Taxes -Several lobby and interest groups have rejected President William Ruto’’ new Finance Bill 2023.
This development was witnessed during the ongoing hearings taking place at the National Assembly before the National Assembly Finance Committee.
In a statement by the Committee, groups as well as workers unions, have already expressed their reservations on the Bill that touches on the livelihood of the poor citizen.
Kenya Airline Pilots Association was first to question the mandatory Housing Fund which it now wants to be voluntary.
The union argued that most Kenyans who are either in business and or working had already started investing in housing by themselves and taking them to that direction is dictatorial.
Additionally, the lobby groups sought to know how the contributors will be involved in both the design and choosing model of their houses.
“The association proposed the housing levy be made voluntary to those wishing to own houses under a government programme and also for the government to suspend the housing plan until when there will be an increment in salaries and a reduction in the cost of living,” read the statement in part.
Speaking in the same sitting, the Petroleum Institute of East Africa proposed changes in the taxes on petroleum products.
They want a detailed execution plan on how oil marketers will seek their refunds for the products in the country.
This, they argued, will make fuel prices to come down drastically; which is a benefit to the consumers.
Surveyors of Kenya also presented their proposals against the introduction of withholding tax on rental income collected by agents appointed by the Commissioner.
“The Institute noted that it will be impractical to remit tax in 24 hours given the logistics required and the jamming of the KRA portal at times,” partly, read the statement.
Several other new taxation plans also opposed during the hearings were a withholding tax rate of 15 per cent on digital content creation and the Digital Asset Tax (DAT) of 3 per cent.
