As Easter Checks in a Day or So, Have You Fulfilled This All Important Duty to Your Country?
A popular saying goes that when you give then in return you shall receive. So my question to you this Easter is what are you doing to help out the needy in the society? What are you doing to make the world a better place than you left it? What are you doing to make sure your obligations as a citizen are fulfilled?
And believe me it can be the little things that most of us that people overlook. Like making a stop at the fast food joint on your way from work, buying some fries and giving them to some street urchins who probably haven’t eaten the whole day. It could be mentoring that kid just fresh from University stuck and wondering how to start life or it could be as much as fulfilling an obligation like that of paying taxes.
Yes taxes, trust me it’s the most sustainable and easiest way of doing the right thing and making the world a better place. Like have you heard of the as Residential Rental Income tax? Tax which is payable by any resident person from income which is accrued in or was derived from Kenya for the use of residential property and which does not exceed ten million shillings (Kshs. 10 million) during any year of income?
Probably not so let me school you a little bit. The Finance Act 2015 introduced a new Section6A in the Income Tax Act Cap 470 Laws of Kenya, which provides for a simplified tax regime on rental income. Basically it’s a 10% charged on gross rent received on monthly basis. So if you have some rentals somewhere, then this is a perfect opportunity to establish yourself as a responsible citizen and ensure future generations have the best set up for them.
And this 10% might seem minute but it has the ability to make a humongous difference. It can for example help to improve our infrastructure so that the farmer way deep in the rift valley can be able to make sure his fresh produce first of all gets to the market courtesy of good roads and secondly it gets there on time. This 10% can also ensure our hospitals are facilitated with the latest equipment which ensures fast and effective medical attention to everyone in need. This 10% can also make sure a kid in Moyale goes to school and makes good of his life and family. I could go on and on but I bet by now you get the drill.
And you don’t have to endure long lines and bureaucratic procedures to make your presence felt, you can file your returns from the comfort of your home sipping a cold beer and nibbling on some goat ribs through iTax.
All you required to do is to prepare a rent schedule for all let property showing the number of property, rent received per property and gross rent received. This should be followed by completing a monthly tax return online via iTax which computes the deduction automatically. See, easy like a Sunday morning!
And if you think I’m bluffing, log into the KRA website for more information or better still, contact:
- Maurice Okelo on Tel +254(020)2715540/2717611/2717642/2718513 Ext.2201 Email;
- Rose Kiendi Ext. 2036, Email;
- Josephine Mugure Ext 2025,Email;
If that’s not enough proof, enquiries can also be to the KRA Call Centre; Tel: +254 (020)4999999/+254 (0711) 099 999 or via email:callcentre@kra.go.ke. You may also contact the KRA Help Desk on Tel: +254 (020) 2816095 or visit the Desk at Times Tower Building, Ground Floor or the nearest KRA Station for assistance. You can also communicate with us via email; rentalincome@kra.go.ke
