IN BRIEF: RRA appraising taxpayers’ accounts

In a bid to fulfill its obligations, the country’s tax body, Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) is currently reviewing all tax payers’ accounts.

Friday, September 04, 2009

In a bid to fulfill its obligations, the country’s tax body, Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) is currently reviewing all tax payers’ accounts.

To that effect, RRA will publish a list of 451 taxpayers with issues regarding their tax accounts and those with incomplete details. Those who are not compliant with the requirements of RRA’s tax registry will be required to report to the body’s head office for clearance by the 11th of September.

"It is in the interest of taxpayers and RRA to ensure that that there is accurate information regarding taxpayers’ accounts and all the information required in the taxpayer registers.

This exercise will facilitate us in reconciling our records of taxpayers’ account with their books of accounts,” said Ceaser Nkusi, the Director of Finance Department.

Considering that RRA operates various revenue collection centres allover the country, it was discovered that sometimes taxpayers make payments at stations other than where their taxpayer accounts are maintained.

”Consequently, their accounts show arrears position yet in reality, no taxes are owed to the state.

It was also realized that sometimes, taxpayers’ representatives pay less than what is actually owed to the national treasury without knowledge of business owners, being the reason as to why taxpayers have been given an opportunity to update their records with RRA” said Ceaser Nkusi.

He also said that it allows taxpayers who for certain reasons, failed to honour their terms of payment of their arrears, to engage in dialogue with the concerned offices so as to agree on the possible means of clearing their liabilities.

"We emphasize dialogue with our stakeholders including taxpayers because our objective is to promote trade, business development and prosperity as one of the ways to increase revenue growth” said Nkwesi.

Ends