Abstract:
This study is on the impacts of taxation policy on small and medium size enterprises (SMEs). Over
the years, small and medium size enterprises have been an avenue of job creation, providing about
50% of all jobs in Kenya and also for local capital formation. However the mortality rate of this
small firms is very high, among the factors responsible for this untimely closure of the enterprises
are tax related issues. The study therefore examines the impact of taxation policy on SMEs
survival. The researcher derived a sample size of 63 respondents and a self-administered
questionnaire was used to collect data. The data was descriptively analyzed with simple
percentages. Research findings revealed that the taxation policies have negatively affected the
survival of SMEs and the relationship between SMEs size and its ability to pay taxes is significant.
The research therefore recommends that the government should come up with uniform tax policies
that will favor the survival of SMEs in Kenya and the government should put into consideration
the size of SMEs when formulating tax policies.
