KASNEB CAMS – Elements of Public Finance and Administration

ELEMENTS OF PUBLIC FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

GENERAL OBJECTIVE
This paper is intended to equip the candidate with the requisite knowledge, skills and attitudes to apply the principles of public finance and administration and perform basic tax computations.

6.0 LEARNING OUTCOMES

A candidate who passes this paper should be able to:

• Explain the nature and operations of public financial management (PFM)
• Apply basic principles of public finance and administration
• Comply with basic legislative provisions in procurement of supplies and services
• Compute simple taxes and prepare basic tax returns for individuals and small entities

CONTENT

6.1 Role of various arms of Government

• The Executive: The President, Deputy President, Cabinet,
• Director of Public Prosecutions, Principal Secretaries, Chief Administrative Secretaries
• The Judiciary
• The Legislature (including oversight committees on public finance)
• National and County Governments and their relationship
  Constitutional Commissions and Independent Offices
• Public Service Commission (PSC) and County public service boards.

6.2 Legal framework on public financial management

• General overview of public financial management as envisaged by the Constitution
• Overview of the Public Financial Management Act (elementary knowledge only):
  • The National Treasury: Responsibilities, powers, relationship with County Treasuries, management of the Consolidated
  • Fund, Contingencies Fund, Equalisation Fund, other funds
    County governments: County treasuries, Revenue funds, the
  • County Executive Committee members for Finance
  • Budget preparation process at national and county levels
  • Role of other officers at national and county levels; accounting officers, receivers and collectors of revenue
  • Annual financial reports at national and county levels (nature and content only, excluding preparation)
  • Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (PSASB) (establishment and functions only)

6.3 Role of other institutions in PFM

• The Auditor General
• Controller of Budget
• Council of Governors
• Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) - structure, mandate and functions
• Other State Corporations
• Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA)
• Public Debt Management office

6.4 Supply chain management in public entities (elementary knowledge)

• Definitions and terminologies
• General overview of Public Procurement and Disposal (PPD) Act:
  • Bodies involved in the regulation of public procurement and asset disposal
  • Responsibilities of County governments in public procurement and asset disposal
  • Compliance by procuring entities; Role of accounting officers, procurement committees
  • General procurement principles
  • Methods of procurement
  • Offences and penalties
  • The concept of e-procurement

6.5 Introduction to taxation

• Purposes of taxation
• Principles of an optimal tax system
• Single versus multiple tax systems
• Classification of taxes and tax rates
• Types of taxes

6.6 Tax computations (basic level)

• Taxable and non taxable persons
• Sources of taxable income
• Tax on employment income, PAYE, personal reliefs, other reliefs
• Business income:
• Sole proprietorships
• Partnerships (excluding realignments and conversions)
• Incorporated entities
• NGOs
• Farming income
• Types of capital deductions (without computations)

6.7 Administration of income tax

• Types of assessments and returns
• Notices, objections, appeals and relief of mistake
• Appellant bodies
• Collection, recovery and refund of taxes
• Offences, fines, penalties and interest
• Application of ICT in taxation: iTax, other tax management systems

6.8 Administration of value added tax (basic level)

• Registration and deregistration of businesses for VAT
• Taxable and non taxable supplies
• Privileged persons and institutions
• VAT rates and computations
• VAT records
• VAT returns
• Remission, rebate and refund of VAT
• Rights and obligations of VAT registered person
• Offences, fines, penalties and interest
• Enforcement
• Objection and appeals: Requirements and procedure

6.9 Emerging issues and trends

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