Kenya Revenue Authority

What Kenya Revenue Authority does

Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is the statutory agency of the Government of Kenya responsible for tax collection and customs administration, established in 1990 under the Kenya Revenue Authority Act and headquartered at Times Tower in Nairobi. It operates as a non-commercial government entity, providing tax registration, filing, payment, and compliance certification services free of charge to over 8 million registered taxpayers, including individuals, companies, partnerships, not-for-profits, customs agents, tax agents, and Authorized Economic Operators. KRA's core digital platforms include iTax (web-based domestic tax administration launched in 2014, processing ~200,000 returns monthly), eTIMS (electronic Tax Invoice Management System with 323,120+ onboarded taxpayers as of September 2024, including a specialised Fuel Station System), iCMS (Integrated Customs Management System), GavaConnect (an Enterprise API platform launched in 2024 exposing 16+ APIs to developers and fintechs), the M-Service mobile app, iBid customs auctions, KESRA (training subsidiary), and the Mobile Device Declaration System (DIR) launched in January 2025 in partnership with the Communications Authority. Revenue is generated indirectly via government budget allocations tied to tax collection performance, with FY 2025/2026 tax collection reported at KES 2.8 Trillion; KRA does not charge taxpayers directly for its services. Its commercial-adjacent positioning centres on ecosystem integration (GavaConnect APIs embedded in third-party ERPs and fintechs) rather than fee-based monetisation.

Name

Kenya Revenue Authority

Legal name

Kenya Revenue Authority

Website

https://kra.go.ke

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Kenya Revenue Authority is Kenya's statutory government agency responsible for tax collection and customs administration, serving over 8 million registered taxpayers through digital platforms including iTax, eTIMS, iCMS, and the GavaConnect Enterprise API.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Tax Administration Services

NAICS

Administration of General Economic Programs (92611), Administration of Economic Programs (9261), Public Administration (92)

akta.pro primary industry

Revenue Systems, E-Filing & Digital Tax Administration (BPAIADAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tax Return Filing, Processing & Assessment (BPAIADAC), Revenue Intelligence, Analytics & Risk Management (BPAIADAL), Excise, VAT/Sales Tax & Indirect Tax Administration (BPAIADAH)

Keywords

• Tax administration services
• Customs management
• Electronic tax invoicing
• Revenue collection
• Tax compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels10 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is the statutory government agency mandated to assess, collect, and account for all revenue in Kenya, including domestic taxes and customs duties. It operates a portfolio of digital platforms—including iTax for domestic tax administration, eTIMS for electronic tax invoicing, iCMS for customs management, and GavaConnect for enterprise API integration—to enable taxpayer registration, filing, payment, compliance certification, and customs procedures.

Product overview

Kenya Revenue Authority operates a comprehensive digital tax administration ecosystem comprising multiple integrated platforms and services. The core infrastructure includes iTax (web-based tax administration for domestic taxes), eTIMS (electronic Tax Invoice Management System with multiple solutions including eTIMS Client, eTIMS Lite for web/USSD/mobile, and specialized eTIMS Fuel Station System), and iCMS (Integrated Customs Management System). Supporting infrastructure includes GavaConnect (Enterprise API platform with 16+ APIs for developer integration), M-Service mobile app, iBid for customs auctions, and KRA TV for taxpayer education. KESRA provides institutional training through ICDP engagements. Key strategic initiatives include the Mobile Device Declaration System (DIR) and Digital Service Tax administration. The product portfolio represents a unified platform strategy aligned to the 9th Corporate Plan and Tax Administration 3.0 vision for digitally integrated, data-driven, citizen-centric tax services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• iTax: Web-based platform for managing domestic taxes in Kenya, enabling PIN registration, tax return filing, payment of taxes, and tax compliance certificate applications.
• eTIMS
• GavaConnect
• M-Service
• iCMS
• iBid
• KESRA
• Tenda Wema
• Code Red Campaign

Products and services

• iTax
• eTIMS (Electronic Tax Invoice Management System)
• eTIMS Fuel Station System
• iCMS (Integrated Customs Management System)
• iBid Customs Auction
• M-Service Mobile App
• GavaConnect Enterprise API Platform
• KESRA (Kenya School of Revenue Administration)
• International Capacity Development Programme (ICDP)
• Mobile Device Declaration System (DIR)
• KRA Tax Amnesty Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• 17.5% increase in average monthly Domestic VAT collection following eTIMS implementation
• +3 more outcomes

