The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) revenue assistants contributed an extra KES180.6 million in revenue collected over the last six months.
“The field officers have been instrumental in identifying 20,551 unregistered taxpayers and bringing an additional 10,515 taxpayers into compliance with various tax obligations,” said KRA Commissioner General Mr. Humphrey Wattanga during a meeting with the National Assembly Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity.
This proactive approach has helped broaden the tax base and ensure that more individuals and businesses fulfil their tax responsibilities.
KRA further adds that recognizing challenges faced by field officers in dealing with diverse taxpayers and complex tax evasion schemes, the Authority provided comprehensive training to equip them with both tax knowledge and paramilitary skills.
Additionally, the officers received technical training on Value Added Tax, Customs, and KRA business systems to enhance their effectiveness.
KRA stated that the assistants’ role is to facilitate online registration of trading businesses, support compliance with TIMS/eTIMS regulations, and verify taxpayer details in line with Kenya Kwanza directives.
Nevertheless, High Court has ruled that the recruitment of 1,406 revenue service assistants by the Kenya Revenue Authority last year was unconstitutional.
Justice William Musyoka ruled that the exercise was heavily skewed in favour of the Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities to the disadvantage of others.
“A declaration that the June 2023 recruitment of the 1,406 revenue service assistants was unconstitutional, as it offends the preamble to the Constitution and the provisions of Articles 10,27, 56 and 32 (g)(h)(i) of the Constitution,” said the judge.
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