The Commissioner General of Rwanda Revenue Authority, Ben Kagarama, has urged the Western Province, to double its tax collection base.

In the last financial year, the province collected Rwf8.4 billion out of 19,000 registered tax payers.

The Western Province follows Kigali city in tax collection,

 "The province has the potential to double its revenues,if there was compliance from tax payers,” said Ben Kagarama, the Commissioner General of Rwanda Revenue Authority.

Western Province targets to collect a total of Rwf9.3 billion in the current financial year by ensuring that all the taxpayers effectively play their role.

This was disclosed, on Thursday, when the National Tax Advisory Council met local leaders and business operators in the province.

Kagarama said that the tax authority in conjunction with all stakeholders will intensify its sensitisation campaigns to enable Rwandans to be more aware of the importance of tax payment.

Although the Western Province contributes greatly to the national budget, its potential is curtailed by a high rate of smuggling along the Democratic Republic of Congo border.

"The revenues we lose through smuggling and non tax compliance are equal to what we collect and if we could correct this, we could achieve our target,” argued Celestin Kabahizi, the Western Province Governor.

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