Taxpayers whose details on the Shuru WhatsApp tax filing platform do not match the information on their P9 forms received guidance from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to stop using the platform when submitting their returns.
KRA told taxpayers who notice a mismatch to use the IT1 return template for their annual filings instead.
The directive followed complaints from taxpayers who spotted discrepancies between the figures Shuru produces automatically and the figures shown on employer-issued P9 forms.
Taxpayers said Shuru sometimes generates figures that do not align with the information in their P9 forms, which makes it harder for some of them to file accurate returns.
KRA explained that the figures shown on Shuru come from employers’ Pay As You Earn (PAYE) returns submitted to the tax authority. Because of this, the numbers may not always match what appears on an individual’s P9 form.
KRA also told taxpayers who face the same issue to stop using Shuru and file their returns using the IT1 template. That way, they can report information that aligns with their P9.
“Please note that the figures from Shuru are derived from the employer’s PAYE returns. If the figures in Shuru do not match those on your P9 form, kindly file using the IT1 return template so that you can declare in line with your P9,” KRA said.
This guidance effectively removes the need for taxpayers to rely on Shuru when their Shuru-generated figures differ from their P9 details, and it directs them to use another filing option instead.
The advice comes as thousands of Kenyans rush to submit their annual income tax returns ahead of the June 30 deadline.
As June 30 nears, the tax authority says it will auto-file returns for anyone who has not submitted by then, using a default assessment under section 29 of the Tax Procedures Act. This provision allows KRA to determine tax obligations on the basis of available information.
KRA says it will rely on data already stored in its systems to complete the filings.