KRA TO PARTNER WITH CYBER CAFES

In an effort to ensure convenient access to its online service, Kenya Revenue Authority has embarked on a plan to collaborate with cyber cafes’ countrywide.  ‘Given their expansive network covering the entire country, they can be an effective vehicle through which taxpayers countrywide can access our online services’ says Mr. Kennedy Onyonyi, the Senior Deputy Commissioner in charge of Marketing and  Communication  Department.

KRA has put in place an elaborate plan to train cyber cafes’ in an endeavour to build their capacity to handle online services.  The first training programmes which brought together participants from across the country representing over 400 cyber cafes from all over the country was held on Tuesday the 9th of March, 2010.  The training is going to be rolled out to regions in due course.

Since KRA launched it online services in December 2008, 724,575 online service users have been registered.  Out of this number 408,898 are newly registered taxpayers.  It is therefore evident that since online services were introduced more new taxpayers are voluntarily registering.  The number of newly registered taxpayers is increasing continuously.  Currently an average of 30,000 new taxpayers are registered monthly.  In the months of December, January and February, 36,429, 39,204, and 40,344 new taxpayers were registered respectively.  In addition an average of 8,200 existing taxpayers have been registering monthly as online users over the last 14 months.

Online registration has registered tremendous success, however online filing of returns has not realised a similar measure of success.  Currently an average of 8,400 VAT3 returns are filed electronically monthly.  PAYE online filing is over 1,000 returns monthly.  Although progress made in filing of returns is within the norms of the tax administrations which have introduced such services, the potential for filing is enormous.  As income tax returns for year 2009 are now due for filing, it is envisaged that there will be a very sharp rise in electronic filing of returns over the next four months.

The Authority also plans to collaborate with the Postal Corporation and digital villages to enhance accessibility and uptake of online services.

The relationship between the Authority and cyber service providers will be in form of partnership and not agency.  No party will be liable for the other party’s action.  KRA will enhance and build capacity of such providers to ensure that they render services to the expectation and satisfaction of taxpayers and the Authority.