Over 3.7 million Kenyans file tax returns as window closes

Over 3.7 million Kenyans file tax returns for the year ending December 31, 2019 as the window to declare the tax submission to the tax man closes Tuesday.

The filings made to June 28 represent a 27.6 percent rise in filings in comparison to a similar period last year with the increase coming against disruptions brought about by the Covod-19 pandemic.

However, Kenyans have once again maintained their annual last minute dash tradition to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) support centres with long queues remaining the norm for the better part of Tuesday.

In spite of the tax man investing in an automated filing process through the i-Tax portal, some Kenyans have continued to hold preference for the physical centres sighting ease of use.

“The process has been smooth. The online portal is not user friendly as far as I am concerned. Unless you are filing nil returns, the process can be challenging,” a tax payer told Citizen Digital.

A spot check at KRA’s support centres in Nairobi’s Railways Club and Sameer Business Park showed long queues while officials were on hand to enforce social distancing and other Covid-19 mitigation measures including the wearing of masks and hand sanitization.

The increased filings of tax returns have been preceded by the extension of working hours at all support centres over the last 15 days even as the tax man discouraged physical visits by tax payers.

The filing of returns is expected to close at midnight Wednesday.

Failure to file the annual returns within the due date of June 30 meanwhile attracts a penalties of an additional five percent of tax due or Ksh.20,000.