The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has directed 119 car owners to present their vehicles for inspection.
In a notice on Tuesday, September 26, the taxman listed 118 registration numbers of owners and directed them to present the vehicles to its offices.
In addition, KRA specified that the owners should carry documents proving their original ownership, sale agreement, transfer and importation documents.
Among the venues listed for the purpose include Forodha House in Mombasa, the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Kiptagich House in Eldoret, and Generation House in Nakuru.
Further, the tax authority listed Veka Plaza in Nyeri, Swan Center in Kisumu and Landmark Hotel in Isiolo as alternatives.
“KRA wishes to notify the owners of the vehicles listed below to present the vehicles for inspection,” the notice read in part.
Further in the statement, KRA cautioned the listed drivers on the perils of failing to comply with the inspection directive as provided for in the East African Community Customs Management Act.
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According to Section 204 of the Act, failure to comply with directive to avail inspection documents amounts to an offense punishable under the customs law.
“A person who, when required in accordance with this Act— (a) to produce any book, document, or other thing, in his or her possession or under his or her control; or (b) to perform any act, refuses or fails to do so; commits an offence,” the Act states.
KRA reign in on Tax evasion
In the past, KRA has reported cases of cars impounded for non-compliance with the existing customs.
According to the authority, Kenyans importing cars should follow guidelines including age limit- not being more than eight years old and meet the standards of roadworthiness.
Additionally, importers must pay all taxes including the import duty, and the respective excise duty depending on the type and status of the vehicles.
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Upon completing a compliant importation, the owner should have documents including the original commercial invoice, original logbook from the country of origin, among others.
However, KRA has in the past impounded several cars concealed in containers carrying other goods, a move the authority notes is used to evade tax.
In June, for instance, the state impounded a cloned Range Rover believed to have been stolen from Britain and consequently vowed to step up inspection.