FOREST COMPANY VOLCANOES GORILLAS (FCVG) Ltd v IKIGO CY’IMISORO N’AMAHORO (RRA)_kn

FOREST COMPANY VOLCANOES GORILLAS (FCVG) Ltd v IKIGO CY’IMISORO N’AMAHORO (RRA)_kn

Advance payments ('avance de démarrage') received by a contractor under a public procurement contract are not subject to VAT or income tax as they do not constitute payment for completed work and are refundable; penalties for late VAT registration must exclude such advance payments; however, FCVG Ltd failed to...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
RLR V.4-2018
Parties
Appellant: Forest Company Volcanoes Gorillas (FCVG) Ltd; Respondent: Ikigo cy’Imisoro n’Amahôro (RRA)
Court
Supreme Court
Jurisdiction
Rwanda
Judgment Date
29 September 2017
Case Number
RCOMAA 00055/2016/SC
Procedural Posture
Tax Appeal / Supreme Court Final Judgment
Outcome
Partially allowed; lower court decision modified in part.
Legal Topics
Value Added Tax (vat), Income Tax, Tax Penalties, Public Procurement, Advance Payments, Tax Appeals
Tax Law Administrative Law Value Added Tax (vat) Income Tax Tax Penalties Public Procurement Advance Payments Tax Appeals

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Parties

Forest Company Volcanoes Gorillas (FCVG) Ltd

Appellant

Ikigo cy’Imisoro n’Amahôro (RRA)

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Tax Appeal / Supreme Court Final Judgment

  1. 1 Whether 'avance de démarrage' (advance payment) is subject to VAT and income tax
  2. 2 Whether penalties for late VAT registration should include advance payments
  3. 3 Appropriate profit margin for income tax assessment

Ratio Decidendi

Advance payments ('avance de démarrage') received by a contractor under a public procurement contract are not subject to VAT or income tax as they do not constitute payment for completed work and are refundable; penalties for late VAT registration must exclude such advance payments; however, FCVG Ltd failed to provide proper accounting, justifying taxation by estimation at a 21% profit margin, and evidence supported a 100% penalty for tax evasion. Legal fees are not awarded as both parties partially succeeded.

Court Disposition

Partially allowed; lower court decision modified in part.

Orders

  • Advance payment of 90,876,520 Frw is not subject to VAT.
  • Advance payment of 90,876,520 Frw is not subject to income tax.