Grapevine

KRA turns to AI to catch tax cheats amid shrinking revenues

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is planning to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to bolster its efforts in catching tax evaders, officials have revealed.

KRA, which has perennially missed its targets, reckons the implementation of the new technology is expected to significantly improve its detection capabilities and end tax evasion.

This is because AI can analyse millions of data points and identify complex patterns that would be challenging for human auditors to uncover.

KRA Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga revealed the plan on Tuesday when he outlined the agency’s move to revamp its IT infrastructure during a meeting with the new Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi.

The new plan comes at a time when KRA has perennially missed its tax collection targets, which saw CS Mbadi urge the agency to adopt more innovative and technologically advanced strategies to enhance revenue collection.