Home DIASPORA NEWS Kenyans in the Diaspora Must Declare Investments They’ve Made Abroad, KRA Says

Kenyans in the Diaspora Must Declare Investments They’ve Made Abroad, KRA Says

By
John Wanjohi
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2
53
Kenyans in the Diaspora Must Declare Investments They've Made Abroad, KRA Says

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) says Kenyans in the diaspora must declare the investments they have made in the host countries when they file their tax returns.

Speaking on Citizen TV’s Citizen Extra program on Monday, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Chief Manager for Domestic Taxes Department Judith Njagi urged Kenyans living and working abroad to ensure they remit their returns ahead of the June 30th deadline to avoid penalties.

“Kenyans in the diaspora must file their returns, they have to declare the investments they have done there,” she said.

“In cases where there is double taxation for those who are in the diaspora, they will be given a refund of the taxes paid there,” Ms Njagi assured.

The law requires any Kenyan who has a Personal Identification Number (PIN), whether based in the country or abroad, to file returns annually, including a nil return.

Failure to file returns before the June 30th deadline attracts a fine of Sh20, 000 under the Tax Procedures Act number 29 of 2015.

Last year, KRA said earning income abroad doesn’t exempt one from declaring it since it may be deemed to be accrued from Kenya.

The agency also noted that assets or property held overseas by Kenyan citizens must be declared, if proceeds derived from the assets or property are intended to be repatriated to Kenya.

“If you are a tax resident in Kenya earning income abroad that is deemed to be accrued or derived from Kenya, then such income should be declared for amnesty if you had not declared it before,” KRA said.

 

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53 COMMENTS

    • @Anna Kamau says somewhere …
      @Anna Kamau says somewhere (below) that: If “a Kenyan-American owns apartment complex in Kenya and makes $24K per year, that should go on both US and Kenyan tax return filing for that year regardless to be in compliant with law and avoid huge headaches when either or both find out.” Huh?

      • Everyone is ready to pay…
        Everyone is ready to pay taxes but we want it be accounted for.
        Why shud we overpay salaries insurance to elected and constitunal offices in expense of poor overtaxed Kenyans.
        This issue of 20k penalty is bulshit.
        All monies stolen must be returned.
        All land that belonged to kenyans was taken by few and now selling it at exorbitant prices like in newyork or japan yet kenya is just poor nation propelled by overtaxed.
        No invesyer will buy land ….while can get free in Tz Ethiopia or mauritious
        Why cant they use same energy they use to collect taxes to provide services to kenyans…..security/health etc.

      • Kweli kila kitu in kenya ni…
        Kweli kila kitu in kenya ni connection and cartel …is this Ms kamau of Kra related to kamau who is ps in foreighn affairs…..a skinny brown old guy who is arrogant that cannot help or answer mails directed to him by kenyans working in UN while he was kenya Un rep in NY.

    • Kenya is state ran by greedy…
      Kenya is state ran by greedy few and excess 48gavaments that include Prezo/Dp,gavanas/dG mps senators mcas ceo in counties cabinets numerous commisions all these are being paid super salaries,insurance cover,tax free car/house loans etc while overtaxed kenyans die of diseases /hunger/thugs/choked by garbage dump/mercury sugar etc.
      Time to rise and say no to gavas that are not helping people only taxing even dead ones…gavas are not listening to people nor accountabke hence mega corruputions and import of availble products like sugar maize etc in expense of stored /grown one by farmers…who as write are poorer poorer

  3. Pliz Ms. Njagi: First tell…
    Pliz Ms. Njagi: First tell the Kenyan Politicians who have Looted Kenya (to Abroad) to Return the Money. As a Matter of FACT you should have asked the Late Nicholas Biwott (long before he died) to Return Kenya’s money he had Looted to Australia (and other places).

    • Kenya is state ran by greedy…
      Kenya is state ran by greedy few and excess 48gavaments that include Prezo/Dp,gavanas/dG mps senators mcas ceo in counties cabinets numerous commisions all these are being paid super salaries,insurance cover,tax free car/house loans etc while overtaxed kenyans die of diseases /hunger/thugs/choked by garbage dump/mercury sugar etc.
      Time to rise and say no to gavas that are not helping people only taxing even dead ones…gavas are not listening to people nor accountabke hence mega corruputions and import of availble products like sugar maize etc in expense of stored /grown one by farmers…who as write are poorer poorer

  5. who needs kenyan citizenship…
    who needs kenyan citizenship im donating mine for free if they start this clap.

