KRA’s 24-Hour Lifeline for Taxpayers Sparks Relief and Rush

KRA’s 24-Hour Lifeline for Taxpayers Sparks Relief and Rush

Thousands of Kenyans struggling to beat the tax return deadline now have a lifeline. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has extended the tax filing deadline by 24 hours, pushing it to midnight, Tuesday, July 1.

This dramatic decision followed nationwide frustration and panic after the iTax system experienced technical hitches on the night of June 30.KRA’s 24-Hour Lifeline for Taxpayers Sparks Relief and Rush

“We have opened the service lane! 24-hour extension up to tomorrow, July 1, 2025, midnight to file and pay your returns!”
— KRA announced in a public statement late Monday evening.

Immediately after the announcement, queues formed outside KRA service centres and cyber cafés. Many Kenyans, who had given up due to system delays, now scrambled to beat the new deadline.

To support the rush, KRA also announced that all service centres across the country would remain open from 8am to 8pm on Tuesday. Additionally, its contact centre will operate from 7am to 8pm.

“We are not just extending the deadline. We are extending our services too. Our teams are working extra hours,”
— a senior KRA official told the media.

The taxman reminded Kenyans that filing returns is mandatory for everyone with a KRA PIN, including employed individuals, business owners, landlords, farmers, and even the unemployed, who must file a NIL return.

“Even if your employer deducts PAYE, you must still file your own returns. That is the law,”
— KRA emphasized.

Failure to file comes with a price. Late filers face a minimum penalty of Ksh2,000 or 5% of the tax due—whichever is higher. Unpaid taxes also attract an additional 5% penalty, and 1% interest per month.

Earlier in May, KRA had hinted at congestion concerns and extended working hours across all its service points, including Huduma Centres.

“We anticipated last-minute pressure. That’s why we began preparations early. But the system hiccups were unexpected,”
— a source within the tax authority revealed.

The extension comes as a huge relief for many Kenyans who had been caught up in system glitches and last-minute confusion.

“I thought I had missed the deadline. I’m so grateful for the extra day,”
— said Jackson M., a Nairobi-based entrepreneur.

ALSO READ: KRA Launches Simplified PAYE System to Ease Employers’ Tax Burden

KRA’s 24-Hour Lifeline for Taxpayers Sparks Relief and Rush