The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is set to review the policy taxing travellers arriving into the country through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) with items worth USD500 (Ksh.75,000) and above following public outrage.
While addressing the media on Friday, Government Spokesperson Issac Mwaura said the authority was working to review the threshold to meet international standards of $10,000 (Ksh.1.5 million) since the enforced $500 is an East African margin.
“The $500 threshold is an East African Custom regulation and I have engaged KRA Director General Humphrey Wattanga and that law is going to be reviewed because the international standard is 10,000 dollars. You will increasingly see us speaking from the same point view,” said Mwaura.
KRA has since announced in a notice that the plans are underway to review the Ksh.75,000 passenger goods restriction to a higher value to make it tax-friendlier for compliance.
KRA further stated that all used personal items or effects are exempt from customs duties and urged passengers to self-declare the actual price of imported goods which are subject to customs duty.
“As per the law affecting all East African Countries, goods of up to the value of USD 500 for each traveller are exempted from import tax, in so far as the baggage is accompanied and declared to the Customs Officer. However, KRA is in the process of reviewing this regulation to a higher limit and this shall be communicated to the public in due course,” KRA said.
KRA has been under fire over the new push to collect taxes from travellers’ personal and household items following the National Assembly’s Finance and planning Committee to summon senior management.
