BUSINESSECONOMY

Beat Deadline by Filing Tax Returns on New KRA M-Service App and iTax

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Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Headquarters at Times Tower, Nairobi. According to the taxman, introduction of new digital channels such as the M-Service app is meant to enhance taxpayers' experience. (Photo: Twitter)
Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Headquarters at Times Tower, Nairobi. According to the taxman, introduction of new digital channels such as the M-Service app is meant to enhance taxpayers' experience. (Photo: File)
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Taxpayers in the country have been urged to embrace digital channels to file their tax returns early in a bid to avoid the June deadline rush.

These include the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) iTax web portal as well as the M-Service mobile application, introduced in October 2020.

The app enables taxpayers to access various services offered by the authority such as taxpayer registration, filing of returns and payment of taxes. Encouraging taxpayers to download the app, KRA stated that its introduction was meant to improve their experiences.

The iTax portal can be accessed through https://itax.kra.go.ke.

January 1st, 2021 marked the beginning of the tax return filing season for the 2020 year of income. All annual tax returns for the year 2020 for individuals and for entities with a December year end should be submitted online through the iTax platform on or before 30th June 2021.

For submission of returns through iTax, taxpayers with employment income only can use the web based pre-populated income tax return, labelled ‘ITR for employment income only’.

KRA Commissioner, Domestic Taxes - Rispah Simiyu. The taxman is promoting use of digital channels including the recently introduced M-Service app for taxpayers filing their returns.
KRA Commissioner, Domestic Taxes – Rispah Simiyu. The taxman is promoting use of digital channels including the recently introduced M-Service app for taxpayers filing their returns (Photo:KRA)

Individual taxpayers with other income in addition to employment income are required to download the excel income tax return to make their declarations.

READ ALSO>>>>>KRA Squeezes More Taxes From Struggling Kenyans

Persons who did not earn income in the year 2020 are reminded to file a Nil Return. A Nil Return filing option is also available on the KRA M-Service App.

KRA is also available to facilitate taxpayers to file their returns. Following the Covid-19 pandemic that has led to restricted physical visits to public facilities, the authority has put in place measures to virtually support taxpayers who may need assistance during the filing season.

Taxpayers are advised to seek KRA’s support through the Contact Centre by calling 0711-099-999 or 020 4 999 999, emailing requests to [email protected] or using their official social media pages for assistance.

KRA has also published various reference materials including a step-by step guide on filing annual returns. To enable taxpayers file returns at their own convenience, the materials have been availed on official social media platforms including YouTube and Facebook.

“KRA remains committed to building taxpayers’ trust through facilitation to foster compliance with Tax and Customs legislation. KRA also endeavors to improve tax paying experience through provision of timely and professional service,” the authority noted in a statement.

READ ALSO>>>>>KRA Seizes Over 25,000 Fake Excise Stamps at Nairobi Water Plant

 

Written by
MARTIN SIELE -

Martin K.N Siele is the Content Lead at Business Today. He is also a Quartz contributor and a 2021 Baraza Media Lab-Fringe Graph Data Storytelling Fellow. Passionate about digital media, sports and entertainment, Siele also founded Loud.co.ke

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