The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has announced plans to launch an online chatbot designed to assist small businesses by offering them easy access to accurate and timely tax-related information.
According to George Obell, the Commissioner for the Micro and Small Taxpayers Department, this chatbot will serve as a helpful tool for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
It will provide answers to their common questions about tax compliance, helping them better understand their responsibilities.
“This new chatbot is being developed to respond to the many concerns MSME taxpayers often have about taxes,” Obell said during a roundtable discussion held in Nairobi focused on MSMEs. “It will also support our current nationwide taxpayer education and awareness campaign.”
Obell emphasized that the KRA is committed to creating a more simplified tax system for small businesses, making it easier for them to register, file tax returns, and make payments.
He noted that the KRA’s goal is to help MSMEs meet their tax obligations voluntarily while ensuring fairness across the tax system.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy to acknowledge and strengthen the important role that MSMEs play in Kenya’s economic growth. By making tax procedures more accessible and efficient, the KRA hopes to increase revenue contributions from this critical sector.
James Mureu, the Chairman of the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), praised KRA’s efforts in establishing a dedicated department to support MSMEs.
He said this move reflects the government’s recognition of the value and potential of small businesses within the national tax landscape.
“We see the KRA as not just a tax collector, but a strategic partner who can help us grow,” Mureu stated.
“We must continue having honest and productive discussions to develop policies that unlock the full potential of our small enterprises, helping them thrive and contribute to Kenya’s economic progress.”
The roundtable brought together key stakeholders in the MSME sector to discuss pressing issues, particularly the challenges small businesses face in complying with tax regulations.
Participants agreed that KRA’s approach should go beyond enforcement and focus more on offering supportive, growth-oriented solutions for small enterprises.
At the end of the session, the KRA reaffirmed its dedication to maintaining open dialogue with MSMEs and other stakeholders.
The authority committed to organizing more such engagements in the future to better understand the specific needs of small businesses and to co-develop practical solutions.
The aim is to create a more business-friendly environment that encourages voluntary tax compliance and strengthens the ease of doing business in Kenya.
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