SMART MONEY

How to file KRA tax returns

FRANCIS MULIJun 14, 20177.4k

Every employed or income generating Kenyan citizen needs to pay tax. By 30th of June every year, you should have filed your KRA tax returns whether physically at the KRA offices or online through the KRA online portal.

This is well stipulated under section 52B of the income Tax Act, which states that every individual chargeable to tax under this Act shall for any year of income, furnish to the commissioner a return of income, including a selfassessment of his tax from all sources of income, not later than 30^th June.

If you do not submit the return by this date you will be liable to a penalty at the rate of 5% of the net tax due for every period of 12 months or part thereof, minimum penalty being Ksh1,000, which has now been raised to Ksh20,000.

In order to file tax returns, here are the documents you will need:

Employer information for the employed individuals
Employer’s PIN if you’re employed. Request your employer to give you the P9 Form. It contains all the information you’ll need to file the returns
Financial Statements
Insurance Premium Certificate/ PIN of Underwriter/Mortgage interest certificate
Withholding tax certificates where applicable
Any other documents relating to income you received or deductions you need to claim

Here’s how to file for the KRA tax returns online:

Visit the KRA portal site and login using your KRA PIN.

Click on ‘Returns’ and then choose ‘File Returns’ on the drop-down menu

Select the type, Enter your taxpayer’s PIN and select the Tax obligation applicable to you (i.e Resident, non-resident or rent income) before clicking on ‘Next’

The next page will walk you through the filling process. Basically, you just need to click on the links provided to either download the Tax Returs form in Excel or ODS

Fill out all the applicable areas in the downloaded tax returns form and save your document in your computer.

You need to enable macros to be able to ‘Validate’ and Zip your File.

Return to the page and select the period for which you are filling the returns, upload the zipped filled out Returns form, agree to the terms and select ‘Submit’.

When asked whether you would like to upload the file, click on ‘OK’. For more details visit the kra portal

Written by

FRANCIS MULI -

Editor and writer, Francis Muli has a passion for human interest stories. He holds a BSc in Communication and Journalism from Moi University and has worked for various organisations including Kenya Television Service. Email:[email protected]