Friday, May 08, 2026
- The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has moved to calm public concerns by
clarifying that only commercial transactions conducted through business payment
channels such as Paybill and Till Numbers will be tracked under its mobile
money tax system integration.
Speaking during the Meru Citizen Assembly on Thursday, May 7th,
Commissioner for Micro and Small Taxpayers, George Obell, assured taxpayers
that peer‑to‑peer transfers remain outside the scope of taxation.
“It is significant to understand that KRA is not interested
in personal transactions, which include personal transfers between individuals
such as sending money to family members, friends or relatives,” he stated.
Obell explained that the Authority’s focus is strictly on
commercial transactions carried out through merchant platforms used for trade
and business purposes.
He emphasized that personal transfers are non‑commercial and
therefore exempt from monitoring.
The clarification comes amid heightened privacy concerns
following reports that KRA intends to link real‑time tax systems to mobile
money platforms.
Obell noted that the Authority is working closely with
payment service providers and financial institutions to enhance compliance
while safeguarding customer privacy.
He disclosed that KRA is developing a solution known as the
Virtual Electronic Tax Register (Virtual ETR), designed to support businesses
receiving payments through digital platforms.
The system will enable issuance of electronic tax invoices
at the point of payment or receipt, ensuring seamless compliance with
electronic tax invoice requirements.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
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