RRA reignites campaign against foreign registered cars

Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) is set to resume a crack down on all foreign registered motor-vehicles in Gisenyi town; months after the first attempt aborted. Over 90 percent of all vehicles in Gisenyi town have Congolese plates yet they are owned by Rwandans who the tax authority accuses of evading taxes. According to the RRA coordinator in Western Province, Patrick Gayawira, the previous attempt failed after some stakeholders were omitted from the exercise, which is not the case now. “We have engaged representatives of the owners of these vehicles, police and district authorities to ensure that this exercise is smooth,” Gayawira said. Unlike in the previous campaign where the tax-man sought a total ban on the vehicles, RRA says it has placed four-month grace period. “For Rwandan nationals who work in Congo and own such vehicles, they will first of all have to convert them to left-handed drive and change the number plates in three months time,” Gayawira added. However, in the meantime, the targeted vehicles will have to pay an entry card of US$200 in three months before they comply, which would be applicable within a radius of 15 kilometres. It is alleged that most car owners register their vehicles in the DRC which charges less for car related taxes. Ends

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RRA reignites campaign against foreign registered cars