  6. WTF,Excuse, catch me if you…
    WTF,Excuse, catch me if you can , nonsense!! A country of thieves, I would never !They should first go after all offshore accounts by MPIGS, Senators , President, former presidents. Hawana haya!

  7. How is KRA going to police…
    How is KRA going to police the Diaspora? This is a total non-starter. Also note the quote: “If proceeds derived from assets or property are intended to be repatriated to Kenya.” Doesn’t this exempt Diaspora that does not intend to repatriate investment earnings to Kenya? It looks like.

  8. How realistic is this woman,…
    How realistic is this woman, she’s announcing today on June the 26th that June 30th is the deadline?

  9. Si k people. How Sacco have…
    Si k people. How Sacco have been created all collapse because they are hijacked by selfish evilness … Mostly will act educated and smart…Not smart though.Especially garbages from Mt. Kenya.. Please other Kenyans avoid these people.

  10. KRA, listen: We know it is…
    KRA, listen: We know it is not your duty to protect public finances from misappropriation & grand theft as has happened in the history of our country under different administrations but more intensely in the recent past. As a matter of principle, I’d be the first to queue to pay taxes to GoK while living & working abroad but truth be told, some of us have recently lost TOTAL FAITH in the ability of GoK to properly allocate resources & ensure that Wanjiku, the intended beneficiary can improve her lot in life. It is incredibly surprising that you KRA dare compel diaspora citizens to cough taxes in the wake of the ongoing spate of theft /misappropriation of billions of shillings across the board. Tumechoka….punda amechoka. I supported UhuRuto with zeal, defending them from the ICC like crazy, even suggesting we’d rather part ways with the West & suffer the consequences than cave in. My support & that of millions of fellow Kenyans was premised in the great hope that, finally, we had a duo in office that was dedicated to looting out corruption in government once & for all. But, alas, corruption has grown & spread like bushfire. Uhuru na Ruto wameshindwa na kazi & to put it mildly, we Kenyans are very very angry. Reminding us, especially those of us in the diaspora, that we should care to pay taxes from monies we’ve earned outside the country so that those thugs in parliament & in public offices can continue stealing is a big insult. Some of us are so disillusioned with what has been happening on this front (grand corruption) to the point where we are resigning to never come back. Tumechoka. When we were young & innocent, they stole our futures thro the same sin. When I finished my studies in Kenya I couldn’t find employment, even as a casual anywhere because I was poor & my family knew nobody who could help. To get a job, even a casual one, one had to oil someone’s hands with a bribe yet he/she was already poor & jobless! Then the United States of America, a foreign country, strangers that I didn’t know came to my rescue, & that of many other Kenyans in similar predicaments ….God bless the United States of America!

    • Kwenda huko. you supported…
      Kwenda huko. you supported Uhuruto because you are a tribalist. Stop trying to pretend here that you are intelligent, and that there was something unique you saw in the murderer and thief.

  13. If you own assets/business…
    If you own assets/business,in the USA,and I assume all foreign countries one is doing business in,or if you garner some money UNCLE Sam deems that you got”free” you have to pay Capital gain tax.
    My point is,why should diaspora be taxed twice.Especially when the cash they send home is already a big source of revenue?
    I believe this issue faced Kenyan athletes,and they complained about this double taxation,basically without representation.Meaning the government wants that money when they did not participate in the making of it.
    If a government gives you a job,creates an environment for you to earn aliving…then it makes sense to pay tax that government.
    As Mlachake has succinctly put it,”some of us have recently lost TOTAL FAITH in the ability of GoK to properly allocate resources…”Therefore why send money where you know its going to be wasted?That wouldn’t be smart would it?

    • The question is, how can we…
      The question is, how can we pay taxes in TWO different countries? You pay taxes where you EARN. And again, what services, of GoK, does a majuu person utilize…sio barabara, sio protection na ASKARI au JESHI, sio WAZIMAMOTO….why tax?

  18. Shindwe shetani katika jina…
    Shindwe shetani katika jina kuu la Yesu Kristo wa Nazareth! The LOVE (not money by itself) of money is THE root(conduit not source) of ALL evils (not sins)!
    Tunaomba na shetani hatashinda Kenya.

