The Ministry of Finance through Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) has on 6^th October 2023 launched Taxpayers’ Appreciation Month 2023 (TAM 2023), the annual activity aimed at reporting to taxpayers and the public about tax revenue collections performance of the previous financial year and recognizing the most compliant taxpayers while showcasing achievements financed by collected taxes.

TAM 2023 will be conducted under the theme: “Request for EBM Receipt to build Rwanda” and will feature various activities that include among other activities: The Tax Week, University Students' Debate, Taxpayers' Appreciation Day 2023 at the provincial level and the climax event scheduled for 10^th Nov 2023.

For the 2022/2023 financial year, RRA was given a target of collecting Frw 2,250.8 billion, and successfully concluded the financial year with total tax collections amounting to Frw 2,320.8 billion, exceeding the target by 103.6%. This means a rise of 22.1% (Frw 422.4 billion) compared to the 2021/22 financial year.

Bizimana Ruganintwali Pascal, RRA Commissioner General stated “For us to achieve this target, there were many factors behind which can be summarized in three: Administrative initiatives, service measures and favorable economic environment.”

He went on to stress that RRA deployed validation controls in its taxation system to ensure accurate reporting from taxpayers. When it comes to service measures he pinpointed about the automation of some services such as the issuance of Tax Clearance Certificate, notices of assessments and others underway which also affected revenue collection positively. He also underlined on the economic growth which went beyond the projected rate thus impacting tax revenue collection.

While recognizing that taxpayers’ compliance attitude has evolved over the past couple of years, he also noted challenges that could have affected tax collection which include but not limited to “Institutional reforms, taxes foregone for public interests and Rwanda's high tax expenditure”.

IMPORTANT ACTIVITIES TO MARK TAM2023

In addition to the official launch, various activities were planned with the intention of enhancing voluntary tax compliance and extending tax understanding and acceptance amongst the public.

1.Tax Week 2023: This will take place from the 10^th - 12^th October 2023 at the district level, RRA Senior Managers will be deployed in all districts to attend to taxpayers’ issues and resolve them. Taxpayers are called to present their issues to their focal RRA Senior Manager in their respective districts.

2. National University-Students’ Debate: They will be jointly organized by RRA and the Ministry of Education, attracting students from both private and public Universities from 23 October to 03 November 2023. The debates will center around taxation in Rwanda with a focus on tax policy and raising awareness of the new/amended tax laws.

3. Taxpayers’ Appreciation Day 2023 at provincial Level:

Southern Province on the 17^th October 2023

Western Province on the 20^th October 2023

Eastern Province on the 24^th October 2023

Northern Province on the 27^th October 2023

4.Taxpayers’ Appreciation Day 2023 at National Level: This will be the climax event of TAM2023 which will take place in November 2023, at Intare Conference Arena, City of Kigali.

5.Taxpayers' Appreciation Volleyball Tournament: It will be organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and National Volleyball Federation and be conducted in the  weekend of November 18-19 in BK Arena.