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Government Targets Mobile Phones Over Taxes, Issues New Requirements

Communications Authority Kenya

Communications Authority Kenya

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has issued new directives to mobile device assemblers, importers, retailers and wholesalers, and mobile network operators.

In a statement on Wednesday, October 22, the authority announced that the Kenya Revenue Authority will from January 1, 2025, track all imported and locally assembled mobile phones to monitor tax compliance by manufacturers and distributors.

CA stated that all local assemblers will be required to upload the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) Number of each assembled device to the KRA-provided portal to ensure that all locally assembled devices are tax-compliant.

The authority also noted that retailers and wholesalers must ensure that they only retail or distribute mobile devices that are tax-compliant.

“Retailers and wholesalers of mobile devices must ensure that they only retail or distribute mobile devices that are tax-compliant. The Authority will provide the means by which the tax compliance status of mobile devices can be verified before purchase by retailers or end-users,” read the statement in part.

Under the new guidelines, all importers of mobile phones (for sale, testing, research, or any other purpose) will be required to disclose the IMEI numbers of mobile devices in their respective import documents submitted to the KRA.

This disclosure is mandatory for the registration of the devices in the National Master Database on Tax-Compliant Devices,” CA stated.

The CA also mentioned that mobile network operators will have to ensure that they do not connect devices to their networks until they have verified their tax compliance status.

“Mobile network operators must ensure that they only connect devices to their networks after verifying the tax compliance status through a whitelist database of compliant devices, which will be provided by the Authority,” CA added.

Operators will also be required to provide for the gray-listing of non-compliant devices to facilitate regularization within a prescribed period, failure to which the devices will thereafter be blacklisted.

The new requirements will only apply to devices imported or assembled in the country from November 1, 2024.

Also Read: KRA Misses Revenue Target By Ksh 380 Billion

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