Embrace digital tax payment systems, KRA tells Kenyans

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has urged taxpayers to embrace new technology in payment of tax and filing of tax returns.

KRA Central Region Chief Manager Wilfred Okemwa said use of digital platforms will help people save their time and avoid the last minute rush witnessed when people queue to physically file and pay taxes.

Speaking when he visited the Murang’a County Secretary Patrick Mukuria, Okemwa said KRA has developed new methods where tax payers can make their payments through mobile money transfers.

“On filing of returns, there is no need for people to wait until the end of financial year whereas they can start filing their tax returns as early as January 1st of every year,” said Okemwa.

He regretted that many employers take long to release P9 form to their staff members because this affects their ability to remit of their tax returns early.

Okemwa stressed that employers, in both public and private sectors, should release the crucial forms to their employees by end of each year to avoid the last minute rush.

On collection of tax, the regional manager lauded counties within the area for doing an exemplary job.

“For the last three months, Murang’a has collected Ksh.225 million. In last financial year, the county managed to collect Ksh.1.2 billion whereby Ksh.400 million of these was remitted to us in form of tax,” noted Okemwa.

He said tax collecting body would work with various county organs to facilitate effective collection of revenue.

On his part, Mukuria said the Muran’ga County Government will embrace technology in filing of tax returns, adding that he would ensure county employees are trained on the new tax payment system.

He praised the decision by KRA to enlighten members of public on the importance of payment of taxes, saying that the digital method of paying taxes was a step in the right direction.

“Some years back it was a big challenge to remit and file tax returns, but currently KRA has moved to ease the tussle by introducing method of paying through online,” said the county secretary.

KRA’s online taxation system, iTax,  allows one to update their tax registration details, file tax returns using Microsoft Excel or Open Office, register all tax payments and make status enquiries with real-time monitoring of their ledger/account.