KRA Breaks Silence as Thousands Struggle to File Tax Returns Ahead of June 30 Deadline
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has dismissed widespread claims that its online tax filing system has crashed, even as thousands of taxpayers reported experiencing difficulties accessing the iTax portal just hours before the June 30 filing deadline.
Frustrated taxpayers took to social media on Monday to complain that they were unable to log into their iTax accounts, with many encountering repeated error messages while attempting to submit their annual income tax returns.
Responding to the growing concerns, KRA insisted that its digital systems remain fully operational and urged taxpayers experiencing difficulties to try alternative web browsers or wait and attempt to access the portal later.
“Kindly note that all our systems are working seamlessly. Kindly try using a different browser or give it some time before you can try again,” KRA said in a statement.
Despite the assurance, numerous users continued reporting access problems, saying they had been locked out of their accounts or were unable to complete the filing process due to persistent system errors.
The technical challenges were not limited to the iTax portal alone. Taxpayers using Shuru, KRA’s WhatsApp tax filing assistant, also reported widespread glitches.
According to several users, the chatbot failed to recognise valid KRA Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), while others who managed to proceed experienced delays in receiving the mandatory One-Time Password (OTP) required to complete the filing process.
The difficulties have sparked anxiety among taxpayers racing against time to beat the statutory filing deadline, especially after KRA categorically ruled out extending the submission period.
In a statement issued over the weekend, the authority reiterated that all annual tax returns must be filed on or before Tuesday, June 30, 2026, stressing that the deadline is provided for under the law and would not be extended despite concerns over technical challenges.
“KRA wishes to remind taxpayers that there will be no extension of the filing deadline. All returns must be submitted on or before June 30, 2026, in accordance with the law,” the authority said.
The tax agency further warned that failure to file returns by the deadline could have serious financial consequences beyond the standard late-filing penalties.
According to KRA, taxpayers who fail to submit their returns on time risk being subjected to default tax assessments, a process where the authority estimates a taxpayer’s liability based on available information, potentially resulting in higher tax obligations that must later be disputed or settled.
With only hours remaining before the deadline, taxpayers continue hoping that the reported access challenges will ease, even as KRA maintains that its systems are functioning normally and encourages users to keep trying until they successfully submit their returns.
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