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Rwanda Commercial

Supreme Court

Quincaillerie du Nil v. Ikigocy’Igihugucy’Imisoro n’Amahôro

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Source document

01

Holding and result

Because Quincaillerie du Nil failed to distinguish between its own bank account and that of Munyampundu Antoine, and evidence showed business funds were mixed between the two, the tax authority was justified in assessing taxes based on both accounts without prior notice. The appeal lacked merit and was dismissed.

Court disposition

appeal dismissed

Orders

  • The decision of the High Commercial Court (RCOM 0337/10/HCC of 20/01/2012) is upheld.
  • Quincaillerie du Nil is ordered to pay court costs of 22,150 Rwandan Francs within eight days, failing which the amount will be forcibly recovered by the State.

02

Material facts

Parties

Quincaillerie du Nil

Appellant Counsel: Me Hakizimana John

Ikigo cy’Igihugu cy’Imisoro n’Amahôro (RRA)

Respondent Counsel: Me Kabibi Spéciose

Amounts and remedies

  • Tax Assessed: RWF 654,158,102
  • Court Costs: RWF 22,150

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Commercial Tax Appeal / Supreme Court Final Judgment

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
Quincaillerie du Nil argued that it should not be taxed based on funds in Munyampundu Antoine's personal bank account, as the company and the individual are separate legal entities. It claimed that only the company's own bank account should be considered for tax purposes, and if Munyampundu Antoine evaded taxes, he should be taxed personally, not the company.
Respondent
RRA argued that Quincaillerie du Nil failed to distinguish between its own bank account and that of Munyampundu Antoine. During the audit, customers paid into Munyampundu Antoine's personal account, and funds were transferred between the company and personal accounts. Therefore, RRA was entitled to assess taxes based on both accounts due to lack of separation and evidence of tax evasion.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Article 9, Law No. 21/2012 of 14/06/2012

    The party making a claim must provide evidence; if not, the defendant prevails.

  2. 02

    Article 28(7), Law No. 25/2005 of 04/12/2005

    Tax authorities may assess taxes without prior notice if there is clear evidence of tax evasion.

  3. 03

    Article 29, Law No. 25/2005 of 04/12/2005

    All evidence available to the tax authority may be used for assessment without prior notice.

  4. 04

    Article 45, Law No. 25/2005 of 04/12/2005

    The taxpayer must provide evidence when the tax authority makes an assessment without prior notice.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

Because Quincaillerie du Nil failed to distinguish between its own bank account and that of Munyampundu Antoine, and evidence showed business funds were mixed between the two, the tax authority was justified in assessing taxes based on both accounts without prior notice. The appeal lacked merit and was dismissed.

Court disposition

appeal dismissed

  • The decision of the High Commercial Court (RCOM 0337/10/HCC of 20/01/2012) is upheld.
  • Quincaillerie du Nil is ordered to pay court costs of 22,150 Rwandan Francs within eight days, failing which the amount will be forcibly recovered by the State.

Source and reliance status

Supreme Court · 9 May 2014

This page organises the available record for research. Confirm quotations, current status, and subsequent treatment against the official source before relying on the case.

Judgment reading view

Judgment text

The complete available source text.

Source document

Supreme Court

Commercial· 9 May 2014

RCOMA 0029/12/CS

Quincaillerie du Nil v. Ikigocy’Igihugucy’Imisoro n’Amahôro

- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2014-05-09 - Case/document no.: RCOMA 0029/12/CS - Collection: Supreme Court

