Public’s ideas at tax summit will help improve country’s systems

Tax is arguably one of the few disciplines whose impact touches every citizen in one way or another. Actually, besides death, Benjamin Franklin said the only other certain thing in life is tax.

Taxes constitute the bulk of resources required to run any country. Though taken for granted most of the times, revenue mobilised through tax payment is the key enabler for government to offer crucial services that citizens would not be able to fund individually.

It is on the backdrop of the many lives tax payment touches that the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has continued to promote public participation on taxation through various platforms. One such platform is the annual tax summit where great ideas and insights are shared for better tax administration.

This year’s summit is the sixth in a row since inception of this crucial event. The conference is part of the main activities and events in the annual Taxpayers Month, a period when KRA recognises and awards taxpayers for their outstanding contribution in nation building.

Due to the prevailing Covid-19 conditions, the tax summit will be held virtually for two days from November 4-5.

Adaptation to the new normal, which has been occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic, will be part of key discussions during the summit. Since the first coronavirus case was reported in the country, the adverse effects of the pandemic have been felt far and wide. The pandemic has not spared tax administration either as it has led to less productivity in the various sectors that generate revenues.

Th summit will bring together global experts, tax practitioners, academia, private sector players and senior government officials. Although KRA is the principal tax administrator in the country, there is always a need to source and pool varied ideas on how to best improve tax administration.

Apart from discussing the paradigm shift occasioned by the pandemic, the meeting seeks to develop new areas of partnership between KRA and various stakeholders with a common goal of achieving the objectives set out in the Big Four Agenda. The objectives of the Big Four and the Covid-19 pandemic, will be part of key discussions during the summit. Since the first case was reported in the country, the adverse effects of the pandemic have been felt far and wide. The pandemic has not spared tax administration either as it has led to less productivity in the various sectors that generate taxes.

KRA therefore invites members of the public to take part in the summit and share their thoughts on the best way to improve tax administration in Kenya. Every idea will go a long way in making our country better.

-The writer is the Head of Marketing and Communication at Kenya Revenue Authority