The Revenue Protection Department (RPD) recovered Rwf1.3 billion in taxes that otherwise would have been evaded through smuggling and fraud, reports show.

RPD is a Rwanda National Police (RNP) unit attached to Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) to fight smuggling and fraud.

According to statistics from RPD, more than Rwf191 million was recovered in November and Rwf101 million in December, last year.

The recovered public money include taxes that would otherwise have been evaded and fines levied on evaders.

The Commanding Officer of RPD, Sam Bugingo, said: "Our aim is not to recover as much money as possible, it’s to ensure that everyone understands the importance of paying taxes and commits to that. Traders need to know that it’s the taxes that run the country's development activities which benefit them as well.”

He attributed the successful operations against fraud and smuggling to strong public partnership.

"Part of our responsibility is to inspect products coming in the country through all channels to ensure the owners pay taxes, but also deal with illegal merchandise in the country,” Bugingo said.

"We understand smugglers use various tricks but we always try to be ahead of them and taking varied measures to detect and intercept them. Some of the traders undervalue the commodities, others use forged receipts and alter packaging.

He said the majority of the intercepted commodities include food stuff, liquors and clothes.

"The law is clear and this kind of malpractice will not be tolerated,” Bugingo added.

Tax evasion and the law

Article 369 of the Penal Code stipulates that a taxpayer found guilty of tax evasion shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of between three to six months and a fine equal to the evaded tax.

Under the same article, if the taxpayer is guilty of deliberate tax evasion, such as false deliberate accounting entries, forgery and falsification of records or any other act punishable by law, he or she shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of six months to two years and a fine equal to the evaded tax.

"A big number of cases related to tax evasion are handed to prosecution each month. This has helped to send a strong warning and to deter anyone with intentions to engage in this illegal activity,” Bugingo explained.

"We know that some business people are always looking for loopholes to smuggle goods – and that is why we conduct random operations, mount roadblocks and conduct targeted operations based on information from whistleblowers or the public through community policing.”

He said through such operations, RPD has found shops and supermarkets selling smuggled goods without tax stamps. In order to recover the taxes, the Police seize such products and inform RRA, which imposes fines on the wrongdoers.

Bugingo said RPD has officers deployed across the country and at all border posts.

"We collaborate with all stakeholders to educate and sensitise the population on tax payment, investigate taxation offences and facilitate commercial activities,” he said.

RPD and RRA have put in place strategies to improve tax adherence among, which include establishing a platform for tax good governance, which discusses reforms in revenue collection, as well as engage the business community on how they can cooperate with authorities to fight illegal business practices that are conducted with intent to evade tax.

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