Over 5 million Kenyans file tax returns as deadline lapses

Over five million Kenyans had filed their 2020 tax returns ahead of Wednesday’s midnight deadline on filing.

According to data provided by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), 5,027,639 taxpayers had filed their returns by the close of June 29.

This to surpass the number of filings made at the same time last year- 4,084,372.

“The number is higher as a result of enhanced taxpayer sensitization on filing of tax returns and the measures put in place by KRA to facilitate taxpayers with the filing process,” KRA told Citizen Digital in response to queries on the filings.

For instance, the tax man has enhanced and stabilized the automated iTax system and support services through contact and taxpayers’support centers.

Additionally, KRA extended working staff hours to support the annual returns remittance ritual.

Following the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the KRA has encouraged Kenyans to leveraged the automated iTax System to relay the returns in place of physically visiting the support centers.

Subsequently, a spot check by Citizen Digital across support centers in the Capital Nairobi on Wednesday revealed shorter queues contrary to the traditional long winding queues on the deadline day.