Women in the diaspora have proved to be more involved in business today and in a way, have been said to be good and faithful in meeting their responsibilities of paying back loans in banks as well as paying taxes.

In a one-day training organized by Access Bank together with Rwanda Revenue Authority at Lemigo Hotel, business women were tipped on the responsibilities they hold towards paying taxes.

The 22 business women who attended  the event were educated on different types of taxes and rates at which these taxes are paid depending on the kind of businesses they operate in.

They were also urged to pay their taxes on time as well as embrace the idea of declaring their works on time to avoid penalties.

According to the Head of Personal and Business Banking at Access Bank, Bwiza Asiimwe Gloria, the training is one of the obligations under women banking in Access Bank where they train and educate their female clients and girls in business about taxes.

"We do not want our clients to have any legal issues especially with taxes because when this happens, it affects their accounts, it also affects our relationship, our deposits and the risk assets. Therefore we are trying to be proactive as well as avoid issues of default by organizing such trainings concerning taxes.” said Gloria.

The Deputy Commissioner for tax payers at Rwanda Revenue Authority, Ms Drocelle Mukashyaka said that this was important as they get chance to inform tax payers of their responsibilities as well as  their rights in the same cause.

Mukashyaka said that by doing this, business women get to make use of their businesses so as to meet the tax obligations as well as paying back interest on time for those that have loans as working capital.

Some of the Business Women who attended the one-day training about taxes (from extreme left) at Lemigo Hotel, an event organised by Access Bank

"As we train these women, we also hope that they will be our ambassadors to those who have not attended as they teach them about taxes and clear some misconceptions that some people could be holding on to,” she added.

Solange M. Uwingabire, Chief Executive Officer of Aux Delices Honey was grateful for the lessons learnt saying that there are many people in business who are unaware of the tax policy.

She said that many even shy away from starting businesses or even consulting authorities on issues concerning taxes due to misconceptions that taxes make one never to enjoy their profits.

Rwanda Revenue Authority trains and educates tax payers operating in different businesses on quarterly basis in different districts. It also trains new tax payers twice a year in Kigali and offers trainings for any group of tax payers who would like to be informed on anything concerning taxes following their call.