Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1003158,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1003158/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 242,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "There are quite a number of other items in tax exempt that are recommended to be moved to standard. This is aimed at creating around Kshs8 billion. The Government has indicated that most exemptions are given before they are seriously reviewed. So, tax exemptions will be given only on essential commodities. In the Bill, there other proposals that are listed, apart from removal of tax exemptions. There is a proposal to adjust the threshold under the Excise Duty. Also, there is a proposal which seeks to reduce the threshold for alcohol strength from over 10 per cent to 8 per cent for tax purposes. This will enable collection of more taxes to the tune of Kshs1.5 billion. However, we will be proposing amendments to move it further to 6 per cent so that we can collect close to Kshs4 billion. There is also a proposal for voluntary tax disclosure programme. In this programme, the National Treasury proposes that if any Kenyan has not been declaring their income properly, it will allow them to declare what they were supposed to pay and after declaring, they will be allowed to pay the tax declared without paying any penalty and interest. This proposal is for three years starting now henceforth. But you can declare five years backwards. This will create a good environment for people to get to the level of compliance because many businesses are not sure about their compliance level. So, once you declare, you will be excused for the sins of the past. I remember when the COVID-19 pandemic started, there was a lot of fear. As you know, most Kenyans normally buy used clothes popularly known as “ Mitumba”. But Kenyans do not know that Kenya is the best producer of high-quality clothes. Most of the clothes that are sold in the United States of America (USA) and United Kingdom (UK) are manufactured here in Kenya at the Export Processing Zones (EPZ). At EPZ, there was a limitation on the threshold of releasing to the Kenyan market at around 20 per cent. So, out of the 100 per cent produced, only 20 per cent was sold locally. Therefore, this did not have a lot of impact in terms of pricing. In terms of promoting local manufacture and helping Kenyans to buy new and quality clothes, the Government has relaxed that limit. Therefore, most companies are now able to release up to 50 per cent of what they produce to be sold locally. In fact, Kenyans should know that they can get good clothes from EPZ. This is a message to the businesspeople that they should not wait The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}