Banks to open branches at main border posts

KIGALI - Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) has embarked on a campaign to encourage major commercial banks to open branches at border posts to ease the work of the national tax body. RRA has laid out plans to work with all leading banks in this new initiative. As a result, Banque de Kigali (BK) announced it will start operations at the Gatuna border post next week, where taxpayers will be able to deposit their taxes. Stephen Zawadi, head of taxpayer education division at RRA, said this was in a bid to minimize the risks involved in handling liquid cash while transacting businesses. “There are many risks involved while carrying out businesses using cash. By decentralising the institution, there is a host of other trade facilities that will be offered,” Zawadi who is also acting Director for tax payers’ services said in an interview. He pointed out getting closer to the taxpayers as a priority and warned the public against conducting business with tax consultants who are not authorised by the law. Zawadi revealed that a total of 100 consultants have been licensed and soon their identities would be made public through the media. Ends