  19. Shindwe shetani katika jina…
    Shindwe shetani katika jina kuu la Yesu Kristo wa Nazareth! The LOVE (not money by itself) of money is THE root(conduit not source) of ALL evils (not sins)!
    Tunaomba na shetani hatashinda Kenya.

  20. Nasty!! Taxation for daring…
    Nasty!! Taxation for daring to be ambitious! Wameshindwa na ma cartels, now they want to launch into a soft target.

  22. On the contrary they should…
    On the contrary they should be requesting Diaspora to invest back home…and even create good environment..we try but cartels from city council..lands Kplc..you want to build even a toilet it ends up costing double..you have to scratch people’s back to have even a small investment back home….KRA.

  23. They just want your…
    They just want your information so that they can be harassing you. That’s why Kenyan embassy have been nyenyenye nyenyering ooooh, Kenyans in the diaspora should register themselves with the embassy so that they can help you if you ran into trouble.Very dishonest and evil Washington Kenyan embassy public servants. They only help their kin or somebody or their descendants with big names. Wacha watumie ile information wanayo ya pin. How many ordinary Kenyans have they ever helped? Even assisting Kenyans with a document to ship a body is a problem. You know what, mtanitafuta, mtazitafuta zangu ng’o, ningali niko humu humu. You don’t want to pursue known thieves to protect your job,Madam, you stupidly going for people who work hard and save little due to high taxes and high standard of living in the resident countries. Tutafute na unaanze na mimi. Shindwe!!

  24. How is this even realistic…
    How is this even realistic of a government to ask?… have they thought about what they are doing, alienating the many kenyans living abroad?.I have no assets in Kenya and I am not planning to acquire any. I also have dual citizenship but if it comes down to it, I will shred my Kenyan passport and pay $50 tourist fee. Just saying

  26. Stupid lady,sasa asali…
    Stupid lady,sasa asali imeaza kuisha na ndio munatufuata sisi tuko huku majuu,shidwa katika jina la yesu.hata Hawana aibu,good luck with that you thieves…..

  27. Stupid lady,sasa asali…
    Stupid lady,sasa asali imeaza kuisha na ndio munatufuata sisi tuko huku majuu,shidwa katika jina la yesu.hata Hawana aibu,good luck with that you thieves…..

  28. No taxes without…
    No taxes without representation. Kenyans left Kenya because of poor policies and corruption. Those policies and looting of public resources left our parents with no alternative but to use whatever little was left and take the risk of sending their children outside of the country to fend for themselves. Now, after all those struggle’s the same corrupt government wants to dip it’s pocket where it has not invested. The people in the Diaspora support their families because the government has failed due to corruption. Moi’s policies(Dynasties) are still in power. Our families still facing old stale policies of borrowing and looting and MP’s increasing their pay with no justification. First correct those policies, stop corruption,and corruption scandals, care about our families before asking for taxes.

  29. Sasa who hires someone like…
    Sasa who hires someone like this lady for a job and make her degrade herself like this worldwide?
    She is asking people to remit money for the plutocrats to steal? Personally,instead of paying taxes to the GoK I might at well stop at Kijauri, Keroka, or Nyamira town and give the money to needy random people. Paying taxes in Kenya is a waste;one is simply supporting the lifestyle of the super wealthy selfish thieves in places of power.
    I either need to return my pin or never renew their expired passport again. When I do the math,it’s cheaper for me to pay $50 entry fee once in a while than throwing away my hard earned cash yearly in the name of diaspora taxes.Kenya will self destruct in a few years at this rate.Maahabu haya!

    • You’ll be surprised, I was…
      You’ll be surprised, I was there last February, the tourist Visa has been increased to $116. More money for them to steal.

