How to pay KRA taxes, other services via Government paybill

A display of mobile (M-Pesa) paybill menu. [Elvis Ogina. Standard]

All tax payments made through mobile money transactions will be paid via the official government Paybill number, 222 222, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has announced.

KRA, in a statement on Friday, November 17, said the changes are effective immediately, in line with the Presidential directive to move government services to one payment platform.

The Authority is among 17 State agencies that were issued with a 30-day ultimatum to join the e-Citizen paybill, following President Ruto's directive in June this year.
The agencies are all required to comply by December 15.

How to pay;

Taxpayers making tax payments via mobile money will be required to: "Use the Payment Registration Number (PRN) or the reference number on the payment slips generated from KRA business systems such as iTax, iCMS, EGMS, and KESRA iStudent as the account number via mobile money."

Payments can also be made by dialing *222#, select the 'Pay KRA bill' option, enter the e-slip (PRN) number, select the payment method as M-Pesa, and then enter your PIN to complete the payment.

Another option to pay via mobile money, customers will enter the 222222 paybill number on their sim tool kit, then enter the PRN, key in the amount, and then your M-pesa pin to complete the payment.

The National Treasury had earlier stated that the official identifier of citizens shall be one's National Identity Card number while foreigners shall use an Alien Identity Card number.

The digital payment platform is integrated with all available electronic payment platforms including mobile money telephone payment services.

"The Government has developed the eCitizen.go.ke Digital Payments Platform through which citizens and all persons will be able to pay for government services" the gazette notice dated December 20, 2022 read.

Other services under the portal include; land searches, birth and death registrations, and motor vehicle ownership among other services.

Last week, the government summoned the heads and management of 17 State agencies over failure to comply with the presidential directive on e-Citizen payments.

They included; Principal Secretaries, Chief Executive Officers, and Board Chairpersons who were tasked to explain why they are 'frustrating' the eCitizen payment process, by allegedly advertising unofficial payment channels.