Corporate services in Bangladesh are the legal, regulatory and administrative tasks a business needs across its life cycle: incorporation with RJSC, tax and VAT registration with NBR, trade and sector licences, BIDA approvals for foreign investors, annual RJSC returns, secretarial records, share and director changes, and eventually dissolution or winding up. A corporate services provider coordinates these filings so the company stays legally in good standing.
Corporate services in Bangladesh cover far more than registering a company. From the day you reserve a name with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC) to the day the company is struck off, a series of authorities expect filings, renewals and records: NBR for e-TIN and BIN, the City Corporation or Union Parishad for the trade licence, BIDA for foreign-owned entities, and sector regulators where the activity demands it.
This page is a map of that whole journey and of how we support it. Founders, finance managers and foreign investors use it to see which service they need now, what usually comes next, and where the common gaps appear. Each service links to a dedicated page with documents, steps and FAQs, so you can go as deep as your situation requires.
On this page
What corporate services include in Bangladesh
We group corporate work into five stages. Most clients need help with two or three at any time, and the stages overlap: a company that is changing its shareholding, for example, also has RJSC filings, tax implications and bank mandates to update.
- Formation: entity choice, name clearance, MoA and AoA, RJSC incorporation, partnership and branch registration
- Post-incorporation set-up: e-TIN, BIN under the VAT and SD Act 2012, trade licence, bank account, BIDA registration where relevant
- Ongoing compliance: AGM, annual return (Schedule X), audited accounts, income tax and VAT returns, licence renewals
- Changes: share transfers, allotments, increase of authorised capital, director appointments and resignations, change of registered office or name
- Exit: strike-off, voluntary winding up, liquidation, deregistration of TIN, BIN and licences
Who uses corporate services support
Our corporate services are designed for businesses that would rather not build an in-house company secretarial and regulatory team. The work is the same in principle for a two-founder startup and a foreign-owned subsidiary, but the documentation, approvals and risk points differ, so we scope each engagement separately.
- Local founders forming a private limited company or One Person Company
- Foreign investors setting up a subsidiary, joint venture, branch or liaison office
- SMEs that have fallen behind on RJSC returns, tax returns or licence renewals
- Groups that need consistent secretarial records across several entities
- Owners closing or restructuring a company that is no longer active
Need this done for you?
Message us on WhatsApp with your situation and we will tell you exactly what is needed.
The authorities you will deal with
Much of the friction in Bangladesh corporate work comes from coordinating several offices that do not share data automatically. A name change approved by RJSC, for instance, must then be reflected with NBR, the VAT office, the trade licence authority and the bank. Knowing the order of updates saves weeks.
The main bodies are RJSC (Companies Act 1994 and Partnership Act 1932), NBR through Taxes Circles and VAT Commissionerates, local government for trade licences, BIDA, BEZA or BEPZA for investment registration and work permits, Bangladesh Bank and authorised dealer banks for foreign exchange matters, and sector regulators such as BSTI or the CCI&E for import and export registration.
Common gaps we see in corporate compliance
Most problems are not dramatic; they are small omissions that compound over years and surface when the company needs a bank loan, a tender, a visa recommendation or a buyer's due diligence.
- Annual returns not filed with RJSC for several years, so certified copies cannot be issued
- Share transfers agreed between owners but never recorded in the register or filed
- BIN registered but monthly Mushak 9.1 returns not submitted, including nil returns
- Trade licence still showing an old address or old business activity
- Foreign shareholders whose capital inflow was never documented with an encashment certificate, complicating later repatriation
How engagements are structured
Some clients engage us for a single task, such as an increase of authorised capital. Others prefer an annual retainer covering the full compliance calendar. In both cases we start with a review of the company's existing documents so that new filings are consistent with what RJSC and NBR already hold. Government fees, stamp duty and authority charges are always shown separately from our professional fee, because they are set by law and change with the Finance Act or official schedules.
How the process works
- Initial consultationWe discuss your business, ownership and current status by WhatsApp or meeting and identify which stage of the life cycle you are in.
- Document health checkWe review certificate of incorporation, MoA and AoA, RJSC filings, tax and VAT registrations and licences to find gaps.
- Scope and quotationYou receive a written scope listing each filing, the authority involved, required documents and fees, with government costs shown separately.
- Preparation and signingWe draft resolutions, forms and applications and arrange signatures, including for directors living abroad.
- Filing and follow-upWe submit to RJSC, NBR, BIDA or the licensing authority and follow up on queries until approval is issued.
- Records and calendarWe hand over certified documents and set up a compliance calendar with upcoming deadlines and renewals.
Typical timeline: Single filings typically take from a few days to a few weeks, while full set-ups or closures can run for several months; timing depends on document readiness and each authority's processing.
How Tax & VAT Associates helps
- A single point of contact coordinating RJSC, NBR, local government, BIDA and banks
- Drafting of board and shareholder resolutions, MoA and AoA amendments and statutory forms
- Annual compliance calendar covering AGM, RJSC returns, tax returns, VAT returns and licence renewals
- Catch-up filings for companies that have missed past returns
- Support for foreign investors on encashment, BIDA registration and profit repatriation documents
- Clean handover of records so your auditors, bankers and buyers can rely on them
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between corporate services and corporate secretarial services?
Corporate secretarial work is one part of corporate services: maintaining statutory registers, minutes, resolutions and RJSC filings. Corporate services is the wider umbrella, adding company formation, tax and VAT registration, licences, foreign investment approvals, restructuring and closure. Many clients start with secretarial support and add other services as the business grows.
Can a foreign investor use corporate services without visiting Bangladesh?
In most cases, yes. Incorporation documents, director consents and board resolutions can be signed abroad and, where required, notarised and attested by the Bangladesh mission. Some steps, such as opening a bank account or applying for a work permit, may need personal verification later, and the bank or authority sets that requirement.
How do I know if my company is behind on compliance?
Check whether RJSC shows annual returns filed for each year since incorporation, whether income tax returns and PSRs exist for each assessment year, whether monthly VAT returns were filed under your BIN, and whether your trade licence is current. If any of these are missing, a compliance review will show the catch-up path and likely costs.
Are government fees included in your corporate services fee?
We quote government fees, stamp duty and authority charges separately from our professional fee. Those amounts are set by RJSC schedules, the Finance Act, local government or the relevant authority and may change. Separating them keeps the quotation transparent and lets you see exactly what goes to the government.
Do you handle both setting up and closing companies?
Yes. We support the full life cycle, from entity choice and incorporation to strike-off and voluntary winding up. Closing a company properly involves RJSC, NBR, the VAT office, the bank and the licensing authority, so it benefits from the same coordinated approach as formation.
Which corporate service should I start with?
That depends on your stage. A new venture usually starts with entity choice and company formation. An existing business usually benefits most from a compliance review. A foreign investor typically starts with an entry option assessment. If you are unsure, send a short description on WhatsApp and we will suggest the right starting point.
Ready to get started with Corporate Services?
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Learn more →Last reviewed: . Bangladesh tax and regulatory rules change with each Finance Act, SRO and authority circular. This page is general guidance; confirm current requirements for your case before filing.