With just hours to go before the tax filing deadline, the Kenya Revenue Authority has announced a 24-hour extension, offering relief to thousands of Kenyans left stranded by a technical meltdown on its online platform.

The new deadline is now midnight, Tuesday, July 1, after the original cut-off on Monday, June 30, was marred by widespread failures on KRA’s iTax system.

“We have opened the service lane!” KRA posted in a late-evening update. “24-hour extension up to tomorrow, July 1, 2025, midnight to file and pay your returns!”

Website Glitches Frustrate Taxpayers

The final day of filing saw many Kenyans locked out of the platform, unable to complete or submit their tax returns. Social media quickly filled with complaints from users reporting stalled pages, failed logins, and repeated error messages.

“I’ve been trying all morning,” said Miriam Wambui, a small business owner in Kiambu. “It kept kicking me out, and the loading bar just froze.”

KRA has not detailed the exact cause of the disruption, but the authority acknowledged the issues and cited them as the reason for the extension.

Extended Support Hours Nationwide

To accommodate the last-minute rush, KRA said its contact centre would be operational between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

Additionally, tax service centres across the country will remain open for 12 hours, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., offering help with submissions, technical issues, and other support.

The revenue agency reminded Kenyans that filing an annual tax return is a legal requirement, regardless of employment or income status.

“Filing is not optional,” said a KRA spokesperson. “If you earned income—whether salaried, business, rental, or from farming—you must declare it. Even if you had no income at all, a NIL return is still required.”

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Under current law, failing to file a return attracts a penalty of Ksh2,000 for individuals and up to Ksh20,000 or more for businesses, depending on turnover and tax category.

That has prompted a growing awareness around timely compliance, but the recurring technical hiccups continue to frustrate filers year after year.

“It’s good they’ve extended the deadline,” said Peter Odhiambo, a Nairobi-based accountant. “But KRA must fix its systems. This happens every June.”

The Clock Ticks Again

With only one day added to the clock, taxpayers have little time to lose. KRA urged Kenyans not to wait until the final hours again on Tuesday.

As the country inches toward midnight on July 1, the message is clear: file now—or face the fines.