Kenya considers tax on crypto, NFT transfers and online influencers
Kenya's lawmakers are considering the introduction of a 3% tax on cryptocurrency and nonfungible tokens (NFTs) transfers and a 15% tax on monetized online content, according to a newly introduced bill.
Introduced to the Kenyan parliament on May 4, The Finance Bill, 2023 would enact a digital asset tax on “income derived from the transfer or exchange of digital assets” which also included specific language for NFTs.
The bill will undergo five rounds of readings, committees and reports by the National Assembly, if passed, it will then be passed to the president for final assent into law.
Crypto exchanges or those who initiate the transfer of crypto or NFTs would be required to collect the tax, having to deduct 3% of the transfers’ value to be paid to the government. Exchanges not registered in Kenya would have to register under the tax regime.
Kenya will now tax - crypto- monetised online content pic.twitter.com/1mlJ5dXt83
The bill also seeks to bring about a tax on “digital content monetization,” levying a 15% tax on content creators paid to promote and advertise products and services online including but not limited to sponsorships, affiliate marketing, merchandise sales and paid subscriptions.
The digital assets section of the bill has seen a mixed response online.
Some were pleased to see that crypto and NFTs were seemingly now officially recognized in the country. Previously, the Central Bank of Kenya has warned against using crypto but no outright prohibitions were put in place.
Rufas Kamau, a Kenyan research and markets analyst, tweeted on May 4 calling the 3% tax “a joke” and sarcastically asked if it applies to “supermarket and credit card loyalty points.”
The tax rate is 3% on every transaction. What a joke!
Kenyan crypto
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