Mombasa, Kenya, October 3 – The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has unveiled an online auction which is aimed at streamlining tax administration procedures to enhance service delivery and improve revenue collection. The auction was previously a physical process.
The auction comes after a successful piloting of another online auction through which KRA managed to collect Ksh37.5 milion. The process is aimed at boosting the government to decongest ports and ensure cargo is cleared in a timely and efficient manner.
Speaking during the taxpayers’ month launch at Customs House in Mombasa, KRA commissioner general Humphrey Wattanga said the online auction will give taxpayers the opportunity to appreciate transparency of the bidding process.
Wattanga further noted that during this year’s taxpayers’ month, KRA has lined up a myriad of activities aimed at giving back to the society and honoring compliant taxpayers.
‘’In the spirit of giving back to taxpayers, we are calling on those who have accrued interests up to December 2022 to take advantage of our tax amnesty program and pay up the principal taxes due so that we can write off the penalties and interest accrued,’’ Wattanga said.
He further said that KRA is constantly determined to enhance voluntary compliance among taxpayers and urged taxpayers to embrace the program before it closes in 30th June ,2024.
‘’All taxpayers are welcome to apply for a waiver, for those who did not file their returns and accrued penalties for non-filing, they automatically qualify, and should go ahead and file their returns,’’ he said.
Speaking at the event the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury Prof Njuguna Ndungu said that the tax amnesty program is one of government fiscal policy measures aimed at cushioning Kenyans and strengthening economic resilience during the adverse domestic and external headwinds being experienced globally.
The CS further said that the government is cognizant of the current changing environment and will continue to support private businesses capacity to adapt through reforms.
