After Decades of Manual Operations, KRA Digitizes Services With New App

Samuel GitongaSep 10, 20201 Mins read3.1k

Kenya Revenue Authority headquarters at Times Tower Nairobi.

Being in possession of motor vehicles for which duty has not been paid is an offence under section 200 (d) (iii) as read together with section 210 (c) of the East African Community Customs Management Act 2004.

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) on Thursday announced the launch of its mobile application that will simplify tax transactions and make it easier for Kenyans to file their taxes.

Branded KRA M-Service App, the system enables taxpayers to access various services offered by the authority and will widen taxpayer reach, increase revenue collection, and enhance tax compliance by making the tax payment process more convenient. It will also reduce the cost of compliance by removing intermediaries.

Through the app, taxpayers are now able to easily register, pay and file tax returns for Monthly Rental Income (MRI) and for Turnover Tax (TOT) obligations.

Taxpayers are also able to register for Personal Identification Number (PIN), both Kenyan and Alien citizenship as well as perform checks on PIN, Payment Registration Number (PRN), Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC) and confirm the identity of KRA staff.

Further, KRA M-Service App allows taxpayers to file nil tax returns for the following taxes; Income Tax-Resident and Non-Resident, Income Tax Partnership and Income Tax-Company, Value Added Tax (VAT), Pay as You Earn (PAYE), Excise tax and Monthly Rental Income (MRI).

To access and use the app, taxpayers with smart mobile phones should download and install the app from Google Play Store. Users with no PIN will be required to first register while those already with PINs can register on the app then login in and choose the particular services they require.

Taxpayers will equally have an opportunity to validate KRA employees by checking their identification using the M-Service ‘Jua for Sure’ option hence avoid dealing with imposters and fraudsters.

KRA M-Service App will expand the tax base by onboarding the informal sector players who cannot use computers.

The introduction of mobile application KRA M-Service also enhances remote operations while addressing the informal and micro-enterprise sector through e- commerce and m-commerce transactions.

Approximately 37,000 taxpayers have so far downloaded the App for use in accessing various tax services.