Regional revenue authorities renew commitments to implement common customs fast

NAIROBI, KENYA: The respective regional revenue authorities, across East Africa, have renewed their commitments geared at fast tracking the implementation of a common customs and transit cargo control framework. 

Meeting in Nairobi, during a regional meeting hosted by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) over the weekend, Commissioner Generals, drawn from the Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania, Revenue Authorities, tackled broad agenda of tax administrative matters of mutual interest.  

The two day meeting, also served as a peer review and learning session in operational management and on mutual interest technical issues

The Revenue Authorities, leadership teams, considered progress made on the Implementation of the Regional Customs Transit Guarantee (RCTG) Scheme, among other cargo transit control programmes. 

A communique issued following the meeting, further confirmed that that the Regional Taxmen, had also considered avenues geared at simplifying and harmonizing the existing tax procedures to enhance regional trade.  

The meeting, also considered proposed solutions geared at managing tax evasion incidences particularly on excise taxes. Across the region, the Taxmen have committed to fast-track, the adoption of Excise Goods Management System (EGMS) solutions aimed at curbing illicit trade in excisable goods across borders. 

To address cargo diversion cases, the regional revenue authorities have been jointly pursuing programmes geared at reforming transit cargo clearance and monitoring processes.