Tag: KRA news

Navigating Kenya’s Customs: What You Need to Declare

Posted on by Ozymandias

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is tightening its grip on customs controls, aiming to boost revenue, eliminate loopholes, and secure borders. While stricter measures like enhanced inspections and technology usage are in place, concerns around potential inconvenience and passenger harassment have surfaced.

To address these concerns and clarify regulations, KRA has outlined a specific list of items requiring declaration upon arrival at Kenyan airports. This guide aims to simplify the process for travelers and ensure a smooth customs experience.

Mandatory Declarations:

  • Duty-free purchases: Exceeding the permitted limits for alcohol (1 liter spirits, 2 liters wine), perfume/toiletries (1 liter total, perfume >250ml), and tobacco (250 grams).
  • Inherited items: Present a certificate of grant or will.
  • Repaired/altered items: Declare even if repairs were free.
  • Gifts and business merchandise: Provide details and value.
  • Currency: Amounts exceeding $10,000 or its equivalent.
  • Baggage exceeding Sh75,000: Except personal and household goods within permitted limits.
  • All goods regulated under EACCMA 2004 or other East African Community laws.

Important notes:

  • Declare accurate purchase prices in US dollars, including taxes. For gifts or non-purchased items, estimate the fair retail value in the country of acquisition.
  • Use the official Passenger Declaration Form (F88) for all declarations.
  • Providing false information to customs officers is an offense.

Remember, these declarations help ensure fair revenue collection and secure borders. By following these guidelines and staying informed, you can navigate customs seamlessly and contribute to a robust Kenyan economy.

Drowned KRA employees’ bodies recovered

Posted on by Ozymandias

The bodies of two Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officials have been recovered after their vehicle was swept away by raging floods at Ramisi Bridge in Kwale.

The two officers, Joram Maina, the Lungalunga Border Management Committee Chairperson, and David Ng’ang’a, were traveling to Mombasa from Lunga Lunga on November 17 when the tragedy struck.

A multi-agency search and rescue operation was immediately launched to locate the missing officers. After days of intense efforts, their bodies were finally recovered.

The tragic incident highlights the dangers posed by heavy rains and floods, particularly in areas with inadequate infrastructure. It serves as a stark reminder of the importance of taking precautionary measures during such weather conditions.

The loss of these two dedicated public servants is deeply felt by their colleagues, loved ones, and the wider Kenyan community. Their memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew and worked with them.

Taxes on goods: Everything you need to know about KRA’s regulations at JKIA

Posted on by Ozymandias

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has established new regulations requiring travelers entering Kenya from international destinations to declare personal items valued at $500 (approximately Sh75,000) or more. This declaration requirement applies to a wide range of items, including:

  • Items purchased and carried upon returning to Kenya
  • Inherited items acquired abroad
  • Items purchased at duty-free shops, on ships, or on airplanes in excess of the permitted limits
  • Repairs or alterations made to items taken abroad and subsequently brought back, even if the services were provided free of charge
  • Items brought for others, including gifts
  • Items intended for personal or business use, including business items taken out of Kenya on the trip
  • Currency exceeding $10,000 or its equivalent must be declared at customs upon arrival

According to KRA, travelers must provide the actual purchase price of each item on the Passenger Declaration Form, expressed in US dollars. “The price should include all taxes. If you are unsure, estimate the value. If you did not personally purchase the item, such as if it is a gift, estimate its fair retail value in the country where you received it,” KRA stated.

KRA emphasized that even if an item was used during the trip, it remains subject to customs duty. “You must declare the item at the price you paid or, if it was a gift, at its fair market value,” the authority clarified.

Following an outcry from Kenyans over the implementation of the East African Community Customs Management Act of 2004, which mandates travelers entering Kenya to pay customs duty on personal goods, government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura announced last week that the Kenya Revenue Authority will review the $500 tax on personal items. The tax is mandated under the East African Community Customs Management Act, and any revision would require consultation with other EAC member states.

In comparison, South Africa allows goods valued up to 5,000 rands (approximately $271 or Sh41,101), while Nigeria’s limit is $63.49 (Sh9,593).

Guns and dildos: KRA’s haul at JKIA a mixed bag

Posted on by Ozymandias

Large consignments of prohibited commodities have been confiscated by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) customs department at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) throughout the past four months. The tax collector claims that during the July–October 2023 period, the authority made 440 interceptions, of which 132 were illegal and 431 were restricted items.

14 sex toys, 58 shisha and shisha utensils, 24 boxes of Viagra, and 60 bleaching creams are among the prohibited goods. Additional illegal objects intercepted were 339 drones, 7 weapons, 18 toy guns, 11 magazines, 8 handcuffs, and 24 walkie talkies.

It is reported that the items were discovered following passenger scrutiny by the KRA.

The inventory kept at the largest airport in Kenya provides an insight into the changes that have occurred in the personal lives of Kenyans, the majority of whom are young people.

