Rwanda Revenue Authority today launches the ‘Taxpayers’ Appreciation Day 2016’ under the theme, "Voluntary tax compliance, the pillar for self-reliance.”

The taxpayers’ appreciation day is an annual event organised to extend gratitude to esteemed compliant taxpayers and their contribution to economic development of the nation.

The launch will be held in Huye District.

In the lead up to the national celebrations, slated for August 22, RRA has organised different activities across the country, including business dialogues in all provinces to gather constructive ideas on how to jointly increase the level of voluntary tax compliance, challenges and the need to build a strong public-private partnership, behaviour change as well as appreciation to most complying taxpayers identified in provinces.

Others are ‘business clinics’ where small businesses are advised on basic bookkeeping practices.

RRA targets to raise Rwf1,084.4 billion for the 2016/17 fiscal year, which accounts for 55.6 per cent of theRwf1,949.4 billion National Budget.

In a statement, Drocelle Mukashyaka, the deputy commissioner for taxpayers services, said the tax body believes in public-private partnership toward achieving the set targets.

"By building a strong partnership, RRA has put in place a set of facilities aimed at increasing tax compliance, namely ICT facilities for declaration and payment as a way to save time used by the business operators to fulfill their tax obligations,” she said.

The facilities include electronic filing (e-Filing), mobile declaration (M-declaration), M-Payment, and MobiCash.

"The EBM lottery and awards have also been introduced to educate and motivate the people on the value added tax collection through asking EBM receipt as last consumers,” Mukashyaka said.

In customs services, facilities like Electronic Single Window, Authorised Economic operator programme, Gold Card scheme are also available for business people to work with the tax and customs administration in a more conducive and friendly, cost and time efficient manner, according to the statement.

Taxpayers’ Appreciation Day is also an occasion to reiterate the importance of paying tax as well as its contribution to national development.

Meanwhile Mukashyaka said, in the spirit of corporate social responsibility, RRA will contribute to the rehabilitation of houses for survivors of 1994 Genocide against Tutsi in Rukumberi Sector in Ngoma District.

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