The Kenya Revenue Authority, KRA, has dispelled misleading news that the agency has abolished the tax filing process for Employees in formal employment. Here is the press statement released to the Media, today;
“The attention of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has been drawn to a misleading story published online by Kenyans.co.ke titled “KRA Abolishes Keying in of PAYE Tax Returns”.
The author grossly takes out of context the communication by KRA issued last week with regards to the enhanced function on iTax which allows taxpayers with employment income as the only source of income to file their tax returns using the auto-populated function.
With reference to the statement released by KRA last week “iTax has been enhanced to have an auto-populated return of employment income. This has made it much easier, smoother and faster for employees whose source of income is only employment to file their returns. The employees are only required to input data on pension and annual relief. On receipt of the P9 certificates, the employees should simply proceed and file their returns accordingly.”
This does not in any way imply that filing of tax returns has been abolished. KRA, therefore, advises all taxpayers to disregard this miscommunication and in case of any assistance or clarification, to reach out to KRA through the available channels of communication.
We apologize for any inconvenience resulting from the misleading communication.”
The Teachers Service Commission, TSC, has asked teachers to file their 2018 income tax returns. Via a circular dated 4th February, 2019 the TSC boss, Dr. Nancy Macharia, says the Commission has uploaded the tax deduction forms (P9 forms) onto their website at https://tsc.go.ke/index.php/online-services/online-payslips
Dr Nancy says teachers and other TSC staff are expected to download the forms from the website and file their returns with the Kenya Revenue Authority, KRA. “All TSC employees are required to file their individual income tax returns online through Kenya Revenue Authority I-tax platform, i.e https://itax.kra.go.ke by 30th June, 2019,” says the TSC boss.
Last year, a number of Kenyans were fined for failing to declare their returns within the stipulated time frame. All Kenyans with the KRA Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) are expected to file their returns with the tax man. Nonsalaried Kenyans will be expected to file Zero returns. It is important that you file your returns early to avoid the last minute rush and/ or a penalty of KShs. 20,000
TSC staff who may experience problems during the filing process can contact the Commission or seek assistance from KRA service Centres across the country. KRA offers free tax filing services at all Huduma Centres; countrywide.
In case you need to file the returns by yourself, use the procedure in the link below:
KRA SIMPLIFIES TAX FILING PROCESS FOR THOSE IN FORMAL EMPLOYMENT
The Kenya Revenue Authorithy, KRA, has simplified the tax returns filing process for those in formal employment. The agency has included auto-populated information from employment income in the iTax system.Employees will now be expected to verify correctness of the populated information and also fill in only pension and annual relief data. This is a break from the norm where employees have to spend long hours filling the Excel data capture sheets from the taxman.
“KRA has enhanced iTax to have an auto-populated return of employment income. This has made it much easier, smoother and faster for employees whose source of income is only employment to file their returns,” KRA said via a statement on Friday, 22nd February- 2019. For employees the information on the KRA PIN is automatically captured by iTax and fed onto the employee’s account; when employers provide Pay As You Earn, PAYE, declarations.
One should Log into iTax portal>Returns>ITR for Employment Income only. The deadline for filing 2018 tax returns is 30th June, 2019.
BACK TO SCHOOL
Schools resumed for the second part of first term, today, after the one week halfterm break. Schools will close by 5th April, 2019.
EDUCATION MINISTRY SUSPENDS THE AMBITIOUS LAPTOP, TABLETS ISSUANCE PROGRAMME.
The Education Ministry has announced the suspension of issuance of tablets to Class One pupils under the digital literacy programme. Instead, the Ministry will embark on another project of building computer laboratories for Primary schools across the country. Education Ministry’s Principal Secretary Dr. Bellio Kipsang now says that each of the 25,000 public primary schools in Kenya will get one computer laboratory to help in ICT (Information Communication Technology) Integration in the Teaching- Learning process.
HIKE FEES AND WE GO TO THE STREETS- UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WARN
Various Universities’ Student leadershave warned that they will hold demos if Universities do not drop the proposal to hike their tuition fees. Led by Nairobi University’s Makori Orina, the students said they will on Monday next week hold countrywide demonstrations to protest the raising of fees from KSh16,000 to KSh 48,000.
The April, 2019, holiday is with us again. All Schools are expected to close by Friday 5th April 2019, marking the culmination of what has been a very term one. The first term this year saw unprecedented influx of form ones to secondary schools as the government rolled out its 100 percent transition policy. This term also saw the full implementation of the new Competency Based Curriculum, CBC, at lower primary. There was a flurry of activities both in class and the in Co- curriculum areas. The Education Ministry was also to get a new Cabinet Secretary, Professor George Magoha, who took over from Dr Amina Mohammed. For most learners and teachers, the April holiday season has come at an opportune time so as to get the much needed breather. But, for others it is going to be busier as they will be involved in various professional development and Co- curricular activities.
Here is a sneak preview of what is lined up for teachers and learners; this April Holiday.
A. CO- CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
i. NATIONAL GAMES
Primary schools proceed to term one national games that are slated for the 7th to the 13th of April, 2019. All roads will be leading to Mumias stadium in Kakamega county; the host of this year’s primary schools games.
