KRA Extends Tax Filing Deadline to July 1 Amid Technical Glitches

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has extended the annual tax return filing deadline by 24 hours, offering a lifeline to thousands of Kenyans who were racing against the clock to comply.

Originally set to expire at midnight on Monday, June 30, the new deadline now gives taxpayers until midnight on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, to file and pay their tax returns.

According to KRA, the extension was prompted by technical challenges experienced on its iTax platform during the final day of filing.

“We have opened the service lane! 24-hour extension up to tomorrow, July 1, 2025, midnight to file and pay your returns!” the authority said in a statement released Monday evening.

To support last-minute filers, the KRA contact centre will remain operational between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Additionally, tax offices across the country will stay open for extended hours—from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.—to provide assistance.

The taxman emphasized that filing annual returns is a mandatory legal requirement for all eligible taxpayers, including salaried employees, business owners, landlords, and farmers. Even those with no income must file a NIL return.

KRA also reminded salaried employees that filing remains a separate legal obligation, even if employers already deduct and remit Pay As You Earn (PAYE).

Self-employed individuals and those with rental or farming income must declare all earnings from their various income streams.

Failure to file returns by the deadline attracts a penalty of 5% of the tax due or Ksh2,000—whichever is higher. Additional penalties include 5% of any unpaid tax and a monthly interest of 1% until the outstanding amount is settled.

In a similar move earlier in May, KRA had extended working hours at all service centres and Huduma Centres to ease pressure from a surge in taxpayers filing their 2024 returns.

The current extension is part of KRA’s continued efforts to enhance compliance, reduce congestion, and address technical issues during the final hours of the annual tax filing season.

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KRA Extends Tax Filing Deadline to July 1 Amid Technical Glitches