Africa-Press – Kenya. Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has unveiled WhatsApp-based tax filing to ease compliance and widen the tax base.
The new platform, launched as part of a broader digital transformation agenda, allows taxpayers to file their annual returns through the widely used messaging application, cutting the process from eight steps to just three.
KRA Commissioner General, Humphrey Wattanga, said the innovation underscores the authority’s commitment to delivering efficient, inclusive and user-centric tax services.
“This solution is designed to meet taxpayers where they are on platforms they already use daily while ensuring a seamless and user-friendly filing experience,” Wattanga said in Nairobi on Wednesday.
The WhatsApp filing tool is expected to play a crucial role in boosting voluntary compliance, particularly among younger and informal sector taxpayers who may find traditional filing systems cumbersome.
By integrating real-time assistance within the platform, KRA hopes to eliminate common bottlenecks that have historically discouraged timely filing.
The initiative comes at a time when the taxman is under pressure to expand its reach.
The revenue man is targeting more than seven million individual taxpayers to file returns this year, up from approximately 6.7 million filings recorded last year, reflecting an aggressive push to bring more Kenyans into the tax net.
The phased filing approach, supported by digital tools like WhatsApp, is also expected to ease system congestion typically experienced closer to the deadline, while improving overall compliance rates.
Beyond WhatsApp, KRA has rolled out a suite of system enhancements tailored to different taxpayer categories.
For salaried individuals, pre-filled returns now incorporate employer PAYE data, including gross pay, taxable income, and statutory deductions such as the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and Affordable Housing Levy (AHL).
Employers, on their part, will benefit from a simplified PAYE return system designed to improve accuracy in capturing exemptions and reliefs within payroll systems.
Taxpayers with additional income streams will also access pre-filled returns covering key details such as withholding taxes, while an upgraded taxpayer dashboard offers improved visibility on transactions, including imports and exports.
The authority has further expanded flexibility in expense claims, allowing businesses to declare valid non-eTIMS expense invoices backed by proper documentation, an adjustment expected to support small and medium enterprises.
The digital push is closely tied to the government’s ambitious revenue mobilisation goals.
The National Treasury has tasked KRA with collecting approximately Sh2.9 trillion to Sh3 trillion in the current financial year, a target that reflects Kenya’s growing fiscal needs amid rising public expenditure and debt obligations.
Latest KRA data indicates that the authority has already collected over Sh1.5 trillion in revenue in the current fiscal year, signaling steady progress but also highlighting the urgency of sustaining momentum in the remaining months.
Income tax, particularly PAYE and individual filings, remains a critical pillar of this revenue stream, making improved compliance essential to meeting the target.
KRA has set April 30 as the statutory deadline for filing returns and settling any outstanding tax liabilities for income earned in 2025.
The authority is urging both individuals and businesses to take advantage of the simplified systems to avoid last-minute rushes and penalties.
The WhatsApp filing solution marks the beginning of what KRA describes as a broader transformation journey, one that seeks to align tax administration with evolving technology and taxpayer expectations.
It hopes that the innovation will reshape how millions of Kenyans interact with the tax system, turning compliance from a procedural burden into a more accessible, everyday digital experience.
