Gov’t to reward consumers, eases taxpayer burdens to boost revenue

The Rwandan government is implementing new measures to improve tax collection and support taxpayers, including rewarding individuals who report missing E-bills and simplifying procedures for voluntary tax disclosure and foreign service purchases.

Individuals who report missing Electronic Billing Machines (EBM) receipts will be rewarded with 50% of the penalties imposed on the non-compliant businesses.

A new decree outlines the procedures for taxpayers to voluntarily disclose unpaid taxes and avoid penalties. 

Businesses can now obtain permits to purchase essential foreign services unavailable in Rwanda, addressing previous limitations.

These initiatives aim to: Increase tax collection, by encouraging consumers to request E-bills and incentivizing reporting, the government hopes to capture more tax revenue..

Secondly, rewarding compliant businesses and simplifying procedures incentivizes responsible tax practices.  

In addition, the new measures empower individuals to participate in tax collection and access essential services.

The Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana, emphasized the importance of these measures in improving tax collection and development. 

He highlighted the role of taxes in funding crucial sectors like infrastructure, education, and healthcare, ultimately benefiting everyone.

RRA Chief Commissioner Pascal Ruganintwali, stressed consumer empowerment:”We want consumers to feel empowered and appreciated for asking for a bill,” 

He added,  “This will make the public more aware of the importance of requesting receipts and encourage merchants to comply with tax regulations.”