Taxpayers urged to embrace online payment platforms

Taxpayers should embrace the use of the many recently-introduced online tax payment platforms to ensure that they pay their taxes on time, a top official at the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) has said.Richard Tusabe, the Deputy Commissioner General and Commissioner for Customs, was speaking on Thursday during celebrations to mark this year’s taxpayers’ day in the Southern Province.Ceremonies to celebrate the day, which is being held for the 12th time in the country, were held in Nyanza District.Hundreds of taxpayers from the eight districts of the province joined local leaders to celebrate the day.Speaking at the celebrations, Tusabe said it was important and beneficial for taxpayers to start exploiting online platforms to declare taxes. This will in turn also reduce the time and money spent while declaring their taxes.He singled out the M-Declaration, a mobile phone based system, Electronic filling (E-Filling), E-payment, E-tax, the electronic single window as well as the electronic billing machines as some existing facilities that were introduced to help taxpayers.He described them as “easy, friendly, cost-effective and time saving.”“We are doing our best to ensure high levels of [tax] compliance by introducing easy and cost effective facilities,” Tusabe said, noting that the online platforms are meant to reduce the time taken by taxpayers to declare and pay taxes and save them from queuing while waiting to pay taxes.The Southern Province Governor, Alphonse Munyantwari observed that paying taxes allows the country to continue strengthening its economy to improve the state of infrastructure and develop other sectors for the benefits of the general public.“Taxes help strenghen our economy,” he said.He noted that the country has successfully and progressively managed to improve the amount of revenue it generates from domestic taxes, thus allowing it to fund the major part of its budget.Tax compliance This has allowed the country to reduce dependence on donor support, Munyantwari said.This fiscal year internally generated revenues are expected to fund more than 60 per cent of the country’s budget.“Everyone should make an effort to ensure full tax compliance,” Munyantwari said, calling for joint efforts to tackle tax evasion and other fraudulent practices among taxpayers. “It is our responsibility to ensure that every tax is paid to the competent authority.”During Thursday’s celebrations, exemplary taxpayers were awarded with certificates of merit. Centre d’Acceuil Saint André-Kabgayi emerged the overall best tax-payer in the province. Officials said the recognition is part of efforts to acknowledge the contribution of taxpayers to the country’s development and encourage best practices and full compliance.

National

Taxpayers urged to embrace online payment platforms