Traders have commended the efficiency brought about by using electronic billing machines in their daily declarations.
Since June 2019, the parliament passed a new law obliging all businesses to issue invoices generated by an electronic invoicing system certified by the tax administration.
The latter aimed at easing and automating the tax collection procedures because traditional papers can easily be lost, destroyed, or manipulated.
So far, non-VAT registered taxpayers using EBM have reached 7,356 by September 2021 but the revenue body targets to reach more than 30,000 by June 2022.
In this article, The New Times’ Bertrand Byishimo wanted to check on the impacts of EBM among businesspeople and visited traders in Kigali’s central business center to know how EBM has impacted their business operations, but most of them commended the initiative.
Instead of taking time to sell, and record every transaction, EBM does it simultaneously. When one transaction is conducted, it is recorded instantly by a POS and it won’t require me to enter more data when I want to declare, that is how tax declaration and payment becomes more feasible for me, said Claire Uwinyange, a seller of children’s products.
Jean Damascene Mvuyekure, Kitchen appliances
Using EBM gives you the peace of mind, and that elevates your working mood. You work in a peaceful mood because you know you are working legally without fear of being summoned by government authorities at any time. This is a crucial element in business, because as vendors, we also understand that we are part of the state finance players and we have to be law-abiding citizens.
Esperance Niyonizeye, cosmetics products
It facilitates in financial monitoring. You go home after knowing your inputs and outputs which was not the case before EBM came into force. Before using EBM, you could spend a week or more counting what you have to declare, but the billing machine does that as you conduct your daily transactions.
Emmanuel Kanobana, electronic appliances
Giving a customer the EBM invoice creates confidence in them and they go home having all the details of the vendor. This can push them to buy from you for the next time because you have instilled that trust in them. So, to me, using EBM is a sign of a serious business.
Rose Uwituje, Aromatic products
We are aware that we are government partners, and our taxes are the ones that develop our nation. So that is how EBM helps us. We use the online means which calculate the taxes in a simplified way, which as I said, contributes to the national infrastructures like schools, hospitals and roads among others.
Moise Ishimwe Gasana, telephone appliances
In this world of technology, everything is being revamped electronically, that is why I think, the tax administration also came up with that method. It is understandable that we are now paying taxes in an electronic way, seating with a machine that calculates everything instead of consuming your time to do so.
Etienne Ukurikiyeyezu, technological leasing operator
Using papers consumed our time when paying taxes, they would be easily lost and not trustful. It also took more time to evaluate, but EBM has solved all of those issues. I simply use the EBM mobile app which was installed in my phone and it solves it all.
How you can issue an EBM receipt
Rwanda Revenue Authority has issued various ways for traders to issue EBM receipts, through four main solutions:
Version 2.1 Software which is installed in a taxpayer’s computer (desktop, laptop, tablet or POS) and it is specifically designed for Large and Medium taxpayers, as well as others who may apply for it.
Mobile App which is a system installed in taxpayers’ smart phones allowing the issuance of the EBM receipt to be done through an SMS which contains all the necessary information and a link that leads to the details of the receipt. It is used by Small and Micro Taxpayers.
Online EBM which also help a taxpayer to issue an EBM receipt using virtual means. This can be used by taxpayers who offer consultancy services and others who issue receipts periodically.
Online Sales Data Controller This solution is particularly designed for Large, Medium and Small taxpayers who have been using their own invoicing systems to issue receipts, where by their system is integrated with the EBM system.