Times Tower building in Nairobi, Kenya/ Courtesy.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 8 – The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) exceeded its target collection in October by Sh12.1 billion to hit Sh154.3 billion against a target of Sh142.2 billion.

The performance was pumped up by Customs & Border Control (C&BC) collections that went up to  Sh57.3 billion against a set target of Sh51.2 billion and Domestic Taxes with a collection of Sh96.6 billion against a target of Sh90.7 billion recording a surplus of Sh5.9 Billion.

PAYE registered a collection of Sh37 billion against a target of  Sh36.4 billion. 

Commissioner General Githii Mburu said the sustained strong performance is a reflection of the improving global economic environment as well as the implementation of revenue enhancement initiatives by the Authority. 

In July to September,  the taxman surpassed its target Sh461.6 by Sh15 billion. Cumulatively collections from July to October are at Sh631 billion against a target of Sh603 billion. 

“The improved performance is further anchored on the implementation of key strategies as espoused in the 8th Corporate Plan including tax base expansion which focuses on bringing citizens and businesses previously not paying taxes into the tax net,” Mburu added. 

KRA has enhanced compliance efforts that focus on ensuring taxpayers file returns and pay correct taxes.

The authority has also been addressing tax evasion and illicit trade which focuses on ensuring businesses whose profitability model is based on tax evasion are investigated and taxes recovered.

Additionally, the authority has deployed the use of data and intelligence to unearth unpaid taxes.

“The Authority is optimistic that sustained compliance efforts will continue to yield positive outcomes for the country,” Mburu said.