Some of the things are unclear as to why they shouldn’t be permitted into the nation, and the type of evidence required to clear them is even more ambiguous. Both male and female sex points are in more demand, as seen by the numerous social media accounts that are outright selling them.

Humphrey Wattanga, Commissioner General of KRA, stated that it is crucial to remember that any items that are intercepted at the Point of Entry—especially weapons and drones—must have the necessary authorization given by the appropriate state authorities.

“We have a mandate to safeguard legitimate trade by ensuring that items subject to Customs duty are accurately assessed and duly paid for,”

For example, the KRA demands a variety of credentials, including one proving the drones’ airworthiness, from anyone importing them.What kind of evidence someone would present to demonstrate their ability to utilize a dildo efficiently is unclear.

A fast search on social media indicated that these devices are accessible locally, so it’s possible that distribution rather than use is the restriction.However, the rationale behind these limitations continues to baffle. According to KRA, visitors to the nation may retrieve prohibited goods that its agents have seized as they leave the Customs Office.

The KRA’s Border Control Enforcement Unit has been intercepting more commodities that are illegal or restricted, hence the terminal visit was scheduled during this period.

Tourism CS Accuses KRA of Harassing Tourists, Vows to Fix It

Posted on by Ozymandias

Tourism and Wildlife CS Alfred Mutua has accused Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officials of harassing tourists at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Mutua claims that this harassment is one of the reasons why Kenya is dropping from the list of top tourist destinations in Africa.

In a video seen by The Star, Mutua questioned why KRA officials harass tourists when other African countries do not, even though they collect the same taxes. He cited Rwanda, South Africa, and Dubai as examples of countries that do not harass tourists.

Mutua insisted that it is time Kenya made her visitors feel welcome by stopping some practices, such as the harassment of tourists. He noted that as CS for Tourism, that is one of the things he intends to fix.

Mutua said that KRA staff are not to blame, but they have bad habits. He promised that if the country wants to rake in revenue from tourism, the harassment of visitors must stop immediately.

Earlier this week, the taxation of personal goods at points of entry into Kenya upset a section of the public. However, when The Star sought clarification about alleged harassment and taxation of personal goods, KRA Deputy Commissioner, Marketing and Communication Grace Wandera referred to the KRA Customs Handbook on arrival and departure information, which details the requirements for travellers.

But there are still concerns over exorbitant taxes, which have forced some individuals to abandon their items. A clause that gives customs officers the powers to determine the value of goods and their taxable status is seen as a gap to impose taxes where they should not apply, amid cries of harassment by customs officials.

Tl;dr

Tourism CS Alfred Mutua has accused KRA officials of harassing tourists at JKIA, which is one of the reasons why Kenya is dropping from the list of top tourist destinations in Africa. He has vowed to fix this problem and make Kenya more friendly to visitors.

KRA Deputy Commissioner, Marketing and Communication Grace Wandera has referred to the KRA Customs Handbook on arrival and departure information, which details the requirements for travellers. However, there are still concerns over exorbitant taxes and the powers of customs officers to determine the value of goods and their taxable status.

KRA: Ignore Online Speculations around Revenue Mobilization and Operations

Posted on by Kibaki Muthamia

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has on April 10th released a hard-hitting statement in response to various statements on different media platforms the agency terms as ‘unfounded’. The statements border on the agency’s tacit operations, and in particular – revenue mobilization.

In a press release signed by Acting Commissioner General, KRA wishes to clarify, as follows:

KRA has invested in modern technology, which works efficiently as the revenue collection and settlement system from source to The Exchequer. With this in place, there is no room for revenue diversion as strict surveillance plugs revenue loopholes.

Year to date, KRA has kept pace with revenue collection compared to prior year collections. As at the close of March 2023, revenue collection averaged 95.1% on original target and 93.4% on Supplementary target, representing a collection of Kshs. 1.554 Trillion and a year on year 8% growth.

Conscious of the mandate to mobilize and secure revenue for national development, KRA remains committed to bridging the deficit on target. KRA continues to implement Revenue Enhancement Initiatives (REI) which include;

  • Roll out of eTIMS for efficient and effective VAT collection
  • Integration of KRA systems with betting companies leading to improved collection in Excise Tax on betting and Withholding Tax on winnings,
  • Amicable settlement of tax disputes through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
  • Tax Base Expansion aimed at bringing more taxpayers into the tax bracket.

KRA continues being a professionally managed public organization comprising of competent staff, management and board leadership, delivering their mandate within the staff code of conduct and the KRA values.

KRA remains committed to enhancing mobilization of government revenue, and to facilitate growth in economic activities and trade by ensuring compliance with tax and customs laws.

Related News: https://www.ghafla.com/sponsored/co-op-bank-marks-easter-by-slashing-interest-rates-on-personal-and-asset-loans/

The Un-apologetic Kenyan: Getting to an 8am meeting at 11am & Filing Tax Returns at midnight on 30th June!

Posted on by Kibaki Muthamia

A few years back, Bob Collymore dropped a descriptive term that aptly captures the typical Kenyans’ habit.

