VAT Bill to be tabled before House Tuesday

By Allan Kisia

Kenya: The contentious VAT Bill 2013 will formally be introduced in Parliament on Tuesday.

The Bill, which is scheduled for the first reading Tuesday afternoon, will be referred to the Departmental Committee on Finance, Planning and Trade for scrutiny.

Kenyans will be eager to know the new items that will now attract 16 per cent VAT charge.

The Bill seeks to reduce the number of zero-rated items in a bid to address the problem of huge tax refunds owed to businesses by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).

Kenyans hailed the Sh1.6 trillion 2013/2014 Budget but raised concerns how the Government would raise money to finance the spending. The MPs, who will play a critical role in the success or failure of the Bill, were categorical that the Government should not increase tax on basic commodities.

Highly taxed

They argued that Kenyans were already some of the most highly taxed people in the world and that majority of citizens would be driven deeper into poverty. If it sails through, it means that some of the basic items, including maize and wheat flour and other processed foodstuffs, will now attract a 16 per cent VAT charge.

Other items to be affected if the VAT Act becomes law include agricultural inputs such as fertiliser, seeds and processed milk. If maize flour will attract VAT, this would mean the price of sifted maize meal will increase from the current Sh58 per kilo to Sh70.

The Government is currently in a dilemma on how to raise its huge budget deficit.