KIGALI - All tax payers who did not honour the March 31 deadline will have to pay a fine of 40 percent of the taxes due, as provided by the law, the Director General of Kigali City, Aimable Gasana Ndakengerwa,  said during a news conference organized to update the press on the current status on tax payments in the city.

"We made it clear that the law will take its course to those who will pay their taxes after March 31, and it’s now automatic that all those who fall under this category will face penalties,” Ndakengerwa said

The city administration last month used several media outlets and SMS to remind the taxpayers of the deadline to avoid penalties that may arise out of their delay.

Bank accounts were also opened in Bank of Kigali (BK), Ecobank and Bank Populaire to curb congestion at sectors – an excuse used by taxpayers for not beating the deadline.

"Despite of all these mechanisms, many taxpayers kept a deaf ear,” he added.

Ndakengerwa said that only about Rwf 7bn has so far been collected out of Rwf 13bn total taxes expected.
Rwf 4bn was collected in the last month only.

"Despite the fines, taxpayers should rush to pay taxes because this might result into auctioning their properties,” he warned

The taxes owed to the City Council include rental income tax, property tax and trading license tax. Others are taxes on billboards, telecommunication antennae, and sanitary tax among others.

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