That term was ‘peculiar’. He was right.

Picture this:

“Tupatane Tao saa mbili. Hapo CBD. Hapo Archives ni sawa na mimi.”

That’s a supposed 8am meeting set up with a Kenyan, living at Kasarani – off Thika Road.

A typical Kenyan is an early-riser.

0500 Hrs – Alarm rings. It’s that rooster alarm sound, no less. Snooze button.

0515 Hrs – Second alarm. Reaches out for the alarm, kills the alarm.

0517 Hrs – Logs into Facebook – how’s that late night post doing?

0600 Hrs – Checks personal pages, and think of some updates.

0650 Hrs – What’s trending on Twitter?

0730 Hrs – Who sent me memes on WhatsApp? Ha ha.

0745 Hrs – Jumps up and does a Steeple Chase run to the bathroom.

0755 Hrs – Hastly brews a tepid cup of coffee – pulling on a pair of jeans at the same time.

0810 Hrs – Leaves the house.

0815 Hrs – With the Bus Stop in sight, you remember taps are open – they were dry last night – you turn back and sprint up three flights of stairs to close them. You don’t want to return to a swimming pool.

0830 Hrs – Boards a cheap half-empty, rickety Matatu to town, stops at every bus station along Thika Road. By now, your meeting partner is blazing your phone every three minutes. You mute it.

1003 Hrs – Matatu still at Roasters. Just two passengers. You get ‘sold’ to a Kenya Mpya bus.

1020 Hrs – A text comes in: You ain’t serious for this meeting.

1030 Hrs – You remember the text, oops. You fire back: “Nimekwama kwa jam hapa Ngara”.

1136 Hrs, East Africa Time, a Kenyan arrives for the meeting at Archives.

And, wait for it – acts like the universe owes him an apology!

Why do Kenyans dig the last-minute rush?

That shouldn’t be the scenario playing out come 30th June 2021. That’s the deadline for you to file your 2020 income tax returns. The 2020 tax returns factors in changes in the tax rates last year.

This deadline is just 10 days shy.

The Kenya Revenue Authority appreciates the rigours of a citizenship working hard to earn their livelihood, and has adjusted their working hours to provide some flexibility.

Besides an extra hour every day, KRA offices are also open over the weekend.

There is also a robust team on standby for assistance on every forum: Emails via [email protected], Direct calls via 0711-099-999 or 020 4 999 999, in-person for walk-in clients, a chat portal on the KRA website that is accessed via https://kenya-revenue-authority.custhelp.com/app/home and agents on KRA official pages on every social media platform.

In case a client is unsure of the process, the KRA website has easy-to-access tutorials on how to file returns.

Besides, the KRA YouTube channel has very concise, easy-to-follow step by step clips to assist you hack it.

Do not be a last-minute person.

Let’s build a more appealing Kenyanisque reputation.

Angry reactions as KRA seize and burn ladies’ sex toys destined for Eldoret universities (photos)

Posted on by Martin Oduor

Section of Kenyans hasn’t taken it lightly that the taxman burnt cache of sex toys seized at Eldoret International Airport.

Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) intercepted and destroyed pleasure toys worth Kes 300, 000 at Eldoret airport on Wednesday.

KRA North Rift coordinator Florence Otori said the self-pleasure toys were meant for sale to women and female university students in the area.

Some of the sex toys that were seized at Eldoret International Airport by KRA

Pornographic material, cigarettes, fake seeds and medicines were among other items that were seized and destroyed in an inferno by KRA.

The taxman’s decision to set ablaze the sex toys hasn’t gone down well with section of Kenyans who were quick to poke holes in the entire operation.

Critics argue KRA was quick to destroy pleasure toys but if the items seized were narcotics they wouldn’t have been quick with their PR.

Some people argued that the taxman had no business denying ladies a chance to pleasure themselves with ‘legal items’. Below are some of the reactions from Kenyans who were not impressed by KRA decision to destroy sex toys:

Trevor Johnston: Acha wanawake wajiiingie nn mbaya

Peterg123: This is absurd..people should have access to s#x toys if they wish. many women are lonely at home while the partner is away with barmaids……. and just what are “fake seeds”?

No Matusi: Counterfeit drugs should be burned immediately they are caught. It is too dangerous

Guy Byron: This is gonna piss off a lot of women who were long waiting for the orgazam machines, many had already bought sexy nightdresses.

OneVillager: We really do things the Kenyan way. KRA seems to be more interested in PR than eliminating illicit trade in dangerous contraband. Why not be patient, wait for and arrest the addressee of the consignment first, then destroy the goods later?

danson ungaro: half shoddy – half PR ; they did’t just drop from the sky …all addresses are there including recipients location yet it seems its a closed case

Muthomi Timothy: Are they illegal? Or were they meant for underage kids? If the answer to all or either of these questions is no, they I don’t see the point of confiscating them.

Robert Rono: Were they counterfeit goods at first,

Wilson Sirwongot: Counterfeit penis. Donge.