The Rwanda Revenue Authority has opened a branch at the Office for Immigration and Migration where travel documents passports and temporary movement passes will be paid for.

According to Gérard Nkusi Mukubu the Taxpayer Services Director, this is one of the initiatives put in place by RRA to serve taxpayers promptly in the most cost effective manner.

The newly opened office will be a one stop centre for those seeking to get passports and visas and other non fiscal revenues such as police fines and driving license fees.

According to the RRA officials, the Kacyiru office comes subsequent to the opening of other offices in Nyabugogo, Remera at Amahoro National stadium, City centre and Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Agency (RIEPA). This is all done to relieve taxpayers of the burden of having to go to RRA headquarters to settle their tax requirements.

Mukubu expressed optimism over the new development saying that taxpayers will benefit in getting quick services.

"I have a strong zeal that this will improve on our taxpayer compliance because it is time and cost effective on both parties both the taxpayer and tax collector,” Mukubu said.

He also noted that the long queues that have always been observed at the RRA headquarters during peak periods will be no more. Adding that, it is another form of trade and business growth facilitation which will increase taxpayer compliance.

The tax administration has more plans of reducing service provision from the usual 24hrs to about 15 minutes for those requiring different documents to start up a business.

It is in this regard, according to officials, that the issuance of a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) is also being done at the Registrar’s office in Remera.

Taxpayers expressed appreciation for the establishment of the new office.

"The office has come at the right time. I believe there will be no more running up and down, from town to Kacyiru in acquisition of travel documents like passports,” said Anitah Kayitesi.

"Personally I’m very much impressed with this kind of facilitation.”

Another one, Innocent Gakwandi said that, this kind of service provision gives them greater confidence that Rwanda will compete favourably in the East African Community and applauded RRA for this initiative.

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