Hundreds struggle to beat tax payment deadline

With less than two weeks to March 31, the final day for paying taxes, hundreds of tax payers from across the country, yesterday, flocked Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) offices in Kimihurura to clear their taxes. When The New Times visited RRA yesterday afternoon, there was hardly any parking space and the offices were congested, with more people flowing into the building. The taxes being paid include, profit tax for the year 2009, motor vehicle and motorcycle registration taxes, VAT and pay as you earn. Some of the tax payers found at the scene told The New Times that they were affected by the new system of paying taxes which reduced the number of instalments one can pay in a year. “Previously, we paid taxes in four instalments which was easier to many low income earners, but the new system requires us to pay in only two instalments which has affected us,” Augustin Habamungu, one of the motor taxi operators said. “Due to changes, RRA should give more time. Personally, I will pay before the end of the day, but there are others who are still struggling due to these changes,” Clementine Mukandutiye who was paying the vehicle registration tax said. Gerald Mukubu Nkusi, the Director for Tax Payer Services, however, said that the tax payers were given enough time. “We gave them ample time. They had three months since January which was enough for everyone to clear,” he said. “Anyone who will not have cleared after that date will face penalties as stipulated by the law.” Ends

National

Hundreds struggle to beat tax payment deadline