Thousands of Kenyans racing against the clock to beat the annual tax filing deadline can now breathe a sigh of relief after the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) announced a 24-hour extension to the deadline.
The move, triggered by system slowdowns on the final day, pushes the cut-off to midnight, Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
In a statement posted late Monday night, KRA said the extension aims to accommodate the surge in traffic to the iTax portal, which experienced intermittent outages and lags throughout the day.
“We have opened the service lane! 24-hour extension up to tomorrow, July 1, 2025, midnight to file and pay your returns!” the authority posted on social media.
To support the extended window, KRA’s contact centre will operate between 7:00 am and 8:00 pm, while tax offices and service centres countrywide will remain open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.
The iTax platform has become a crucial tool for both salaried and self-employed taxpayers in declaring their annual income and fulfilling their legal obligations. Even individuals with no income are required to submit a nil return to remain compliant.
KRA has emphasized that tax compliance extends beyond those in formal employment. Business owners, landlords, farmers, and freelancers are all expected to disclose their income streams and file appropriate returns. Failure to comply attracts a penalty of either five percent of the tax due or Ksh 2,000—whichever is higher.
KRA also reminded Kenyans that unpaid taxes post-deadline attract further penalties, including a five percent surcharge on the outstanding amount and one percent monthly interest until full payment is made.
The authority had previously extended operating hours in May in anticipation of the June 30 surge, but Monday’s technical challenges made a further deadline shift inevitable.
The grace period is expected to ease congestion both online and in physical tax offices, allowing more Kenyans to file in time and avoid penalties.
