How to file your tax returns as KRA's deadline approaches

With only 3 days remaining for Kenyans to file their 2022 income tax returns, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has urged citizens to be tax compliant to avoid paying hefty penalties thereafter.

It is mandatory for everyone with a KRA pin to file their tax returns annually.

Any unemployed citizens with no substantive income including students are required to submit their ‘Nil Returns.'

Employees both in the private and public sector will need a KRA P9 Form, a mandatory requirement for the process.

The penalty for non-compliance is paying an additional tax equal to five per cent of the tax due in the period.

Here is a step-by-step process for those employed to file their returns for the period January 1 2022 to December 31 2022:

1. Log in to the iTax portal
2. Enter your KRA PIN, Password then solve the arithmetic questions
3. After opening the Dashboard, navigate to ‘Returns’ then to ‘File Return’ Menu
4. Select Tax Obligation as Income Tax Resident Individual 
5. You then proceed to download the KRA returns form (ITR utility).
6. Fill in the form (Excel sheet) with details shown in the P9 form. The form has three sections: Return information, Employment Income, PAYE details and Tax computation section.
7. Upload the validated KRA Returns form and click Submit
8. You then download the KRA Returns for Employed acknowledgement receipt

For those not employed, here is the process

1. Visit KRA iTax Portal 
2. Enter Your KRA PIN Number.
3. Enter KRA iTax Password and Solve Arithmetic Question (Security Stamp)
4. You then open the iTax Account Dashboard.
5. After the display, click On the ‘Returns tab’ which opens a drop box
6. Open the ‘File Nil Return’ from the Dropdown Menu list
7. Select Nil e-Return Tax Obligation
8. Fill out the Income Tax Resident Individual Nil e-Return Form
9. You finally download KRA Returns Receipt to view your details.

The Head of State regretted that KRA has been sluggish in facilitating Kenyans to honour their obligations.

He urged the taxman to adopt best technologies to facilitate revenue mobilisation. 

“You have to avoid irritating Kenyans with proposals to change names and tackle collusion and wanton bribe-taking that facilitate revenue leakages," he said.