KRA Rules Out Extension of June 30 Tax Filing Deadline, Warns of Penalties
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has ruled out extending the June 30 deadline for filing 2025 income tax returns, warning taxpayers that failure to submit their returns on time could result in penalties and default tax assessments.
In a statement issued Saturday, the tax authority said the statutory deadline remains unchanged despite concerns raised by some taxpayers over recent technical challenges affecting access to the iTax platform.
“KRA wishes to remind taxpayers that there will be no extension of the filing deadline. All returns must be submitted on or before June 30, 2026, in accordance with the law,” the authority said.
KRA urged taxpayers who have not yet filed their returns to do so before midnight on Tuesday, warning against waiting until the final hours when heavy traffic on its online platforms could slow processing times.
The authority also cautioned that taxpayers who fail to file their annual returns by the deadline risk more than monetary penalties. It said non-compliance could trigger default tax assessments, under which KRA estimates a taxpayer’s liability using available information and issues an assessment accordingly.
The agency said millions of Kenyans have already filed their income tax returns, although it did not disclose the exact number of submissions received so far.
“Filing your tax return is more than a legal obligation; it is a contribution to national development. Every return filed supports transparency, strengthens the tax system, and helps the government finance essential public services that benefit all Kenyans,” KRA said.
To ease the filing process, the authority said taxpayers can submit their returns through the iTax portal, the eCitizen platform, its WhatsApp service and the USSD code 2225#.
KRA added that it has extended operating hours at its Contact Centre, Huduma Centres, KRA Service Centres and Ushuru Mashinani Service Partners to assist taxpayers seeking support before the deadline.
The announcement comes a day after some taxpayers reported intermittent difficulties accessing the iTax portal, including delays in logging into their accounts and receiving one-time passwords required to complete the filing process.
Responding to the complaints, KRA said the technical issues had been resolved and assured taxpayers that its digital systems were operating normally.
Under Kenya’s tax laws, every registered taxpayer, including those with no taxable income during the year, is required to file an annual income tax return by June 30. Failure to comply may attract statutory penalties, interest charges and enforcement measures by the tax authority.
