NAIROBI, KENYA, SEPTEMBER 30 — Kenya Revenue Authority will tomorrow launch the annual Taxpayer’s Month at the Times Tower, Nairobi, as it seeks to reach the public and strengthen its relationship with taxpayers in the country.
The 2018 Taxpayers Month is scheduled to run from 1st – 31st October 2018. The event will be officiated by National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich, KRA Board Chairman Francis Muthaura, KRA Commissioner General JohnNjiraini, among other guests from both the private and public sector.
During the month, KRA will engage in various activities which include; taxpayer appreciation visits, taxpayer education, a tax summit and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.
The event will also be marked by Taxpayers Award Ceremony and Luncheon hosted in honour of distinguished taxpayers scheduled for Wednesday October 31, 2018 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.
These distinguished taxpayers are winners recognized for exemplary tax compliance in the year 2017 as well as 2018.
The activities to be held during the month also act as a platform to encourage citizens to pay taxes for the country’s economic development.
KRA has over the years dedicated one month to its taxpayers by carrying out activities geared towards honouring and appreciating all taxpayers for their contribution to the government’s revenue collection efforts.
The Taxpayer’s month has, over time, become a permanent feature on KRA’s calendar and is geared towards appreciate and awarding compliant taxpayers for their contribution to the national revenue.
The taxman also uses the month to provide a platform for taxpayers and other stakeholders to give feedback on tax policies and processes
During the period, the authority creates a competitive environment within which non-compliant taxpayers are encouraged to comply.
KRA has a target of Ksh1.68 trillion in the current financial year ending June 30, 2019 to support the country’s ambitious Ksh3.074 trillion budget, as President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government push to deliver his “Big Four” agenda.
The target is up from Ksh1.48 trillion in 2017/18 financial year which ended on June 30, this year.
On September 21, President Uhuru Kenyatta signed into law the Finance Bill 2018, introducing new and higher taxes on a range of goods and services.
READ:Tough economic times for Kenyans as Kenyatta signs Finance Bill into law
The government is expecting to raise more than Ksh120 billion under the new tax regime, a move that will help KRA increase its collections. The authority has severally missed its targets in the past.
“The Taxpayers’ Month initially started as a one-week event but due to the need to continuously engage and appreciate the taxpayer, the KRA Board and Management extended the period to a full month of October,” The Authority said in a communiqué.
The management said it is focused on ensuring a participatory tax regime through the three-day Tax Summit that kicks off on October 15, 2018.
Panelists at the session include experts from the East Africa Breweries Limited, (EABL) Oracle and National Bank of Kenya (NBK).
“KRA strongly emphasizes the need for public participation in the taxpayers’ month celebrations, since this is an occasion to celebrate the taxpayers for their contribution to Kenya’s economic growth. Through participation, feedback is provided on various tax issues to enable KRA enhance service delivery,” the taxman said.
