you can make sure that the extra money you are paying in the name of VAT is actually reaching the government. 

When you buy something, the business will hand you a receipt of the bill. The receipt will contain an 11 digit VAT registration number. Input that to the app and hit search. If the registration number is OK, you'll be able to see the name and address of the shop. Otherwise, a "No Result Found" message will be displayed. If that happens, or if anything strikes you as odd, you can take a screenshot and complain to the government from within the app. The app searches the database of www.nbr.gov.bd to show you the results, so it is quite accurate. It also contains a number of FAQs on what other measures of verification you can take.

As conscious citizens, we should take VAT seriously, because it goes out of our own pockets. So we should be aware whether the business we are buying from is actually paying the VAT to the government or not. Download this 1.4MB app and verify that info instantaneously.