KRA ASKS SAFARICOM TO DISCLOSE TRADERS WHO OPTED OUT OF LIPA NA M-PESA TO AVOID PAYING TAXES.

KRA ASKS SAFARICOM TO DISCLOSE TRADERS WHO OPTED OUT OF LIPA NA M-PESA TO AVOID PAYING TAXES.

There has been complains from traders concerning the transactions that are increasing and affecting their profits.They rather prefered to use cash and avoid lipa na M-pesa transactions and they took an action of opting out . The KRA Chief Manager Domestic Tax Department Caroline Rotich has now revealed that most traders revertedd to cash transactions following the RSA compliance checks. He also noted that Lipa na M- pesa enhances tax comliance, saying the authority is seeking information on traders who ditched the services from Safaricom.

To enhance that the KRA authority took a step and employed over 1,400 revenue service assistants (RSA) to move around the country and help collect tax data and enhance compliance. Durig a Media Lab on Tuesday  October 17, Rotich said that many businesses are now closing Lipa Na M-Pesa merchant, Buy Goods and Pochi La Biashara Tills. She also said that they are now collaborating with Safaricom to get information on such traders who are jeopardising tax compliance measures and also facilitate intergration and do follou-ups once they have information to enhance compliance through our RSA programme.

The commissioner reiterated RSA officers would register businesses online and verify taxpayers' details. On the same RSA officers asked for M-Pesa transaction details and statements from several traders in Nyeri county ,Rotich said that the taxman will continue to enhance its services to ensure compliance among taxpayers. The authority lauched that tax amnesty stipulated in the Finance Act 2023, starting September 2023 to June 2024. She also noted that the authority expects to collect over KSh 51 billion from the programme. By now more than 17,000taxpayers have applied for the amnesty and they are expecting the number to grow immensely as they continue creating awarenes.