Tax administration and the adequacy of fiscal codes in combatting tax evasion in Rwanda

This thesis discusses the notion of tax evasion in Rwanda. It looks at the role of tax administration and fiscal codes in Rwanda in the implementation of tax anti-evasion measures in the country. The tax administration and fiscal codes provide opportunities for the Rwandan people to realize a tax evasion free society not only because of the tax administration departments in place to curb tax evasion, the types of taxes, the measures of collection, but also the reasonable fiscal procedure process in tax payment and also in allowing the taxpayer participation in the tax assessment process, an essential component of co-operative taxpayer attitudes for potential tax revenue collections to thrive.However, this thesis scrutinizes the reality in Rwanda for the extent to which tax administration and tax laws have gone to achieve the goal of curbing tax evasion.Tax administration measures and fiscal code provisions in place, can not be said to be perfect as at times it is foreign ideas imported into Rwanda, which must be adopted often as a conditionality to that much needed development assistance. This in light of the persistent institutionalized corruption existing in Rwanda, and the reality of public participation in the tax assessment process given the Rwandan culture of evading taxes, makes the anti-evasion process inadequate in Rwanda, thus further "watering down" the sufficiency of the tax law and tax administration as a previously perceived usable strategy for curbing tax evasion. The thesis argues therefore that the tax administration and fiscal codes in curbing tax evasion are limited by existence of these realities unless modifications are made in the implementation of measures against tax evasion in Rwanda