Over 3.6M Kenyans Filed their Tax By the 30th June Deadline

Over 3.6M Kenyans filled their tax returns by the 30th June deadline, The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has said.

In a statement to the newsroom on Monday, Deputy Commissioner Marketing and Communication KRA Grace Wandera said the number of citizens filing their returns increased with more than 400,000 up from 3.2 million recorded by June 30 last year.

“The growth in the numbers show positive progress in tax compliance, a move that will eventually drive the country towards economic self-reliance,” she noted

Notable this year was a significant reduction of long queues which used to be the order of the day as the deadline for filing returns approached when last minute Kenyans rush to file their returns. This is change is attributable to the efficiency of the iTax platform and increased awareness undertaken by the taxman to encourage early filing of returns.

On sight assistance extended to both individuals and organizations countrywide has also been cited as a contributing factor to the efficiency witnessed this year.

Those who failed to file their 2018 returns by yesterday’s deadline will be charged an automatic fine of Ksh 2,000 or 5% of the tax due, whichever is higher for individuals and Sh20,000 or 5 per cent of tax due, whichever is higher for corporates.