Text

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Quincaillerie du Nil v. Ikigocy’Igihugucy’Imisoro n’Amahôro [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’IKIRENGA –2O14SC –RCOMA 0029/12/CS (Mutashya , P.J., Rugabirwa na Gakwaya, J.) 09 Gicurasi 2014] Amategeko y’umusoro–Umusoro ku nyungu–Umusoro nyongeragaciro–Isoreshwa rya sosiyete hashingiwe ku mafaranga agaragara ku mateka ya konti bwite ya nyiri sosiyete mu gihe ayikoresha mu bikorwa byayo by’ubucuruzi–Itegeko n° 25/2005 ryo kuwa 04/12/2005 rigena imitunganyirize y’isoresha,Ingingo ya 28, 7°,29,45. Incamake y’ikibazo:Ikigo cy’Igihugucy’Imisoro n’Amahôro cyaciye Quincaillerie du Nil umusoro ku nyungu hamwe n’umusoro ku nyongeragaciro gihereye mu mwaka wa 2004 kugeza mu mwaka wa 2008,Quincaillerie du Nil yaje gutanga Ikirego mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi isaba ivanwaho ry’icyo cyemezo cya Komiseri Mukuru,Urukiko rwemeje yuko kidafite ishingiro,runasobanura yuko Komiseri Mukuru n’ubundi yagombaga guca Quincaillerie du Nil umusoro ashingiye ku mateka ya konti“Historique bancaire”ya Munyamundu Antoine nyiri Quincaillerie du Nil kuko yayikoresheje mu bucuruzi bwayo,bikaba binagaragazwa n’agatabo k’isanduka “Livre de caisse”y’Uwajuriye . Quincaillerie du Nil yajuririye kino cyemezo mu Rukiko rw’Ikirenga ivuga yuko itagombaga gusoreshwa hashingiwe ku mafaranga agaragara ku mateka ya konti“Historique bancaire”ya Munyamundu Antoine kuko itandukanye n’iyayo. Ikigo cy’Igihugucy’Imisoro n’Amahôro nacyo

cyasobanuye yuko cyaciye Uwajuriye umusoro gishingiye kumafaranga ari ku mateka ya konti “historique bancaire” ya konti ya Munyamundu Antoine kubera yuko Quincaillerie du Nil itabasha gutandukanya konti yayo nka sosiyete na konti bwite ya Munyamundu Antoine. Incamake y’icyemezo :1.Kuba amateka ya konti n’ agatabo k’isanduka bigaragaza ko abakiliya bagiye bishyura kuli konti bwite ya MunyampunduAntoine aho kwishyura kuli konti y’uwajuriye(sosiyete),mu

gihe

kandi

nta

bindi

bisobanuro

Ikigo cy’Igihugucy’Imisoron’Amahôro cyabashije kubona,Uwajuriye akivugira ko atabasha gutandukanya konti ye bwite hamwe niya Munyampundu Antoine, Ikigo cy’Igihugu cy’Imisoro n’Amahôro gifite uburenganzira bwo gusoresha nta nteguza umucuruzi utabasha gutandukanya konti ye bwite hamwe niya sosiyete ye. Ubujurire nta shingiro; Urubanza rwajuririwe ntiruhindutse; Amagarama y’Urubanza aherereye k’Uwajuriye. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko n° 21/2012 ryo kuwa 14/06/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi,Ingingo ya 9. Itegeko n° 25/2005 ryo kuwa 04/12/2005 rigena imitunganyirize y’isoresha,Ingingo ya 28, 7° niya 29 hamwe niya 45.

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Nta manza zashingiweho: Imikirize I.IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Ikigo cy’Igihugucy’Imisoron’Amahôro (RRA) Cyaciye Quincaillerie du Nil umusoro ku nyungu n’umusoro ku nyongera gaciro y’imyaka 2004 kugera mu mwaka 2008 ungana na 654.158.102 Frw. [2] Quincaillerie du Nil yareze Ikigocy’Igihugucy’Imisoron’Amahôro (RRA) mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi isaba ko icyemezo cya Komiseri Mukuru wacyo cyayiciye umusoro wavuzwe haruguru cyavanwaho kugira ngo itishyura umusoro kuko yawuciwe mu buryo bunyuranyije n’amategeko,urwo Rukiko rwemeje ko ikirego cya Quincaillerie du Nil nta shingiri gifite. [3] Urwo Rukiko rwasobanuye ko Ikigo cy’igihugu cy’Imisoro n’Amahoro cyagombaga guca Quincaillerie du Nil umusoro wavuzwe haruguru gishingiye ku mafaranga agaragara kuli “historique bancaire”ya konti ya Munyampundu Antoine kuko yayikoresheje mu bucuruzi bwe bwa Quincaillerie du Nil bituma abakiriya bayo bayishyura banyujije ubwishyu bwabo kuri iyi konti ye nk’uko bigaragazwa n’ama “historique bancaire”ya konti ye n’iya Quincaillerie du Nil hamwe na “Livre de caisse” y’iyi sosiyete. [4] Quincaillerie du Nil yajuririye Urukiko rw’Ikigernga ivuga ko Ikigocy’Igihugucy’Imisoron’Amahôro kitagombaga kuyisoresha gishingiye ku mafaranga ari kuri “historique bancaire” ya konti ya Munyampundu Antoine kuko itandukanye n’iya Quincaillerie du Nil ye. [5] Urubanza rwaburanijijwe mu ruhame ku wa 01/04/2014,

