The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has launched a crackdown against Kenyans exposing their rich lifestyles in social media.
KRA is going for those Kenyans who show off their lavish lifestyle but do not pay or pay less taxes.
According to KRA’s Commissioner General Githii Mburu, they are now monitoring Kenyans in social media with luxurious cars, throwing expensive parties, living lavishly to ensure their taxes are in line with their image they show online.
Githii said that the decision was reached so as to ensure the number of Kenyans paying taxes grows and to curb tax evasion and cheating so that the agency can reach its targets.
“In the social media, we have some people posting some nice things. You would see some posting nice houses, cars, taking their families to nice places, and so on. Here, we are not sleeping, when we see those, we see taxes,” Githii said.
He further revealed that KRA officers are using gadgets to monitor those that evade taxes.
“We have our officers looking, they have gadgets. The key is in very quickly (the number plate) to check. We are working exceptionally hard,” Githii disclosed to a local daily.
Those who will be found guilty of tax evasion yet display rich lifestyles in social media risk travel bans, collection of duty directly from their suppliers and bankers and prosecution.
Other than social media, KRA is using various databases to pursue suspected tax cheats including bank statements, import records, motor vehicle registration details, Kenya Power records, water bills and data from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCCA) for individuals who own assets such as helicopters.
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