KRA sets stage for new water tax

Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) will next week rollout the Excisable Goods Management System (EGMS) on bottled water, juices, energy drinks, soda and other non-alcoholic beverages in a move aimed at compelling non-compliant firms to pay taxes.

Commissioner for Domestic Taxes, Elizabeth Meyo said that the implementation of the system will enhance compliance and boost revenue collection by approximately Sh4billion. The system will also enable fair competition amongst traders in the sector.

“Currently we have up to 78 per cent companies in the water sector who are not paying their fair share of taxes. This is not fair to the 22 percent who are compliant. The system will therefore enable KRA to monitor and ensure that all traders within the sector are compliant,” Said Commissioner Meyo.

Meyo also elaborated that KRA has deployed more than 80 trained officers to enable smooth implementation of the system around the country. The Authority is also facilitating the players in these sector with the installation of the system. 

The rollout of EGMS in this sector will affect about 450 companies out of which 64 production lines are automated and the rest are manual. The installation on the automated line will be concluded before the go-live date. At the time of going to press, 57 out of the 64 lines had been installed. An alternative secure system is provided for manual lines.

Only licensed manufacturers and licensed importers of Excisable goods in accordance to Section 15 of the Excise Duty Act 2015 will able to obtain Excise Stamps.

EGMS was first rolled out in 2013 on alcohol and cigarettes. Since then the system has enabled KRA to raise Ksh 5.6 billion monthly. EGMS has also contributed immensely in the fight against illicit trade and levelled the playing ground for traders as well as protect consumers from substandard products.

Through the system, KRA has seized illicit products worth millions of shillings and saved the country from losing revenue.

Products manufactured or imported into Kenya prior to the go live date will be allowed in the market up to 31 January 2020.