The Burundi Revenue Authority (OBR) is called to deal with cases of fraud that hinder the mobilization of resources required for financing the State Budget. Informers are used to help detect tax evasion.-By Diane Uwimana
Dr Domitien Ndihokubwayo: “One of the barriers for achieving the key objective is non-compliance with customs and tax legislation by traders who avoid paying taxes and customs.”©Iwacu
“One of the barriers for achieving our key objective is non-compliance with customs and tax legislation by traders who avoid paying”, says Dr Domitien Ndihokubwayo, the Commissioner General of OBR.
He indicates that the statistics shows that a large number of fraud cases are caught through information transmitted by third parties. OBR has therefore implemented a new approach by using informers to detect and warnagainst tax evasion.
“In this quarter only, 35 informerswere received by OBR and among them 20 were reliable and registered. As a result,an estimated BIF 824 285 557 was recovered”, Ndihokubwayoadds.
Edmond Bizabigomba, the Deputy Commissioner General of OBR,believes that unemployment is the main reason they receive so many tips.“Informers are motivated, because they receive 10% of the value of the fraudulent goods”, Bizabigombamentions.
The Commissioner General notes that an amount of BIF 144 162 152 has been recovered thanks to the High Speed Intervention team whichreportedBIF 98 503 944, while investigationshelped torecover BIF45 658 208. The amount recovered through the mobile unit totalled BIF 18.8 million. Some of the fraudulent goods seized are cement, sugar, “Kitenge” cloth, cotton, oil, soap, beans, rice, shoes, and second hand clothing.
What happens to fraudulent goods?
According to the EAC Customs Code, fraudulent goods have two different destinations. When fraudulent goods are seized, they are controlled by OBR agents and the owner can pay a fine in order to clear the goods. However, when the fraudulent goods are seized and confiscated, they must be distributed to poor people or sold in auction.
“There are many institutions who decide what happens to the fraudulent goods”, Ndihokubwayo points out.
When fraudulent goods are seized and confiscated in Rumonge Commune, they are distributed to poor people. “We wait until we have enough products to give to our poor people. We work closely with the OBR agents, administration and Special anti-corruption brigade to fight against fraudulent goods”, says Oscar Rumeramagabo, Public Prosecutor in Bururi Province.
To help the institutions located in the south of the country to fight against fraud, the Burundi Revenue Authority will deploy a mobile team.
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