Tax Evasion Crackdown: Government to Deploy Trackers
The government, through the Ministry of Mining, is acquiring a surveillance system to capture tax evaders in the mining industry.
According to the State Department of Mining, the government seeks a digital monitoring system to assist the ministry in mapping the production and sales of minerals in the country.
“The digital royalty management platform to be implemented is expected to support efficient management of royalty thereby promoting the much-needed accountability, transparency and reporting,” the Department of Mining stated in a tender document.
The Ministry has been mapping Kenya’s mineral resources for the past year as part of a plan designed to reveal the wealth beneath the surface.
The department is already in the process of digitizing the mineral resources documented in a survey that began in 2020 and concluded last year.
During the two years, the government prohibited new investments and the renewal of mining licenses.
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Since the beginning of the year, industry players have advocated for the lifting of the moratorium to attract new investments, and the government has indicated that this may occur shortly.
Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has also been pursuing tax evaders as the country strives to reach Ksh3 trillion in revenue collections.
Kenya is not as endowed with mineral resources as its neighboring countries.
Nationwide, however, are viable deposits of titanium, gold, lignite, iron ore, and precious metals.
Kwale County’s base Titanium mining enterprises are among the largest in the country and have contributed to the coastal county’s growth.
“The digital royalty management platform to be implemented is expected to support efficient management of royalty thereby promoting the much-needed accountability, transparency, and reporting,” the Department noted.
Tax Evasion Crackdown: Government to Deploy Trackers