POS Software in Bangladesh: VAT, Mushak 6.3 and EFD Basics

Bangladesh's National Board of Revenue (NBR) runs VAT and the tax invoice rules. Shops in Dhaka, Chattogram and other cities deal with a mix of cash, bKash and bank payments, frequent power cuts and a tax system that is moving online. This guide explains what is in force as of October 2026, what is still in progress and what your POS must do. Sources disagree on some details, so confirm current NBR rules with your accountant before you act.

The tax invoice you must issue: Mushak 6.3

The statutory VAT invoice is the Mushak 6.3. Registered businesses issue it for taxable supplies under the VAT and Supplementary Duty Act 2012. A POS does not change that duty. Your system must produce invoices that carry the seller's VAT details, the buyer's details where required, item lines, VAT amounts and totals.

Recent reporting says the Finance Bill 2026 adds provisions for electronic Mushak 6.3 invoices, which may be issued and kept through an ERP or approved VAT software. Paper invoices remain valid. The wording allows the rules to be made mandatory later. Check the Act and any NBR guidance on the final text before you move to electronic invoices.

Is e-invoicing mandatory?

As of October 2026, no e-invoicing issuance obligation date has been set in the NBR notices we could confirm. NBR issued an expression of interest for an e-invoice system in October 2024, and that system is not yet running. Treat any article that gives a go-live date as unverified until you see it in an NBR notice.

EFD and sales data controllers

NBR also runs an electronic fiscal device (EFD) programme. Covered businesses record sales on EFD or sales data controller (SDC) devices, which produce a QR-coded receipt. Reporting describes roughly 25 retail and service categories in the Dhaka and Chattogram city corporation areas. The list includes supermarkets, clothing stores, sweet shops, electronics and household goods sellers, beauty parlours, hotels and restaurants.

The programme has run more slowly than planned. Check two things:

• Is your category covered? Ask NBR or your tax adviser. Do not assume a POS replaces an EFD device.
• Is your area covered? The early phase focuses on the two city corporation areas.

The VAT online system

NBR's online VAT system was renamed e-VAT in December 2025, according to reporting. Registered businesses were asked to migrate and enter historical returns by 30 June 2026. That date has passed. If you have not finished the migration, speak to your tax adviser now.

What the POS must support

• Mushak 6.3 style invoice fields and VAT totals, printed on the paper your category needs.
• VAT settings for each product, so the right amount appears on every line.
• Clear records of sales, purchases and returns, kept for the period the Act requires. One summary cites five years, so confirm the period with your accountant.
• Bangla and English item names. Ask the vendor to confirm Bengali item-name support during the trial.
• Offline billing for power cuts, with sync when the connection returns.
• Mobile wallet payments such as bKash, alongside cash, card and bank transfers.

A practical checklist

1. Confirm your VAT registration and invoice format with your accountant.
2. Check whether your category is in the EFD programme, and whether your area is covered.
3. Confirm your e-VAT migration is complete.
4. Set up products with their VAT settings and test a Mushak 6.3 style invoice.
5. Test a power cut: switch off the internet, bill, then restore the connection and check the sync.
6. Keep records as your accountant advises.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Waiting for a deadline to set up. Rollouts in this area have moved slowly. Ask about your status now, so you are not caught out later.
• Treating a POS as an EFD device. The two are separate. Confirm what your category needs.
• Leaving VAT settings to the cashier. Set the VAT rule once for each product, and check it during the trial.
• Forgetting the power cut. Test billing without internet, and plan a UPS or battery backup for the server PC.

Choosing software for a growing shop

A shop that adds a second branch needs a plan that counts branches, not only counters. Ask how the vendor handles stock across branches and how VAT figures are produced for each branch. Keep the first setup simple, test it in one branch, and then copy it to the next.

Shop types and what to prioritise

A pharmacy in Dhaka and a sweet shop in Chattogram have different needs. A pharmacy needs batch and expiry control and a clear record of each sale. A sweet shop needs fast billing for many small items, often with a long queue at festival times. An electronics or mobile shop needs a clear record of each serial number and the warranty note for each sale. Name your top three problems before you compare vendors, and test those first during the trial.

Where AIFFICIENTO fits

AIFFICIENTO is a retail POS built for offline use. One PC runs as the server with its own database. Other PCs run as counters on the local network, and sales keep going during power and internet outages. The system runs in Bangladeshi taka (৳).

The counter supports barcode billing, held bills, split payments (cash, card, bKash and other wallets, bank and customer credit), returns, voids with a reason and approval, and shift and day-close reports. The receipt designer supports 58 mm and 80 mm printers.

Tax authority integration is configured per shop on request. If your shop needs a connection to NBR systems, use the Request integration button in Settings, Store, and describe what you need. Our team confirms what can be configured before you commit. AIFFICIENTO is not certified or approved by the NBR, and we will not claim otherwise.

Starter is ৳799 per month, with 1 counter and up to 3 users. Growth and Business prices are on pricing. See the Bangladesh POS software page for more local detail, and the tax and e-invoicing overview for how integrations work.

Start a 30-day free trial with full access to everything. No credit card is needed. Use it to test your VAT invoice and a power-cut scenario before you change your till. Starter is ৳799 per month after the trial.