The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has heightened its scrutiny of certain nil income tax filers after identifying revenue linked to their personal identification numbers (PINs). KRA revenue service assistants want to enhance compliance. Messages sent to individuals by KRA and shared online revealed that some taxpayers, despite filing no returns for 2024, had recent transactions indicating income earned in 2025. Which directive did KRA issue? The taxman has instructed these individuals to visit the iTax platform to settle any outstanding taxes, noting that their pre-populated 2025 forms have already been prepared. “Records indicate that while you filed a nil income tax return for 2024, you earned income in 2025 as evidenced by your eTIMS transmissions. Consequently, your pre-populated 2025 income tax return is ready for filing. Please log in to iTax to file your return and pay any tax due. For assistance, call 0711 0999 999,” the message read.
KRA highlighted that it examines eTIMS records and employer-submitted data to identify taxpayers whose reported income does not align with their most recent filed returns. When the authority detects that an individual earned income in 2025 but had previously filed a nil return, KRA flags the account and generates a pre-populated return for review. This measure is part of KRA’s ongoing efforts to increase tax compliance and revenue collection. How is KRA enhancing compliance? The government’s principal revenue collector earlier introduced stricter validation guidelines to further enhance its monitoring and enforcement efforts. KRA stated in a notice dated November 10, 2025, that the initiative’s aims were to connect taxpayer data with computerised records in order to increase accuracy and compliance. “KRA would like to notify the public, stakeholders, and taxpayers that it will start verifying income and expenses reported on both personal and non-individual income tax returns on January 1, 2026. Subject to the exceptions allowed by Section 23A of the Tax Procedures Act, every declared income and expense must be accompanied by a legitimate electronic tax invoice that has been accurately supplied with the buyer’s PIN, if applicable,” it stated.
KRA CG Humphrey Wattanga hopes to expand the tax base. Photo: Humphrey Wattanga. Source: Twitter Which features did KRA introduce in nil return filing? Following a brief suspension that left taxpayers confused, KRA reintroduced the nil return filing option earlier this month. The move follows the completion of enhanced system validations aimed at curbing widespread abuse and strengthening tax compliance ahead of the June 2026 income tax return deadline. The taxman explained that once the new checks are fully activated in the iTax system, the restored nil filing option will only apply to 2025 income tax returns submitted after March 31, 2026. KRA identified over 392,000 tax evaders in its system.
