17/08/2017
PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THIS KRA DIRECTIVE
We help you Migrate to Itax, file return and provide tax advisory services.
Press Release 3rd August, 2017
KRA to invalidate PINs not migrated to iTax Platform
Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has given taxpayers up to 31st August, 2017 to migrate their Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) to the iTax platform or risk deactivation. In a public notice issued on 1st August, 2017, KRA also notified taxpayers whose PINs are on iTax but have not filed any returns in the last three months that they will be considered as not trading and their PINs rendered inactive. KRA further advised all taxpayers and the general public to use the ‘PIN Checker’ link on the iTax portal to verify details of their suppliers and confirm if their PINs are active.
In compliance with the Tax Procedure Act, 2015, KRA made it mandatory for all taxpayers to use the iTax platform for PIN registration, filing of returns, payment and access of other tax-related services. This exercise is meant to help enhance tax compliance and also clean the PIN database by deactivating those not in active businesses.
Currently, a total of 10.6 million Kenyans have PINs, but only 5.8 million taxpayers are registered on the iTax platform. The migration requires holders of PINs issued earlier under the old registration system to update their details on the iTax platform. Those who are unable to do this on their own will be facilitated and supported through the KRA Call Centre, Service Centres, Huduma Centres and Domestic Taxes Stations countrywide.
In the unfortunate event of deactivation, taxpayers will maintain the PINs initially allocated as the supporting documents used for PIN registration do not change. iTax does not allow generation of new PINs based on the same documents already used to generate a previous PIN. Upon fulfillment of compliance requirements, including clearing any outstanding debt and filing all the outstanding returns, the same PIN will be reactivated at no extra fee.
A tax PIN is a requirement in all business transactions. Any invoice issued by a taxpayer is not a valid tax invoice if it has no PIN. Since all KRA transactions are now online, any deactivated PIN will not be recognized by iTax hence inability to trade with others. Deactivation also affects the payroll since PAYE return will not be uploaded if it contains any deactivated PIN. ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED
Further, iTax is integrated with IFMIS, which is the main system used by government to make payments. The iTax platform is also linked to other key systems such as eCitizen and NSSF. This means that taxpayers cannot receive services from these institutions if their PINS are deactivated.
Commissioner of Domestic Taxes Department