Quincaillerie du Nil ihagarariwe na Me Hakizimana John, naho Ikigo cy’Igihugucy’Imisoron’Amahôro(RRA),gihagarariwe na Me Kabibi Spéciose. II.IBIBAZO BIRI MU RUBANZA N’ISESENGURWA RYABYO 1.Kumenya nibaamafaranga agaragara kuri “historique bancaire” ya konti yaMunyampundu Antoine ataragombaga gusoreshwa [6] Uburanira Quincaillerie du Nil avuga ko Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwirengagije ibisobanuro yaruhaye bijyanye n’uko Ikigo cy’Igihugu cy’Imisoro n’Amahôrokitagombaga kuyisoresha gishingiye ku mafaranga agaragara kuri“historique bancaire” ya konti yaMunyampundu Antoine kuko itandukanye na konti yaQuincaillerie du Nil yekubera ko ari abantu babiri batandukanye kuko Quincaillerie du Nil ari sosiyete ifite ubuzima gatozi, naho Munyampundu Antoine akaba ari umuntu ku giti cye,ko ahubwo cyagombaga kuyisoresha gihereye ku mafaranga agaragara kuri “historique bancaire” ya Quincaillerie du Nil, ko nibaMunyampundu Antoine yaranyereje umusoro nk’uko icyo Kigo kibivuga, yagombaga kuwusoreshwa ku giti cye,aho kuwusoresha Quincaillerie du Nil.

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[7] Urukiko rwasabyeuburanira Quincaillerie du Nil gutandukanya amafaranga ari kuri “historique bancaire” ya Quincaillerie du Nil n’ari kuri “historique bancaire” ya konti yaMunyampundu, avuga ko atazi umubare nyawow’amafaranga yanyuze kuri “historique bancaire”ya Quincaillerie du Niln’ayanyuze kuri “historique bancaire” ya konti yaMunyampundu, ko gusa Ikigo cy’Igihugu cy’Imisoro n’Amahôro cyayihaye “historique bancaire” yo kuwa 17/05/2007 n’iyo kuwa 07/11/2007, ariko ko atazi uburyo cyabaze kinayica umusoro ungana na 654.158.102 Frw. [8] UburaniraIkigo cy’Igihugu cy’Imisoro n’Amahôroavuga ko cyagombaga guca Quincaillerie du Nil umusoro wavuzwe haruguru gishingiye kumafaranga ari kuri “historique bancaire” ya konti yaMunyampundu Antoine kuko atatandukanyije kontiz’iyo sosiyete ye na konti ye bwite kuko igihe Quincaillerie du Nil yakorerwaga igenzura n’icyo Kigo, cyasanze hari abakiriya bayo bayishyuraga amafaranga bayanyujijekuri konti yaMunyampundu Antoine ku giti cye, ko kandi hari n’amafaranga abakozi be barimo SENEZA Désiré bakuragamuri “Livre de caisse” ya Quincaillerie du Nil bakayashyira kuri konti yaMunyampundu Antoinenk’uko “historiques bancaires” ya konti ye n’iya Quincaillerie du Nil hamwe na “Livre de caisse” yayo zibigaragaza.

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [9] Ingingo ya 9 y’Itegeko n° 21/2012 ryo kuwa 14/06/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, iteganya ko “Urega agomba kugaragaza ibimenyetso by’ibyo aregera. Iyo abibuze, uwarezwe aratsinda“. Ingingo ya 28, 7° y’Itegeko n° 25/2005 ryo kuwa 04/12/2005 rigena imitunganyirize y’isoresha, ikavuga ko “Ubuyobozi bw’Imisoro bufite uburenganzira bwo gusoresha nta nteguza iyo hari ibimenyetso simusiga by’inyerezwa ry’umusoro”. Naho ingingo ya 29 y’iri Tegeko ikavuga ko “Ibimenyetso byose Ubuyobozi bw’Imisoro bufite bishobora kwifashishwa mu gukora isoreshwa nta nteguza”. Na none ingingo yaryo ya 45 igateganya ko “Umusoreshwa asabwa ibimenyetso iyo Ubuyobozi bw’Imisoro bwakoze isoreshwa nta nteguza”. [10] Ku birebana n’uru rubanza, inyandiko isoza igenzura yo kuwa 13/06/2010, igaragaza ko Ikigo cy’Igihugu cy’Imisoro n’Amahôro cyandikiyeQuincaillerie du Nil kiyimenyesha ko cyayiciye umusoro ungana na 654.158.102 Frw gihereye ku mafaranga agaragara kuri “historique bancaire” ya konti ya MunyampunduAntoine no kuri “historique bancaire” ya Quincaillerie du Nil ye hamwe n’amafaranga agaragara mu gitabo cyayo cyitwa “Livre de caisse”, ko kandi cyayisoresheje amafaranga ari kuri iyo konti ye bwite kuko igihe cyagenzuraga Quincaillerie du Nil, cyasanze abakiriya bayo barashyiraga amafaranga kuri iyo konti ye

