NAIROBI: The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has applauded The Standard Group for being tax-compliant.
The media house has been recognised among the leading firms that embraced online remittance of tax.
KRA Commissioner for Corporate Service Edith King'ori said this when she led a team that visited the Standard Group Centre Thursday.
Speaking during the meeting with KRA officials, Standard Group CEO Sam Shollei said the company recognises the critical role taxes play in building the nation.
"As a media house, we sincerely pay our taxes since we believe it is part of corporate responsibility. We do not attempt to engage in any malpractices like tax evasion and we are grateful KRA has confirmed this," said Mr Shollei.
He termed the visit as historic since most of the time KRA only engages firms when they are involved in fraud.
"The Standard Group is among the few companies that embraced the iTax system. Our visit was not by default. You are a tax-compliant entity and we are happy you do not cut corners," said Ms King'ori.
KRA officials said they have decided to engage customers so as to listen to their concerns and develop systems that can meet their needs.
Standard Group Financial Controller Austin Okoth noted that sometimes firms are slapped with unnecessary penalties.
"When dealing with clients, we always hope that KRA will engage them to remit the six per cent withholding taxes to allow the system to process our clearance certificate. Further the process of issuing tax exemption certificates to firms like NGOs is too long," noted Okoth.
KRA Deputy Commissioner in charge of iTax Elizabeth Meyo acknowledged that even though the online system simplified filing of taxes, it presented a few challenges.
The Standard Group is the second entity that KRA is visiting as part of the programmes lined up this month as it marks the Taxpayers Month.
The culmination will be the Presidential Award to fete best taxpayers.