Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has launched a fresh campaign to encourage Kenyans to participate in tax compliance with a twist: prizes. You could win up to Kshs. 1 million just for scanning your receipts. The campaign, dubbed “Jinice na Risiti Legit,” invites Kenyans to download the Risiti Legit app, shop as usual, ask for an eTIMS (Electronic Tax Invoice Management System) receipt, and scan the QR code on the receipt to enter a draw for weekly prizes like cash, 50-inch smart TVs, laptops, and smartphones. And for the grand prize? A cool million each for three lucky winners.
KRA, it seems, is on a mission to shake up tax compliance with a little pizzazz and a lot of prizes. According to the new Finance Act 2023, KRA now has the authority to link up with banks, mobile payment platforms like M-PESA, and even telecom giants Safaricom, Telkom, and Airtel, to monitor transactions in real-time. But why stop at digital monitoring when you can make it a nationwide game show?
To some, the campaign sounds like an exciting opportunity. To others, well, it’s a bit like being asked to join KRA’s undercover squad. And Kenyans have noticed. Social media has lit up with reactions like “KRA is using a competition to trick us into sending them receipts from businesses so they can verify if they’re using legit eTIMS receipts 😂,” and “We’re basically KRA agents.” There’s even been some suspicion that KRA’s encouragement to “ask for an eTIMS/ETR-generated receipt” is a gentle nudge to help spot businesses skirting the tax system.
One Kenyan joked, “Okay this is crazy KRA is running a campaign to get tax cheats” and the sentiment is echoed widely. Is KRA enlisting us all as tax compliance ambassadors in disguise? Is this a national treasure hunt where the buried treasure is a well-documented tax receipt?
But KRA isn’t just about surveillance – they’re about celebrating those who follow the rules, with weekly cash prizes of Kshs. 10,000 to Kshs. 20,000, plus electronics to sweeten the deal. So yes, you’re shopping, scanning, and possibly sleuthing for the taxman, but hey, there’s the lure of prizes to make it worth your while.
Here’s how it works: download the Risiti Legit app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, shop as usual, ask for a receipt (a legit one), scan it, and then wait for the prize call. Winners will be contacted through the official number 0711 099 199, so no worries about pesky scammers trying to cash in on your winnings.
Whether you’re in it for the prizes or the thrill of catching a tax cheat, this is one campaign that’s putting tax compliance in the spotlight. Just remember, as one witty Kenyan pointed out, it might feel a little “spy-cy,” but who knows? That eTIMS receipt in your pocket could be your ticket to a million.
