EFFECTIVENESS OF TAXPAYER EDUCATION ON TAX COMPLIANCE FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN KENYA: A STUDY OF SELECTED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES IN KITENGELA TOWN IN KAJIADO COUNTY

This research paper aim was to establish the effectiveness of taxpayer education on tax compliance for SMEs in Kitengela town. There are reasons why KRA never met its revenue targets and the revenue collected has never surpassed the target set aside by the commission. The non-compliance of tax by SMEs can be attributed to the tax gap that is available in every fiscal year. KRA conducts taxpayer education to all registered SMEs in an effort to improve the existing level of tax compliance. The only way KRA will meet their target revenue is when they include all SMEs in the generation of the revenue. The study was anchored on Theory of Reasoned Action and Fisher Tax Compliance Model while the study variables were PAYE form of tax, tax rates, tax compliance cost, tax penalties and fines. The target population of the study were 1400 SMEs with a sample that was random stratified chosen of 140 SMEs. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and SSPS version 24.0. The inferential statistics was employed to establish the relations that exist between the study variables. Pearson correlation matrix was used for predicting and describing the variables in terms of directions and magnitude while regression analysis was conducted at a level of 5%. The data analysis tools will be SSPS and the use of inferential statistics. The study established that the effectiveness of taxpayer education on tax compliance and all the predictors as shown by beta coefficients: PAYE (? = 0.542); tax rates (? = 0.482) and tax penalties and fines (? = 0.632). However, the study established there is a positive but statistically insignificant relationship (? =0.06, p= 0.671>0.05) between tax compliance cost and tax payer education. The study concluded that tax rates, PAYE, tax penalties and fines contribute greatly to tax compliance and finally tax compliance cost have the most significant influence on tax compliance. The study recommends that KRA should have an office in every county that will address tax issues at county level and the services to be offered should include tax penalties, filing of tax returns, tax computation and tax differentiation.