NAIROBI, Kenya — On Tuesday, KRA announced yet another extension of the annual tax return filing deadline, this time pushing it to midnight, July 5, 2025.
But that’s not the only olive branch. The authority has also waived all penalties and interest accrued, as long as you file by the new date.
Why the mercy mission? According to KRA, the last-minute digital stampede on June 30 overwhelmed its iTax platform, causing widespread service disruptions that left taxpayers stuck in a loading loop. Sound familiar?
“Cognisant of the challenges faced by taxpayers and in line with Section 89 (5a)(b) of the Tax Procedures Act,” the statement reads, “KRA assures the public that we will waive any interest or penalties for returns filed by July 5.”
So if you’ve been side-eying that “Pending iTax Login” tab, now’s the time to act.
The extension comes after KRA’s initial 24-hour grace period on July 1 failed to absorb the tsunami of procrastinators — because, let’s be honest, filing taxes on the final day is practically a Kenyan tradition.
With queues piling up and online traffic choking servers, it became clear that one more day wasn’t going to cut it.
To help ease the crunch, KRA has also extended its service centre hours across the country, opening from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., offering on-site support for confused filers, and keeping the help desks buzzing.
And here’s your gentle reminder: every Kenyan with a KRA PIN must file an annual return — yes, even if you didn’t make a shilling last year. Students and jobseekers?
That’s what a Nil return is for. Business owners, farmers, landlords, side hustlers, or anyone earning income outside of formal employment — you’re expected to report it. And for employees, even if your boss already deducts PAYE, you’re still legally required to file using your P9 form.
The consequences for ignoring the deadline? Not pretty. KRA slaps late filers with a penalty of 5% of the tax due or Sh2,000, whichever is higher. And trust us, they mean it.
For weeks, KRA has been going all in — extending hours, setting up extra support desks, and flooding social media with reminders — all to get Kenyans to meet their civic duty and file those returns.
So if you’re still in tax limbo, consider this your final boarding call. The system is up, the deadline is ticking, and — for now — the penalties are off the table. File now or pay later. Literally.
