A guide on how to file nil Tax returns for the unemployed or students who have no income to declare for the year of tax. That is the tax for the period of 1st January to 31st December of the previous year.
Did you know that if you don’t file KRA tax return form whether you are employed or not you will be fined ksh. 20,000? This is not a one-time fine and yet you can avoid it.
Below is a step-by-step guide on how to go about it and avoid unnecessary fines if you are jobless and at one point had acquired a KRA pin for HELB or other purposes.
Do I need to file returns if am unemployed?
Yes, PIN holders with no source of income need to file a Nil return.
Will I be fined if I don’t file returns for unemployed?
If you file the Nil Return for those who are not employed you will not be fined. But if you don’t no matter your employment status, you will be fined ksh. 20,000.
Can I file Nil returns if I am employed?
No, you will be penalized for that. You are supposed to submit your VAT returns as provided by your employer
Are students supposed to file KRA tax returns?
Everyone who has KRA pin is supposed to file returns. For students who got a KRA pin when applying for helb should just file nil returns. However, if you do not have a KRA pin you don’t have to file.
SECTION 1: How to file Tax returns for unemployed/students
Follow the steps below to file your tax return online;
- Go to https://itax.kra.go.ke/KRA-Portal/
- Login with username and Password
- Go to Returns Page
- Click File Nill Returns
- Select Income Tax Resident
- Enter Returns Period
- Click Submit
- Download Your Receipt
- Details available in the next step
Step 1: Register with itax portal
Type https://itax.kra.go.ke/KRA-Portal/ and you be directed to the KRA portal where you will enter your KRA Pin or USER ID. Enter and log in with your iTax password. If you have forgotten your password, retrieve one using the “FORGOT PASSWORD‟ option on the bottom right of the iTax portal page.
Step 2: On itax portal go to returns
After Login. You will be directed to a page that has a red top menu as shown below.
Place your cursor (mouse pointer) on the ‘RETURNS” page and a drop-down menu will appear. Below the drop-down menu you will see “FILE NILL RETURNS.” For the unemployed that is where you are supposed to click and you will be directed to a page that looks like the one below.
Fill in by entering:Tax obligation: Income Tax-Resident Individual
Then click Next and you be directed to a page like this below
Fill in by entering:
- Wife Pin: (Leave blank if you don’t have one filing returns)
- Return Period: 01/01/2022
- Return Period: 31/12/2022 (this section will fill itself automatically once you click the small calendar on the right)
Click Submit. On successful submission, the message below will be displayed:
Click download Returns Receipt to download. You are done after downloading.
SECTION 2: How to file income tax returns for employed
Filing Of Income Tax Individual Return For the Employed procedure is provided in the video below.
Related: Student tax filing procedure
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I ddnt know about filling returns for kra..am now past 3years and am a student.
how can one get help for this?
I mean the mentioned years i had no employment. How do i go about it coz if i try to submit nill returns it doesn’t work. Could there be a procedure to follow.
You should be able to write to KRA and explain to them your situation. However, there were nil returns that were introduced and anyone who is not employed is/was required to submit nil returns by end of June of every year. You can’t submit nil returns for a submission period and deadline that has passed. For instance, you can’t submit nil returns for year 2018 backwards….
Hi., I applied for kra tax compliance certificate, only to be told that i should submit my returns for 2011 to 2014. whats the procedure?
Hello,
Procedure is to login into your account and download your acknowledgement certificate and then submit. That is if you had filled returns in the mentioned years.
Regards
i applied for kra certificate last year 24/12/2018 and now i want to fill my returns an they respond by posting a penalty of 20000. how should i go by this?
Apply for waiver…they may remove the penalty depending on the explanation you give backed by evidence.
Cant submit my details
Is it mandatory for pin to be one full calender year old for one to be obliged to file returns
Yes…
Can’t submit returns for pin obtained in 28/03/2019
You will have to file next year not this year…your pin must have been opened before June 2018 for you to file in 2019.
What happens if I don’t file my kra….because I’m a student and not yet employed
am unemployed, what can i fill under proffession?
Hello
i have been blank i never knew after taking the pin you should file returns till recently i was told by my uncle.
i took the pin in 2015
what must i do kindly help me out im just blank over this issue
kindly help
you can email me on the steps to follow.
Thank you
Login to kra portal and file your returns. If there are penalties, pay or ask for a waiver.
I have tried Leaving the wife pin blank but It stills insists all fields are mandatory
How do you know you have been fined?
I was not in the country from 2006- 2018, but i took a pin in 23/02/2018… am i still penalized because of not filling NIL.
I was previously employed and they filed my taxes as per the company requirements but I’m no longer employed so how do I go about filing my taxes?
I registered kra pin on 07/06/18 when will i be able to file nil returns since I am not employed?
File in 2019 before end of June.