The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has scrapped penalties, interest, and fines amounting to Sh158 billion for 2.9 million individuals and businesses as part of its ongoing tax amnesty initiative, which commenced in December 2023.
Alongside the massive debt relief, the authority confirmed it has so far collected Sh10.9 billion in unpaid principal taxes from taxpayers seeking to reconcile their tax affairs under the programme, which will run until June 30, 2025.
The relief measure applies to tax liabilities accrued up to December 31, 2023.
KRA said the amnesty was introduced as part of a broader policy to encourage voluntary compliance and reduce the financial weight carried by defaulters.
In a statement, the agency described the initiative as an opportunity for taxpayers to "settle tax matters on favourable terms and to move forward on a clean slate."
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Notably, tax liabilities that arose on or after January 1, 2024, fall outside the scope of the amnesty, with KRA clarifying that only past dues are eligible.
Taxpayers engaged in disputes with the authority have been advised to seek resolution through the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism prior to the programme’s closure.
The agency has also cautioned that the window will not be extended, urging timely compliance from all eligible individuals and entities.
The message from the authority is clear: act now or miss the chance.
As it put it, “The opportunity will not be available beyond the June 30, 2025 deadline.”
With over two million already stepping forward, the uptake signals that many Kenyans are keen to make amends—provided the conditions are fair.
Whether the remaining defaulters will follow suit before the deadline is now a matter of timing, willingness, and perhaps the weight of their tax burden.