  30. I think you are such a big…
    I think you are such a big day dreamer. Please wake up and stop snoring during the day. Over my dead body. That is clap madam

  32. Diasporians you are…
    Diasporians you are misunderstanding Ms Njagi statement… Let’s back up a little bit… There is a tax treaty between Kenya and diaspora countries that dictates how dual tax payers are to be treated… If you are dual US/Kenyan citizen and you receive income from both or either country then you are supposed to disclose the income on both US and Kenyan tax filing and you will only pay taxes in one or both if one triggers exception limits to avoid double taxation per tax treaty. If you are a Kenya Green Card card holder living in US or a US citizen living in Kenya both are required to file taxes in both counties and may pay taxes in only one country or both if one exceeds exception limits. What happens if you don’t file in both? When time comes for the Kenyan living in the diaspora decides to repatriate assets back to Kenya to buy a farm, house, apartment complex, hotel or business KRA will be within it’s right to withhold a lumpsum in taxes and penalties from your assets to pay back taxes if you had not declared the assets in previous years when you were accumulating the assets. In US it is against IRS laws not to declare any income one makes abroad however small, it may be except but it must be declared… Lets say a Kenyan-American owns apartment complex in Kenya and makes $24K per year, that should go on both US and Kenyan tax return filing for that year regardless to be in compliant with law and avoid huge headaches when either or both find out.

    • Kenya wanaiba tu, in US you…
      Kenya wanaiba tu, in US you can see what your taxes are doing. If they managed Kenya resources well, no one would have a problem declaring anything. But we know Kenya, you will declare your ka 60K income and they will say since tax rate in Kenya is 30%, and you paid 21% in US because of your Mortgage and other deductions, now you need to give the thieving Duo 9%. Shindwe Kabisa. As many others have indicated, it is cheaper to pay $50 whenever we wish to visit Kenya than have to put up with this crap. If they keep pushing we will drop Kenyan Citizenship like a hot potato. Bure Kabisa, kazi ni wizi tu.

    • Sure, Anna Kamau, let’s back…
      Sure, Anna Kamau, let’s back up a little bit – you either work for KRA or the GoK or you have immensely benefited from the looting or you live in a cave. Which is which? As I have made clear in my comment – I dearly love my country & I’d go the distance to make sure I pay ALL my taxes & more! What is extremely aggravating is the runaway mismanagement of public finances in so many government departments / entities, much to the detriment of Wanjiku. Most of us in the diaspora work hard like crazy & we are well off. We also have a very soft heart for our motherland & that’s why many of us will come out in droves to support community outreach programs in various areas not to mention helping family & friends meet some of their financial needs. We sacrifice a lot of time, working doubles in back-breaking jobs that are too low for the average American & earning very low wages, reason for the long hours to try & compensate. KRA then goes ahead to suggest we pay part of these earnings so that an incompetent government can continue stealing from it’s own people? Shindwe kabisa! I’ll support & I have been heavily supporting community efforts directly on the ground – efforts to build / repair a school, building a health center, supporting medical missions outreach to poor communities who cannot afford healthcare etc. I urge everyone to double efforts in this regard ndio tujenge nchi hata kama gavaa imeshindwa…

  33. Who needs who? You should be…
    Who needs who? You should be sweet talking diaspora community to invest at home. Not to threaten/impose or suggest impossible. Hata charging more for diaspora passports is ridiculous. Are we more or less citizens? I cry for my beloved country but very comfortable in my country USA! Nice try mjinga

  34. Kenyans in diaspora,wake up…
    Kenyans in diaspora,wake up the thieves have ran out of what to loot, they are soon catching up with us.We still have quite a number roaming around.Be careful they now know where each a d every one of you is.Remember they are mass murderers besides being professional thieves.

  37. Weeeeeeee haki Sasa , the…
    Weeeeeeee haki Sasa , the tudoubles pple .. wake up wake up!! Come see where you double potion is needed… me I went home … they stole my travel bags harafu wanakuzungusha left right centre … heeeeee. If u can’t return my ka travel bag bado mimi I can’t do my money return . KRA think these way, how can one man own 50acres 200scres land when others are on street… penalize the waizi mwitu… do you know mpigs even are asking police not to arrest them on Fridays… (day to start enjoying the root) get serious.

    I have chronic pain .. I still wake go work harafu u get my cash… share my pain harafu tuongee ?????

  38. Never, first stop massive…
    Never, first stop massive stealing going on in kenya before you think of how diaspora will fund your dirty and bad manners

  39. Kenyans Kenyans wherever you…
    Kenyans Kenyans wherever you are and especially those who vote…..while diaspora is denied that chance.
    Please please lets vote completely new persons in 2022 or earlier …people on ground ate suffering …no jobsno security/health,agriculural sector is now dead…for peasant farmers……..and same gavament wantthen to pay additional tax on top of everything that is taxed.

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