For secondary schools, fireworks are expected at the term one national games that shall be held at Shimo La Tewa and Shanzu TTC, in Mombasa County of the Coast Region between 5th and 14th April, 2019 . A total of about 1,912 participants will be competing. The term Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association, KSSSA, will feature: Basketball, Hockey, Rugby 15’s, Rugby 7’s, Swimming, Handball, Cross Country and Athletics. Shimo La Tewa and Shanzu is indeed the place to be as Kenya’s finest teams take on each other. Action kicks off on Tuesday 9th April, 2019.
ii. KENYA NATIONAL DRAMA AND FILM FESTIVAL
The Nationals in the Kenya National Drama Festival shall be held from 3rd to 13th of April, 2018. The event will be staged in the Western Region, Kakamega County, featuring a total of 15,000 Participants. It is entertainment galore for Drama lovers as action kicks off at Kibabii University on 3rd April, 2019.
The 2019 Kenya National Drama and Film Festival Programme Cover Page
iii. KENYA SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR COMPETITIONS
The National fair shall be held at the Rift Valley region, Nakuru County, from 7th to 12th April, 2019. The host for this year’s 57th edition shall be Jomo Kenyatta Boys High school, in Nakuru. This is definitely the place to be for latest innovations and inventions in the world of science.
iv. TEACHERS TRAINING COLLEGES NATIONAL GAMES.
The trainee teachers will be exchanging friendly fire at their games coming up on 28th March to 5th April, 2019. The games go down at Meru TTC in Meru county.
A number of coaching and referees clinics are coming up this April holiday. For those keen in improving their mastery of the various disciplines grab this opportunity. Below is a list of some of such trainings:
i. NATIONAL VOLLEYBALL LEVEL TWO (2) COACHING COURSE.
A clinic has been organized for volleyball coaches, thus:
Training Dates: 20th to 28th April, 2019
Venue: Ithookwe stadium.
Charges: KSHs. 5,000
ii. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES FOR SWIMMING COACHES AND OFFICIALS.
Dates: 3rd to 27th April, 2019 (Varied for the various groups).
Venues: Various.
Charges: KSHs. 4,000
iii. MULTI- DISCIPLINE COACHING AND REFEREEING CLINIC:
Dates: Sunday 21st April, 2019, to Saturday 27th April, 2019.
Charges: KSHs. 6,000 (to cater for accommodation and meals).
iv. NATIONAL HANDBALL GRADING AND UPGRADING REFEREEING COURSE.
Dates: 17th to 19th April, 2019.
Venue: Kaloleni Social Hall next to Kaloleni Handball court in Nairobi.
Charges: KSHs. 4,000.
C. THE KENYA STUDENTS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP; STUDENT LEADERS NATIONAL CONVENTION.
Dates: 8th to 14th April, 2019.
Venues: Kisii School (Kisii County), Kapropita Girls High School (Baringo County), Kangaru School (Embu County) and Kitui High School (Kitui County).
D. THE YOUNG FARMERS CLUB NATIONAL CAMP.
Dates: 8th to 12th April, 2019.
Venue: Bahati Girls Secondary School, in Nakuru County.
Charges: KSHs. 2,500 (Per student) and KSHs. 3,500 (Per teacher).
E. INTERVIEWS FOR TSC DECEMBER 2018/ JANUARY 2019 VACANCIES
Interviews for recruitment of teachers for the 2018 December and 2019 Teachers Service Commission, TSC, vacancies are to be held from Wednesday 27th March, 2019, to Friday 5th April, 2019. The vetting and handling of complaints at the County level will be done from Monday 8th April, 2019, to Friday 12th April, 2019. Reporting to schools for successful candidates shall be by Monday 6th May, 2019. ALSO READ: TOYA, POYA and iTOYA requirements and guidelines- 2019
F. 2019 TEACHERS SERVICE COMMISSION (TSC) POYA, TOYA AND iTOYA COMPETIONS.
Here are the timelines for the 2019 Teacher of the Year Award (TOYA), Principal of the Year Award (POYA) and ICT Teacher of the Year Award (iTOYA):
Schools to identified their TOYA/iTOYA by 1st March 2019
• Sub-counties to identified their iTOYA/TOYA/ POYA by 16th March 2019
Counties to identified their iTOYA/TOYA/POYA by 8th April 2019
Regions should have identified their iTOYA/ TOYA /POYA by 10th May 2019
G. 2019 KNEC EXAMINERS TRAINING.
The Kenya National Examinations Council, KNEC, will be training examiners in April. The training shall be conducted at venues to be communicated to trainees between 7th and 13th April, 2019.
H. VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL TRAINERS VACANCIES.
The closing date for the various Vocational and Technical Trainers Vacancies is nearing. Applications are to be sent to institutions with advertised posts by 15th April, 2019.
I. OTHER EVENTS COMING UP THIS HOLIDAY ARE:
KESSHA Retreats,
ICT Training,
New Competency Based Curriculum, CBC, training and
CEMASTEA Training among others.
J. CHAPA DIMBA NA SAFARICOM FOOTBALL BONANZA
The Coast Region’s Chapa Dimba Na Safaricom goes down at the Bomu Stadium, in Mombasa, from 6th to 7th April, 2019.
The 2019 Chapa Dimba Na Safaricom Coast Region Finals’ banner
Not forgetting to file your 2018 KRA Tax returns and TPAD data for term one 2019.
From the newsblaze.co.ke digital team, we wish you a fruitful and happy holiday.
