Ukur Yatani’s Tax Dispute Cash Deposit Plan Stirs Storm

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Tax authorities have faulted a proposal by the Countrywide Treasury that firms and people preventing Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) in court docket over tax calls for, deposit 50 p.c of the disputed total in a Central Lender of Kenya account stating it will damage small business.

Treasury Cupboard Secretary Ukur Yatani even though offering the 2022/23 finances on Thursday proposed amendments to the Tax Tribunals Act, 2013, to need that any company concerned in a row with the authority, should really deposit 50 p.c of the quantity KRA promises to be owed just before continuing to charm, should KRA win at the Tax Appeals Tribunal.

Mr Yatani explained the transfer was meant to safeguard the disputed tax revenue. “We have pointed out that tax disputes just take much too lengthy to conclude, primarily following judgement by the Tax Appeals Tribunal. In get to guard the disputed tax income, I suggest to amend the Tax Appeals Tribunal Act, 2013 to require a deposit of 50 % of the disputed tax revenue in a distinctive account at the Central Financial institution of Kenya when the Tribunal tends to make a ruling in favour of the Commissioner-Basic KRA as the taxpayer proceeds to attractiveness the selection,” the CS said.

50 per cent deposit

In the proposal, he said, should the taxpayer get the charm in court, the cash ought to be refunded inside of 30 times.

“I have also proposed that in scenario the taxpayer gets judgment in his or her favour on final dedication of the make any difference, the 50 p.c deposit shall be refunded to the taxpayer inside 30 days after the closing perseverance of the subject by the Courts,” he mentioned.

The proposal has, even so, captivated sharp criticism from tax authorities, who argue that it dangers killing small enterprises without having sufficient financial muscle mass.

They also see the go as 1 that will drinking water down endeavours toward simplicity of carrying out business in the region, force corporations to near down, and fireplace employees, thus repelling investments.

“The introduction of the prerequisite to deposit 50 percent of the disputed tax sum the place a taxpayer intends to attractiveness an unfavourable ruling sent by the Tax Appeals Tribunal is a retrogressive proposal from an relieve of doing company in Kenya, especially supplied the time it usually takes to conclusively ascertain issues by courts,” Solomon Kihanga, a tax supervisor with KPMG explained.

Tax Appeals Tribunal

The skilled also forged doubts on the independence of the Tax Appeals Tribunal, which they say has in the previous handed KRA favourable judgments in about 60 p.c of the situations it handles, inspite of most of them becoming overturned by the courts upon attractiveness.

“How can you be essential to spend for a little something that has not been confirmed? This proposal is heading to hurt organizations in a big way due to the fact their cash flows will be eroded, functions will be afflicted and work will be missing,” stated Mr Erick Nondi, a tax expert in Nairobi.

Mr Nondi argued that small companies in certain facial area the danger of closing down since they will have substantially a lot less muscle mass to enchantment tribunal judgments, quite a few of which would be overturned by courts.

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