Taxman adopts friendly approach

Kenya Revenue Authority Commissioner-General John Njiraini during an interview at his Times Tower office in Nairobi on July 3, 2015. The Authority regional offices will no longer conduct tax audits in a new strategic move by the taxman to maintain a customer-friendly approach in widening the revenue base. FILE | SALATON NJAU |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• KRA Commissioner General John Njiraini said the plan launched yesterday intends to create a working rapport between KRA and payers to facility tax collection in both convenient and cost-effective ways.
• So focused is the plan on customer service, that businessmen and other stakeholders will have periodic meetings with KRA to make contributions on what they expect as well as raise complaints.

By EDWIN OKOTH
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The Kenya Revenue Authority regional offices will no longer conduct tax audits in a new strategic move by the taxman to maintain a customer-friendly approach in widening the revenue base.

The strategic plan spanning three years, aims to foster voluntary compliance as well as enhance the use of technology to narrow the tax gap and ease administration.

KRA Commissioner General John Njiraini said the plan launched yesterday intends to create a working rapport between KRA and payers to facility tax collection in both convenient and cost-effective ways.

“We are deliberately moving from our traditional role of tax enforcement to an approach that focuses on building tax payers’ trust. Audits will be centralised and the stations will not be mandated to carry out audits. By creating specific centres, we will ensure that audits are better managed with professionalism and we do away with complains from tax payers that audits are being used to harass them,” Mr Njiraini said.

Professional audit centres are already being set up with Nairobi’s located along Mombasa Road Sameer Centre.

KRA staff are also being trained to assist in trade facilitation especially those working at the Customs Department as the tax agency aims to enhance border control capacity.

So focused is the plan on customer service, that businessmen and other stakeholders will have periodic meetings with KRA to make contributions on what they expect as well as raise complaints.

Customers will also have an online platform to whistleblow on harassment and corruption claims without revealing their identities.

The taxman recently launched its online tax filing system meant to map out tax bases and improve accuracy in tax collection.

The i-tax has since registered over two million entries with many revenue loopholes reportedly sealed as KRA aims to raise its collections to support Kenya’s expanding budgetary plans.