KURGAT: File your tax returns to avoid unnecessary fines

It is baffling that some Kenyans would want to put themselves in trouble by paying unnecessary tax penalties over what they can avoid through minimal effort.

Despite the Kenya Revenue Authority reminding us way before the deadline to file our taxes and guiding us on how to do it on the iTax platform, some would still ignore and wait until the last minute or fail to file their tax returns.

Those who will later regret are job seekers who will have to pay the non-filing penalties of Sh2000 for non-filing to obtain the Tax Compliance Certificate, a document that is free and can be generated on the iTax platform instantly without any hassle like the other statutory documents.

Those filing a nil return should never have any excuse as to why they did not file as this is a one-minute effort.

Those yet to file their 2021 tax returns may have no clue how the process is easy and faster compared to the pain of having to cough out the Sh2000 penalty after June for failing to make that little effort.

Those who don’t know how to file returns do not need to worry because KRA staff can always assist you in their designated offices.

If you do not know how to file your returns, you have all of the options to call or visit KRA offices.

KRA has filled our email inbox with reminders and all kinds of file your tax information.

According to tax experts, a return is a declaration made by a taxpayer to show the generated income they have garnered over some time, with details of payments and refunds due on taxes during a specific tax period.

The returns are an accountability measure for monies made for an individual or an entity.

Before filing a return, we need to understand which tax obligation(s) we have to accurately account for the income we earned in the previous year (s).

Additionally, some returns are filed on a monthly basis such as VAT, while others are done annually during the January to June window provided by KRA.

If you did not earn any income in 2021, you are required to file a NIL return.

Communication practitioner

Edited by Kiilu Damaris