The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has clarified its position on taxing travellers and tourists carrying into the country goods exceeding the duty-free limit.

Speaking on Wednesday, KRA Acting Deputy Commissioner, Policy & International Affairs David Ontweka said that the taxman would seek taxes for goods purchased by the travellers worth over USD500.

“KRA will not tax everything you are coming with, we only tax goods you purchase which are valued at USD500 and are more than one,” Ontweka said.

The taxman is seeking to collect more taxes from travellers who carry goods worth over USD500. Travellers who fail to declare their goods or pay duty face arrest, prosecution, fines or losing the goods to the state.

KRA on entry points

The exercise, which targets both Kenyan citizens and visitors is currently being heightened at all entry points including airports.

“We have conducted numerous capacity-building programs and also engaged our Customs Officers at the airport by organizing them into various shifts with a clear process for carrying out their duties,” Sally Serem, KRA’s Chief Manager of Passengers Clearance at JKIA said.

The taxman warned that travellers entering the country and trying to evade taxes on goods they carry will face strict penalties.

“Any passenger found walking through the Green Channel with dutiable or prohibited goods, or found mis-declaring the quantity, description or value of dutiable goods at the Red Channel (the baggage is examined where misdeclaration is suspected), is liable to strict penal action including arrest and prosecution – apart from seizure of the offending goods depending upon the gravity of violation detected,” KRA stated.

Currently, travellers are allowed to bring into the country limited goods tax-free including spirits not exceeding one litre, wine not exceeding two litres, perfume not exceeding half a litre, and cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, and snuff not exceeding 250 grammes in weight.