KRA Urges Employees to Verify P9 Forms Before Filing Tax Returns

KRA Urges Employees to Verify P9 Forms Before Filing Tax Returns

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has advised salaried employees to carefully verify details on their P9 forms before submitting annual income tax returns, warning that discrepancies could lead to errors, penalties, or delayed processing.

In a public advisory issued on Saturday, March 14, the tax authority urged workers to ensure that the income declared in their returns matches the figures recorded by their employers, particularly Pay As You Earn (PAYE) deductions remitted throughout the year.

A P9 form is an official document provided by employers summarising an employee’s total earnings and taxes deducted over a full calendar year. It typically includes gross salary, allowances, bonuses, PAYE contributions, and statutory deductions such as pension contributions, the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), and the Affordable Housing Levy.

“Salaried Kenyans, this is for you. This employment income story is very simple,” KRA stated in its guidance. “If you were employed in 2025, your employer was deducting PAYE every month and sending it to KRA.”

The authority emphasised that employees should cross-check their declared income against the P9 form to confirm accuracy before filing via the iTax system.

“Ensure your income matches what is in P9. Then confirm PAYE was deducted properly,” the agency said. “That is what the taxman was paying you every month.”

Beyond income verification, KRA urged taxpayers to review all statutory deductions and reliefs automatically reflected in the system. These deductions—including pension contributions, SHIF payments, and housing levy contributions—play a critical role in determining the final tax payable or refund due.

“The system also automatically sets reliefs… things like SHIF, pension, and Affordable Housing,” KRA explained. “Just make sure they are there so you don’t end up counting minuses.”

Tax experts note that failure to verify these figures can result in underpayment or overpayment of taxes, both of which may trigger compliance checks or require amendments later.

Once employees confirm that all details are accurate, they can proceed to file returns through KRA’s iTax portal, download an acknowledgment receipt, and retain it for future reference.

For taxpayers experiencing technical difficulties or uncertainties during the filing process, KRA has encouraged direct contact with its customer support services.

“When you’re done, submit a return, download a receipt, and that’s it,” the authority stated. “If you get stuck, this is the number to call: 0711 099 999.”

The advisory comes amid increased enforcement efforts targeting individuals who submitted nil returns—indicating no income—despite evidence suggesting they earned taxable income during 2025. According to KRA, its data-matching systems can detect financial activity linked to Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), including employment records, bank transactions, and third-party reports.

In recent weeks, the authority has reportedly issued SMS notifications to affected individuals and companies, informing them that discrepancies had been identified and urging them to review their filings.

Analysts say the move reflects broader efforts by KRA to improve tax compliance and expand revenue collection without increasing tax rates. By encouraging accurate self-reporting, the agency aims to reduce disputes while ensuring fairness across the tax system.

KRA also reminded taxpayers that filing accurate returns is a legal obligation and a key component of national revenue generation used to fund public services, infrastructure, and development programmes.

“We’ve been taxed. Let’s be self-reliant,” the authority concluded, urging employees to take personal responsibility for verifying their financial records before submission.

With the filing deadline approaching, millions of salaried Kenyans are expected to access the iTax portal in the coming weeks, making accuracy and early preparation crucial to avoiding last-minute complications.

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KRA Urges Employees to Verify P9 Forms Before Filing Tax Returns