Kenya’s National Treasury has announced a major shift in how taxpayers will file annual returns, introducing a staggered system that pushes nil return submissions to immediately after December.
The move is aimed at easing pressure on the Kenya Revenue Authority’s (KRA) online tax platform, which has long struggled with congestion during peak filing periods.
Speaking during an X Space discussion with the public, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said the current single deadline model has created unnecessary strain on both taxpayers and the system.
“We previously had one filing date of June 30, and many Kenyans rush at the last minute. When the system fails, penalties follow,” Mbadi said.
Under the new arrangement, individuals filing nil returns will submit their returns right after December each year. Salaried workers will file between January and April, while businesses and other income-earning taxpayers will retain the June 30 deadline.
The Treasury says the change is designed to spread out submissions and reduce the last-minute rush that often overwhelms digital systems.
The reform comes shortly after the Kenya Revenue Authority introduced the “PIN with No Obligation” category, which allows individuals without taxable income to hold a PIN without filing annual returns. The system was meant to simplify compliance, but the Treasury now appears to be refining how different taxpayer groups are managed.
CS Mbadi noted that system failures during peak periods have previously led to taxpayers being penalised despite submitting returns on time or attempting to do so.
The National Treasury says the staggered model is expected to improve efficiency and reduce congestion on the iTax platform, especially in the final days before the traditional deadline.
Tax experts have often pointed to last-minute filing habits as a key weakness in Kenya’s tax compliance system, arguing that uneven traffic on digital platforms contributes to avoidable errors and delays.
While the government insists the new structure will make filing smoother, questions remain about how effectively taxpayers will adapt to multiple deadlines and whether awareness campaigns will be rolled out in time.
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