Rwanda -- Cutting-Edge VAT Compliance

Abstract

On August 26, 2013 the Ministerial Order on Modalities of Use of Certified Electronic Billing Machine, No. 002/23/10TC of 31/07/2013, was published in the Official Gazette of Rwanda. This Order has set loose a technology revolution in VAT compliance that promises business efficiencies, and revenue enhancements that are only imagined in more developed countries. To open the door to technology Rwanda has taken the traditional digital invoice security model, and connected it to a central security portal at the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA). Rwanda will now be able to securely monitor transactions in close to real-time (oversight is on-demand).

Keywords: Digital Invoice Customs Exchange, DICE, VAT, Rwanda, Electronic Business Machine, EBM, Sales Data Controller, SDC, Certified Invoice System, CIS, Encryption, VAT fraud, Virtual Sales Data Controller, V-SDC

JEL Classification: H2, H26, H29, K14, K19, K34, K39