KCC to drag tax defaulters to court

KIGALI - Kigali City Council (KCC) is currently processing documents of alleged tax evaders for court proceedings, a senior city official said. The move comes after several taxpayers failed to meet their responsibilities in the 2009/10 financial year, which totaled to Rwf 3.9 billion. Alphonse Nizeyimana, city vice-Mayor in charge of Finance and Economic Development, said: “We are working on dossiers of tax evaders in the three urban districts (Gasabo, Kicukiro and Nyarugenge). “They are aware of all these measures and when they are applied. We are now preparing these dossiers so that the judiciary can do its work,” he added. He explained that about Rwf2 billion tax arrears are in Nyarugenge Sector alone, Rwf 1.5bn in Gasabo District, while Kicukiro District has a total of Rwf 400 million. Most of the evaded taxes, he said, are property and rental income taxes. The two taxes are supposed to be paid within the first three months of the year. “All those who fall under this category (tax evaders) are aware of the consequences of either not paying taxes in time or evading them,” he noted. According to the law, any taxpayer who does not meet the tax payment deadline faces a fine of 40 percent of the total amount in the first month and 1.25 percent increment in other months that elapse without clearing the debt.Where necessary, the taxpayer’s property is auctioned to cover the tax debts. Ends

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KCC to drag tax defaulters to court