KRA to link with Kenya Power for new taxpayers

Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is now looking to expand its tax base by use of technology.

The taxman will use data from other government and private institutions to not only expand its base but also net tax evaders.

To raise revenues to the set targets this year, the authority is looking at employing different tactics to expand its tax base.

“We will use Kenya Power and data from any company to bring in new tax payers,” said Commissioner for Domestic Taxes Elizabeth Meyo.

On his part, KRA Board Chairman Francis Muthaura said: “There are a lot of potential taxpayers that have not been brought to us as yet ,we want to pursue this.”

The taxman said that 30% of last year’s collections was aided by the use of data leveraged from different firms.

“We want to increase the number this year, revenues will go up if we continue using the said channels,” added Ms. Meyo.

The National Treasury on its part is urging KRA to increase collection to help realize the Big 4 agenda, with CS Yatani saying that the initiatives will put Kenya on a path of economic progression.

CS Yatani also told the taxman that the government had invested a lot in surveillance equipment and it should be put to use.

“To achieve this, we have embarked on tax base expansion as one of the strategic measures of enhancing revenue mobilisation under revenue enhancement initiative,” said the CS.

The announcement was made as KRA launched its annual tax payers’ month where they recognize the and most compliant top tax payers.