KRA Regional Manager Kevin Safari (right) dresses bodaboda riders in reflective jackets in Kisumu during sensitisation on road safety and tax remittance. [Photo|Standard Digital]
Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has moved to increase the number of taxpayers in Kisumu County.
KRA Western Regional Coordinator Kevin Safari said the authority is targeting to increase taxpayers in the lake-side county by 7,000 within the first quarter of 2018.
Speaking in Kisumu on Friday, Safari said they were focusing on the informal sector, to ensure small businesses play a role in revamping the turnover tax introduced last year.
He said the taxman has since launched an awareness campaign targeting the ever-growing boda-boda industry in the county.
"We appreciate revenue from every sector, that is why we are also reaching out to boda-boda operators," he said.
Safari spoke as he led KRA in donating reflector jackets to motorcyclists as part of their effort to contribute to road safety.
The camping has also been launched in other 10 counties as the authority seeks ways of expanding its tax base in the region.
He reported that from June 2017, KRA increased its tax base in Kisumu by about 3,600 new taxpayers, which he noted was a right move though a lot still needed to be done to increase the numbers.
Further, Safari said KRA has embarked on initiatives aimed at changing the negative public perception about paying taxes and encourage more people to file their returns.
"Some residents still fear KRA and they have been reluctant to pay their taxes. We want to change that perception," he said.
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