• September 26, 2023
  • Raf Peter
  • 0

In the quest of Kenyan Government to broaden tax base and increase more taxes, the tax man, Kenya Revenue Authority carried out a rigorous training at Kenya Defence Forces Recruits Training School in Eldoret.  On 26th of august, 1400 recruits graduated as Revenue Service Assistants (RSA) and were all tasked with implementing radical methods to modernize tax administration, which includes revenue mobilization.

Revenue Service Assistants (RSAs) are vital in assisting the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) in its aim to collect taxes in an efficient and effective manner. Their efforts can have a substantial impact on revenue collection through improving compliance, providing better services to taxpayers, and streamlining tax administration.

Here are a few ways in which Revenue Service Assistants will assist KRA in collecting more taxes:

  1. Taxpayer Education and Awareness: RSAs will run taxpayer education programs to educate people about their tax obligations and advantages. They are expected to educate individuals and businesses on the significance of paying taxes, the numerous tax breaks available, and the penalties for noncompliance. Taxpayers who are more informed are more likely to voluntarily comply with tax laws.
  2. Tax Return Assistance: RSAs will be involved in assisting taxpayers to prepare and file their tax returns. They can assist taxpayers in understanding the tax forms, deductions, and credits to which they are entitled. This can help to prevent tax filing errors and guarantee that taxpayers pay the correct amount of tax.
  3. Responding to Taxpayer: RSAs will act as a point of contact for taxpayers, answering their inquiries and concerns. Responding to taxpayer inquiries in a timely and accurate manner helps promote trust and confidence in the tax system, encouraging compliance.
  4. Voluntary Compliance Facilitation: RSAs will actively encourage voluntary compliance by reaching out to firms and individuals who may be at risk of noncompliance. They can advise clients on compliance requirements, assist in resolving tax concerns, and help taxpayers set up payment plans as needed.
  5. Taxpayer Registration: RSAs will help new taxpayers register and ensure that all eligible taxpayers are correctly registered. Accurate taxpayer records are critical for tracking compliance and effectively collecting taxes.
  6. Data Collection and Analysis: RSAs will also collect information about numerous economic activities that take place under their jurisdiction. This information can be utilized to detect possible tax evaders or businesses functioning in the shadow economy. KRA can enhance tax revenues by focusing on these areas.
  7. Enforcement Support: While RSAs may not have been mandated to directly enforce tax collections, they can help enforcement authorities by providing information, discovering non-compliant individuals, and expediting the enforcement process.
  8. Tax Compliance Audits: RSAs will conduct preliminary tax compliance audits in order to detect potential areas of noncompliance. This data can be used to prioritize audits and identify high-risk taxpayers.
  9. Utilization of Technology: RSAs have been trained to use tax administration software and technologies successfully. This will help enhance overall efficiency by streamlining tax collection operations, reducing manual errors, and streamlining tax collection processes.
  10. Feedback Mechanism: RSAs provides valuable feedback to KRA by transmitting information from the field concerning taxpayer concerns, compliance issues, and process improvement suggestions.

In conclusion, Revenue Service Assistants serves as a critical link between KRA and taxpayers. Their role in teaching, supporting, and interacting with taxpayers has the potential to boost voluntary compliance, reduce tax evasion, and eventually contribute to increased tax collections. However, it is critical to offer proper training, resources, and support to RSAs in order for them to carry out their tasks successfully and professionally. Furthermore, regular monitoring and evaluation of their performance can assist KRA in constantly improving its tax collecting efforts.

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