The clock is ticking towards the deadline for filing annual tax returns for 2020. With 30th June fast approaching, the Kenya Revenue Authority is appealing to Kenyans to file their returns ahead of the deadline to avoid the last-minute rush which could come with system overload and penalties associated with late filing.
The 1st of January, 2021, marked the beginning of the tax return filing season for the 2020 income year. 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.
To handle increased traffic to both its website and offices, the tax man has extended working hours and will operate even on weekends. To reduce physical interaction in the spirit of countering the spread of Covid-19, KRA has encouraged taxpayers to utilize digital channels to file their tax returns.
These digital platforms include the Kenya Revenue Authority iTax web portal as well as the M-Service mobile application, introduced in October 2020. The KRA M-Service App, which can be downloaded on smart phones, enables taxpayers to access various services offered by the authority such as taxpayer registration, filing of returns and payment of taxes.
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’. The iTax portal can be accessed through https://itax.kra.go.ke.
Individual taxpayers with other income in addition to employment income are required to download the excel income tax return to make their declarations. Persons who did not earn income in the year 2020 are required to file a Nil Return. The Nil Return filing option is also available on the KRA M-Service App.
The 2020 tax returns have factored in changes in the tax rates last year: the Tax Laws (Amendment) act No 1 and 2 of 2020 with respect to employment income, Corporation Tax, and Value Added Tax.
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KRA is also facilitating 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.
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.
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 Twitter and Facebook pages.
