Category: Rwanda
Strong transfer pricing policy ensures transparent intercompany dealings
As Rwanda continues to attract more foreign direct investments and multinational firms, the economy has seen a wave on new developments and trends in areas like taxation and licensing regime. On the issue of taxation, it is important for the country to implement a transfer pricing policy as matter of… – Continue reading
Fraud, tax avoidance threaten regional economies in East Africa: experts
East Africa tax experts have raised concerns over increasing cases of tax evasion and fraud by some tax payers in the region which is crippling the economies. They made the remarks on Wednesday during the 6th East Africa regional meeting on tax investigation and enforcement in the Rwandan Capital Kigali…. – Continue reading
Global crackdown on tax evasion signals the end of bank secrecy era
Unknown to many Kenyans, Parliament’s passing of Finance Bill, 2016 that granted amnesty to Kenyan residents who have offshore incomes and assets in foreign banks had a very global agenda. The foreign income that is subject to amnesty is for the year ended December 31, 2016 and offers a waiver… – Continue reading
UK aid programme “failing to tackle tax avoidance and evasion”
A report by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) has criticised the Department for International Development’s (DfiD) approach to tackling tax avoidance and its alleged failure to achieve value for money on HMRC collaboration DfiD has failed in its efforts to fully include developing countries so that they benefit… – Continue reading
Tanzania extends its e-tax system to cut fraud
Tanzania’s president, John Magufuli, has extended the e-tax system to all government bodies as he bids to slash fraud. Tanzania’s president, John Magufuli, has been in office for less than a year, but he is already making a name for himself as a staunch opponent of fraud and corruption. Magufuli… – Continue reading
EAC fail to reach consensus on common tax rates
East African Community member states have failed to reach a deal on a common tax rate as the bloc’s smaller economies worry about significant revenue losses. The failure to harmonise value added tax, income tax and excise tax rates has left the regional bloc deliberating on how to harmonise legislation… – Continue reading
African nations urged to rethink incentives
African governments should embrace meaningful bilateral investments agreements to foster sustainable economic growth on the continent. The call follows a report by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) on investment policies and bilateral investment treaties by Africa, indicating a huge gap between most of signed treaties and their actual… – Continue reading
Rwanda: Revenue Body Warns Consultants Against Encouraging Tax Evasion
The Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) has warned tax consultants who mislead or encourage clients to evade taxes, saying they will be apprehended and punished according to the law. The tax body said there are some consultants encouraging taxpayers to under declare their returns, manipulate systems, or even default altogether. Richard… – Continue reading
Kenya Enacts Tax-Avoidance Law to Deal With Transfer Pricing
Kenya enacted a new law targeting units of foreign companies that escape remitting most of their domestic taxes by allocating income to tax havens while attributing expenses to the East African nation, a practice known as transfer pricing. The Tax Procedures Act gives the Kenya Revenue Authority powers to investigate… – Continue reading
2016 CHALLENGES FOR COMPANIES OPERATING IN JERSEY
Last year Jersey cemented its position as a leading centre for companies looking to list – as reflected in the rise in volume and value of Jersey companies listed on exchanges around the world. Here are some challenges that lie ahead in this jurisdiction over the next 12 months. In… – Continue reading
East Africa: New Reporting Code for Mncs Could Save Africa $35b
East African countries expect to collect more revenue under a new code drawn, by the world’s richest economies to stop foreign multinationals from dodging taxes in host countries. The new code — Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) — adopted by G20 at its meeting in Turkey two weeks ago,… – Continue reading
MTN Rwanda in $12 bn tax dispute
Telecoms giant MTN Rwanda is in talks with the revenue authority to settle a Rwf9 billion ($12 million) tax dispute out of court. In a case that has lasted over two years, the Rwanda Revenue Authority dragged MTN Rwanda, the country’s largest mobile phone services provider by market share, to… – Continue reading
East Africa: Rwanda Taxman Moves to Catch Tax Evaders
Rwanda has commissioned an audit into recent merger and acquisition deals involving foreign firms in its latest effort to clamp down on tax avoidance among multinational corporations. This comes amid growing concern that multinational companies move profits from the countries where they are generated and, in so doing, reduce national… – Continue reading
Jersey – Rwanda: Tax Treaty Details Become Available
The details of the recently signed Income Tax Treaty between Jersey and Rwanda have become available. The treaty was signed on 26 June 2015. The treaty will come into force after the two countries exchange ratification instruments. The provisions of the treaty will have effect from 1 January of the… – Continue reading
Swiss join IFC to promote EAC corporate transparency
NAIROBI, Kenya – The World Bank’s private arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has jointly launched a business transparency initiative with the Swiss government, to promote corporate leadership in East Africa with the aim of helping firms attract foreign investments. The aim of the new initiative is to help firms… – Continue reading
Untapped funds can help pay for Sustainable Development Goals
Development Goals (SDGs) but poorer countries should exercise caution when borrowing money, Gail Hurley, a development finance expert with the UN Development Program (UNDP), told Xinhua. “There’s a lot more finance available now—public and private, domestic and international — (but) a lot of it is loan finance, so we do… – Continue reading
Political courage needed on tackling inequality
Government must make good on its vows, says Jamie Livingstone In less than two weeks, leaders from 193 states will meet at the United Nations in New York to formally adopt, in effect, a new plan to fight extreme poverty, tackle inequality and end hunger. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)… – Continue reading
World can end AIDS epidemic by 2030, finance conference hears
The world can end the AIDS epidemic by 2030, the United Nations said on Tuesday, highlighting global success in rolling out life-saving drugs over the last 15 years. The UN Millennium Development Goal to halt and reverse the spread of the disease has been achieved, said UNAIDS, the global body’s… – Continue reading
Tax-base erosion cripples Africa
Multinationals play such a large role in many nations’ budgets that effective control is crucial. Business Tax-base erosion cripples Africa 24 Apr 2015 00:00 Lisa Steyn Multinationals play such a large role in many nations’ budgets that effective control is crucial. Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene says practices such as incorrect… – Continue reading
Chinese Investors Seek Double Taxation Deal In East Africa
Chinese investors in Kenya have asked the East African Community to implement a double taxation agreement (DTA), saying the current regime has hurt their expansion plans. The investors with interests in construction, trade, service industry, manufacturing and real estate sectors said they currently face a heavy burden paying the same… – Continue reading
Kenya: KRA Wants Foreign Investors’ Tax Incentives Removed
Nairobi — The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) wants tax incentives offered to foreign investors withdrawn. The proposal to eliminate tax incentives and concessions offered to foreign investors is aimed at boosting revenue collection to accelerate national development. Speaking at the ongoing Biennial Ambassadors/High Commissioners conference in Kwale, KRA Commissioner General… – Continue reading
Rwanda: Competing On Corporate Tax
Corporate tax reform has emerged as an area of potential bipartisan action in the United States Congress over the next few months. But fundamental questions about the right approach remain. There is widespread agreement that the US corporate tax system is deeply flawed. The rate is too high; the base… – Continue reading
Barbados and Republic Of Rwanda sign agreement
BARBADOS AND THE Republic of Rwanda have taken a giant step in the strengthening of their bilateral relations. This has come with the signing of a Double Taxation Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income. It took place on… – Continue reading
Tax and investment protection trends in Africa in 2014 and predictions for 2015
In the African tax sphere, the trend remains for headline tax rates to continue to remain stable or decrease. Withholding tax rates have generally remained stable, although the experience of Dentons and our clients is that African tax authorities are requiring tax to be withheld from payments that have not… – Continue reading