bwite, ndetse ko hari n’amafaranga yayijyagaho avanwe kuri“Livre de caisse”y’iyo sosiyete, ariko ko atakigejejeho ibisobanuro byerekeranye n’inkomoko (source) y’amafaranga yashyizwe kumakonti ye, nyamara yari yemeye ko azabitanga. [11] Muri dosiye, hari kandi ibimenyetso birimo “historique bancaire” ya konti nomero 0005935-51 yaMunyampunduAntoine iri muri Banki ya Kigali na“Livre de caisse” ya Quincailleriedu Nilbigaragaza koumukozi we witwa SENEZA Désiré wamukoreraga muri Quincaillerie du Nil yagiye ayibitsaho akanayibikuzahoamafarangakuva kuwa 01/01/2007 kugera kuwa 31/12/2008,ko hari n’amafaranga yavanwe muri Banki agashyirwa muri “Livre de

Page 4

caisse” ya Quincaillerie du Nil, ko kandi hari n’ubwishyu bw’amasheki bwagiye bushyirwa kuri iyo konti n’abakiriya be barimo UWIMANA Jeannine wayishyizeho 3.000.000 Frw kuwa 11/04/2008. [12] Urukiko rurasanganta kimenyetso Quincaillerie du Nil yarushyikirije kivuguruza ibyo Ikigo cy’Igihugu cy’Imisoro n’Amahôrokivuga ko MunyampunduAntoine yakoreshejekonti yenomero 0005935-51 mu bikorwa bye by’ubucuruziyakoreraga muriQuincaillerie du Nil. [13] Byongeye kandi, Urukiko rurasanga uwaburaniraga Quincaillerie du Nil yariyemereye imbere yarwo igihe cy’iburanishako atatandukanya konti ya MunyampunduAntoine yavuzwe harugurun’iya Quincaillerie du Nil. [14] Hashingiwe ku mategeko n’ibimenyetso byavuzwe haruguru, Urukiko rurasanga nta kosaIkigo cy’Igihugu cy’Imisoro n’Amahôro cyakoze ubwo cyasoreshaga Quincaillerie du Nil nta nteguza gishingiye ku mafaranga agaragara kuri “historique bancaire” ya konti yaMunyampunduAntoine yavuzwe haruguru. 2.Kumenya niba Quincaillerie du Nil yahabwa amafaranga isaba [15] Uburanira Quincaillerie du Nil avuga ko Ikigo cy’Igihugu cy’Imisoro n’Amahôrogikwiye kuyiha10% y’amafaranga aburanwa muri uru rubanza y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cya avoka kuko cyayishoye mu manza ku maherere. [16] Uburanira Ikigo cy’Igihugu cy’Imisoro n’Amahôro avuga ko kitaha Quincaillerie du Nil ayo mafaranga kuko kitayireze kumaherere.

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [17] Urukiko rurasanga Quincaillerie du Nil itahabwa n’Ikigo cy’Igihugu cy’Imisoro n’Amahôroamafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cya avoka isaba muri uru rubanza kuko ubujurire bwayo budafite ishingiro. III.ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [18] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwaQuincaillerie du Nil ntashingirobufite; [19] Rwemeje ko imikirize y’urubanza RCOM 0337/10/HCC rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi kuwa 20/01/2012 idahindutse; [20] Rutegetse Quincaillerie du Nil gutanga amagarama y’uru rubanza angana na 22.150 Frw habariwemo n’ayo yaciwe mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi, itayatanga mu gihe cy’iminsi umunani, ayo mafaranga akavanwa mu byayo ku ngufu za Leta.

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Authorities

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Law No. 21/2012 of 14/06/2012, Article 9

Legislation

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Law No. 25/2005 of 04/12/2005, Articles 28(7), 29, 45

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