KRA makes tax filing easy with longer hours

The Kenya Revenue Authority has extended working hours at all its service centres and selected Huduma Centres to help Kenyans file their 2024 income tax returns before the June 30 deadline.

In a notice issued on Tuesday, KRA announced that the extended hours are meant to assist all Kenyans with KRA PINs to meet the legal requirement of filing their annual returns.

This applies to every individual with a KRA PIN, whether they earned income or not.

"All our official service centres and Huduma Centres in populous areas will now be open from 7 am to 7 pm on weekdays," KRA said in the notice.

Only tax service centres will remain open on Saturdays, operating from 9 am to 1 pm.

Huduma Centres will remain closed on Saturdays, except on June 28, when tax service centres will operate for extended hours from 9 am to 6 pm.

Meanwhile, the remaining Huduma Centres across the country will stick to the usual hours of 8 am to 5 pm on weekdays and remain closed on weekends.

KRA also adjusted its support services. Kenyans can now reach out to KRA officers through email or phone on weekdays from 7 am to 7 pm and on weekends from 9 am to 1 pm.

The Authority added that on the final day of tax return filing, June 30, all KRA offices countrywide will be open for 17 hours, from 7 am to midnight.

"Have you filed your 2024 income tax returns? We have extended our working hours at our Service Centres, select Huduma Centres and Contact Centre to help you beat the 30th June deadline," KRA said.

Kenyans are urged to file their returns online using the iTax portal: iTax.kra.go.ke. Individuals with no income must file a NIL return.

KRA reminded the public that failure to file returns on time attracts a fine of Ksh2,000 or a penalty of 5 per cent of the declared income.

People who are exempt from paying income tax, including those living with disability, are also required to file returns and must include a valid Exemption Certificate Number.

Filing your Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) returns for employment income can be straightforward if you follow the right steps.

Taxpayers must ensure they have a stable internet connection, their KRA PIN, iTax login credentials, and their P9 form before starting the process.

These essentials help make the application smooth and error-free.

To begin, open your preferred internet browser and visit the KRA iTax portal at itax.kra.go.ke. Log in by entering your KRA PIN and password.

Once logged in, navigate to the Returns menu, select "Returns," then click on "File Returns," and choose "Income Tax - Resident Individual."

After this, confirm your KRA PIN and select the correct return period. Choose the employment income option and click "Proceed." You will then be asked to fill in all sections marked with an asterisk (*) according to your P9 form.

Make sure to verify your Pay As You Earn (PAYE) deductions, insurance relief, mortgage details, and any other allowances. When all details are confirmed, click "Submit."

A message confirming receipt of your return will appear with an acknowledgement number stating, "Return Receipt Generated."

You can download this receipt by clicking the provided link, and an email confirmation will also be sent to you.

To avoid delays, ensure you have all your documents ready before starting.

Also, remember to enable macros in the downloaded Excel template, as this allows the system to validate and zip your file correctly.