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{
    "id": 601894,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/601894/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 142,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Langat",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 384,
        "legal_name": "Benjamin Kipkirui Langat",
        "slug": "benjamin-langat"
    },
    "content": "Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to the Tax Procedures Bill. I just want to inform the House of a few issues about the Bill. First of all, the Bill was published on 11th June 2015. It went through the First Reading on 25th June 2015, and thereafter it was referred to my Committee pursuant to the Standing Order No.127. We placed an advert on the local dailies on 26th June 2015 calling on the public to send their memoranda as required by the Constitution. Subsequently, we received memoranda from the following:- (a) a firm known as Anjarwalla; (b) Price Water House Coopers; (c) Kenya Association of Manufacturers; (d) Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA); and, (e) the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK). We did a Report, which I tabled in this House a few weeks ago. We have proposed amendments which we are still agreeing on. In fact, my Committee will be travelling to Mombasa tomorrow to agree on some of the amendments to this Bill. Having given that communication to this House, this Bill contains provisions which are; the preliminary information, which is definition of terms, administration of tax laws, issues on taxpayers, record keeping, tax returns, tax assessment, collection and recovery of tax, refunds, tax decisions, objection and appeals, reinforcement, rulings, communication, forms and notices, administrative penalties and offences and consequential amendments. As it has been said, this Bill seeks to harmonise all the procedural issues, be it on the Income Tax, Value Added Tax or Excise Duty. We need to harmonise and simplify those procedures. If you go to the Times Tower around the time that we are supposed to file returns, you will see thousands and thousands of Kenyans queuing. Kenyans are used to late reaction. It is very important that we minimise the queues, which the public go through to file returns or even make payments. This Bill is coming at the right time to address the challenges that Kenyans face in trying to pay taxes to the Exchequer. Kenyans deserve to use a simplified procedure and a way in which they can transact with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) in the comfort of their offices or houses. This Bill is very timely. One of the clearest provisions of this Bill is the requirement that we go online. All our payments shall be done through an online system. That is a very important provision, so that we do not continue to see Kenyans queuing at the KRA offices. One should transact at their offices, file their returns and make any inquiry to the KRA online. The 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."
}