The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) announced on Thursday it had successfully collected KES 43.9 billion through a tax amnesty programme that concluded on 30 June 2024. This initiative saw the participation of 1,064,667 taxpayers.
The programme, which ran from 1 September 2023 to 30 June 2024, offered waivers on penalties and interest, amounting to KES 507.7 billion, benefiting 3,115,393 taxpayers. These waivers were automatically granted upon the filing of returns, declaration, and payment of principal taxes.
KRA highlighted that June 2024 was particularly fruitful, with collections peaking at KES 15.1 billion. The Finance Act of 2023, which introduced the tax amnesty programme, allowed taxpayers to apply for amnesty on penalties and interest for tax debts up to 31 December 2022. This followed the repeal of previous provisions regarding the abandonment and waivers of penalties and interest.
Under the amnesty programme, taxpayers were obligated to pay only the principal amount of their outstanding tax debts, providing significant relief for those with pending tax obligations. The Commissioner for Domestic Taxes underscored the programme’s success and its role in easing the tax burden for many Kenyans.
The initiative has been lauded for its impact on improving tax compliance and enabling taxpayers to clear their arrears without the additional burden of penalties and interest. The substantial collections in June signal strong engagement from the taxpayer community as the deadline approached.
The KRA’s strategic move to implement the tax amnesty programme is part of broader efforts to enhance revenue collection and foster a more cooperative relationship with taxpayers. The substantial uptake and collections demonstrate a positive response from the public and the effectiveness of such initiatives in boosting compliance and revenue.
