Free guides

Kenya Tax Guides

Plain-English guides for Kenyan freelancers and businesses. No jargon. No unnecessary complexity.

Getting started

How to get your KRA PIN

Step-by-step guide to registering for a KRA Personal Identification Number (PIN) on iTax, whether you are employed, self-employed, or a business owner.

5 min readUpdated January 2025
Filing guides

How to file PAYE on iTax

A complete walkthrough for filing your monthly PAYE return on KRA iTax, whether you are an employer or a self-employed individual.

8 min readUpdated January 2025
Filing guides

How to file a VAT return

Step-by-step guide to filing your monthly VAT return on KRA iTax, including how to handle input vs output VAT and what to do with a nil return.

7 min readUpdated January 2025
Understanding taxes

What is Withholding Tax and how do you reclaim it?

A plain-English explanation of WHT for Kenyan freelancers and consultants — what it is, when it applies, and how to use WHT certificates to reduce your annual tax bill.

6 min readUpdated January 2025
Understanding taxes

Turnover Tax explained for Kenyan SMEs

What Turnover Tax (TOT) is, who qualifies, how it is calculated, and whether it makes more financial sense than income tax for your business.

5 min readUpdated January 2025
Expense management

What expenses can you deduct as a freelancer?

A comprehensive guide to tax-deductible expenses for Kenyan freelancers, consultants, and sole proprietors — what you can claim, what you cannot, and how to document it.

7 min readUpdated January 2025
Filing guides

How to file your annual income tax return

A guide to filing your annual income tax return in Kenya — who must file, what to include, and how to submit on KRA iTax by the June 30 deadline.

8 min readUpdated January 2025
Understanding taxes

Understanding the SHIF — what replaced NHIF

Everything you need to know about the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) that replaced NHIF from October 2024, including the new rates and deductions.

4 min readUpdated January 2025
Getting started

How to register your business on eCitizen

Step-by-step guide to registering a business in Kenya on the eCitizen portal — sole proprietorship, partnership, or limited company.

6 min readUpdated January 2025
Compliance

What happens if you file late? KRA penalties explained

A clear breakdown of KRA late filing and late payment penalties for PAYE, VAT, income tax, and other returns — and what to do if you have already missed a deadline.

5 min readUpdated January 2025

Ready to calculate your taxes?

Use TaxSimple's free calculators to find out exactly what you owe — PAYE, VAT, Corporation Tax, and more.