KRA announces Ksh.209 billion in tax waivers granted through amnesty programme

As of February 20th, 2024, KRA revealed that a total of 227,071 taxpayers have benefited from the initiative, resulting in a waiver totalling Ksh.209 billion in penalties and interest.

The Tax Amnesty Programme, which commenced on September 1st, 2023, and is set to conclude on June 30th, 2024, offers taxpayers the opportunity to apply for the waiver of penalties and interest accrued on outstanding taxes up to December 31st, 2022. To qualify for the amnesty, taxpayers are required to fully settle their principal taxes by the stipulated deadline of June 30th, 2024.

According to KRA's latest data, taxpayers have collectively contributed Ksh.14.5 billion in principal taxes, availing themselves of the amnesty scheme. 

“KRA reminds Taxpayers with outstanding principal taxes to take advantage of the amnesty programme. Further, Taxpayers who have not filed their returns for the amnesty period are urged to file the returns in order to benefit from the Tax Amnesty Programme,” said the taxman in a statement on Tuesday.

In a bid to expedite the resolution of tax disputes, KRA encourages taxpayers engaged in ongoing disputes to consider leveraging the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) framework. 

“This (out-of-court settlement) will enable them take advantage of the ongoing Tax Amnesty, noting that the provisions on waiver of penalties and interest and on abandonment of taxes, were repealed by the Finance Act, 2023,” added KRA.

Meanwhile, KRA has issued a reminder to taxpayers whose Year of Income ends on December 31st, 2023, to ensure timely filing of their Income Tax Returns by the deadline of June 30th, 2024.