KRA announces Paybill number for mobile tax payment

By Peter Ochieng

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has given a new directive related to payment of tax via mobile money platforms.

According to a Friday statement from the Authority, all mobile money tax payments should be done through Paybill number 222222, as per president William Ruto's directive issued mid this year.

KRA says the changes take effect immediately.

Tax payers will enter 222222 on their sim tool kit, enter PRN, key in the amount, and then pin number.

"Use the Payment Registration Number (PRN) or the ref. number on the payment slips generated from KRA Business Systems: iTax, iCMS, EGMS, and KESRA iStudent as the account number when making tax payments via mobile money," KRA stated.

“All payments for government services shall progressively be made through eCitizen.go.ke. The official Government of Kenya (GOK) Paybill Number is 222222,” adds the notice.

Additionally, the customer-to-business taxpayers can dial *222#, select the pay by KRA bill option, enter the e-slip (PRN) number, select payment method as MPesa, and then pin to complete payment.

In June, president Ruto directed that more than 1,000 Paybill numbers used for the collection of payments for government services be shut down within 90 days.

He said all government services should be paid for through the 222222 Paybill number.

"There is a dedicated government pay channel, 222222. The expectation of the government is that all government revenue must now use the pay channel so that Treasury can have sight of every government service that is paid for."

"I am going to be making an announcement here that in the next 90 days, all other pay bills must be shut down because we have a problem with some of the PayBills that we cannot account for. We have close to over 1,000 PayBills some of which we don't have sight of. They must now be closed," he directed.

The President explained that the move was geared towards efficiency and prudent management of public resources.