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

AI capability6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Regional and International Revenue AuthoritiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKRA engages with regional and international revenue authorities through the International Capacity Development Programme (ICDP). The program supports peer learning, institutional strengthening, and regional cooperation by enabling participating institutions to learn from KRA's practical experience in areas such as domestic taxes, customs operations, electronic invoicing, compliance and enforcement, digital payments, dispute resolution, risk management, and organisational development.
• Development PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKRA collaborates with development partners through ICDP engagements that are guided by an annual calendar and a clear governance framework. The program supports knowledge-sharing and cooperation on revenue administration best practices.
• Kenya Red CrossminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKRA partnered with Kenya Red Cross for community outreach programs, providing free medical check-ups during mentorship sessions for teen mothers in Mukuru slums.
• YMCAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with KRA for community engagement activities providing support services during taxpayer education programs.
• Hope WorldwideminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with KRA for community outreach programs during mentorship sessions in underserved communities.
• Partners for Health and Development in Africa (PHDA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with KRA providing free medical services during community engagement programs.
• Nivalishe PadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth-founded organization providing expertise on menstrual health and hygiene. Partnered with KRA during mentorship programs as subject matter experts.
• Do it with Boldness (DWIBO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth-founded organization partnered with KRA for mentorship sessions, providing expertise during community engagements.
• Bold Phase InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth-led organization partnered with KRA for mentorship programs, complementing events as subject matter experts.
• Janris FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supporting underprivileged families in Soweto, Kibra area. Hosted KRA's inaugural mentorship session and awards best performing students.
• Hindu Council of KenyaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with KRA through weekly feeding programmes in underserved communities including Umama Grounds, Komarok, Kawangware, Huruma, Soweto, Embakasi, Dagoretti, and others.
• Relationship Haven OrganisationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with KRA for community service engagements in underserved areas through weekly feeding programmes.
• Lifesong KenyaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFacility providing transitional house for male youth aged 10-25 years in Ngong Town. KRA staff conducted mentorship programs focusing on life skills, career development, and self-employment options.
• Garden of Hope SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution in Ngong Town providing opportunities for less privileged children. KRA staff volunteers organized mentorship programs for male youth.
• Kenswed Vocational TrainingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVocational training institution in Ngong Town. KRA engaged male youth aged 11-24 years with counseling on life skills, career development, and self-employment.
• Communications Authority of Kenya (CA)coreTechnology or IntegrationKRA collaborates with CA on the Mobile Device Declaration System (DIR) under the Enterprise API Integration (EAPI) project. Uses IMEI numbers for tax compliance monitoring of mobile devices imported into or assembled within Kenya.
• National TreasurycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKRA works with National Treasury on international tax matters including DTA negotiations, policy analysis, and implementation of OECD/G20 BEPS recommendations.
• KenInvestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated government website for investment promotion, referenced as a resource for investors seeking information on investing in Kenya.
• OECDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKRA participates in OECD meetings on international taxation and BEPS agenda. Engages with OECD Centre for Tax Policy & Administration for tax administration best practices and policy development.
• African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKRA participates in ATAF meetings for developing international tax laws and policies, ensuring developing country perspectives are incorporated in policy development.
• East African Revenue Authority Technical Committee (EARATC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKRA participates in EARATC engagements for regional cooperation on revenue administration and customs modernization.
• United Nations (UN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKRA participates in UN meetings for developing international tax policies and has UN Tax Experts on staff. Engages on tax administration and development matters.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA): Ghana's integrated revenue authority combining domestic taxes and customs with digital platforms. Comparable mandate and African regional peer in ATAF.
• South African Revenue Service (SARS): National tax and customs authority for South Africa with a similarly comprehensive digital tax administration platform (eFiling) and broad mandate for VAT, income tax, and customs. Most directly comparable African revenue authority by scale and product breadth.
• Uganda Revenue Authority (URA): East African revenue authority operating electronic filing (e-Filing), electronic invoicing (e-Invoicing), and customs systems. Direct regional counterpart and ICDP-style peer for KRA.
• Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA): National revenue authority administering domestic taxes and customs with digital filing platforms. Comparable East African peer within EARATC framework alongside KRA.
• Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA): East African revenue authority with strong digital-first strategy and electronic invoicing. Comparable in mandate and modernization approach; ICDP partner with KRA.
• Nigeria Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS): Federal revenue service administering taxes for Nigeria with growing digital tax platform (TaxPro-Max). Large-scale African revenue authority with overlapping mandate on VAT, CIT, and customs collaboration.

Broad incumbents

• HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC): UK's national tax and customs authority operating Making Tax Digital (MTD) and established APIs (e.g., HMRC Developer Hub). Broader incumbent with comparable digital transformation playbook that informs African revenue authorities including KRA.
• Internal Revenue Service (IRS): US federal tax authority with mature e-file ecosystem, third-party API access, and large-scale digital services. Benchmarked global incumbent for tax administration modernization approaches.
• Australian Taxation Office (ATO):

Regional players

• Ethiopian Ministry of Revenue: Ethiopia's revenue authority administering domestic taxes and customs with emerging digital platforms. African regional peer often cited in cross-border revenue administration comparisons.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/KRACare
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/KenyaRevenueAuthority
• Facebookfacebook.com/KRACare

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Kenya Revenue Authority