The Kenya tax calendar,
tuned to your year end.

Set your financial year end below and instalment dates, balance of tax, and the month-by-month view all recalculate instantly. Monthly payroll and VAT dates stay fixed.

Everything below updates automatically. Most Kenyan companies use 31 December.

The rhythm of the month

Two dates anchor almost everything

These recur every month and do not depend on your year end. Lock your books early, pay the payroll cluster by the 9th, then prepare and pay VAT and withholding by the 20th.

9th

Payroll obligations

Due by the 9th of the month following the deduction. The employer cluster, filed and paid around this date.

PAYE (P10)SHIFNSSFHousing Levy
20th

VAT & returns

Due by the 20th of the following month. Consumption taxes and most periodic returns settle here.

VAT3WithholdingRental incomeTurnover taxExcise
Recurring monthly

Monthly obligations

ObligationWhat it coversBasis / returnDue
PAYEIncome tax deducted from employee emoluments, filed and paid on iTax.P10 return9th
SHIFSocial Health Insurance Fund contribution at 2.75% of gross salary, remitted to the SHA.2.75% of gross9th
NSSFTier I and Tier II contributions, employee 6% matched by employer, on pensionable pay up to the cap.Tier I & II9th
Affordable Housing Levy1.5% from the employee plus 1.5% from the employer, filed through iTax.3% of gross9th
NITA levyIndustrial training levy paid by employers per employee. Confirm your filing frequency.Per employee9th
VATValue Added Tax for registered businesses (standard rate 16%), filed on the VAT3 return.VAT3 return20th
Withholding taxTax withheld at source on qualifying payments. See note on remittance timing below.WHT return20th*
Withholding VATVAT withheld by appointed agents and remitted directly to KRA.Agent return20th
Monthly Rental IncomeSimplified tax on residential rental income within the threshold, at 7.5%.MRI return20th
Turnover TaxFor small businesses below the VAT threshold, charged on gross sales.TOT return20th
Excise dutyFor licensed manufacturers and service providers of excisable goods and services.Excise return20th
Note on withholding tax. The withholding return has traditionally aligned with the 20th, but recent KRA file-and-pay guidance points to remitting withholding tax within five working days of the deduction. Confirm the current rule before relying on a date.
Periodic

Instalment tax

InstalmentWhen (into your year)ShareDue date

Agricultural businesses pay in two instalments instead: 75% by the 20th of the 9th month and 25% by the 20th of the 12th month of the accounting period.

Once a year

Annual & one-off deadlines

ObligationDetailDue
P9 certificatesEmployers issue P9 tax deduction cards to all employees for the prior year.31 Jan
Advance taxOn commercial vehicles and public service vehicles, paid before they go on the road.20 Jan
Balance of corporate taxFinal tax for the year, due by the last day of the 4th month after the year end.
Individual income tax returnResident individual return (IT1) for the prior calendar year. Fixed, since individuals are taxed on a calendar-year basis.30 Jun
Corporate income tax returnCompany return (CT), due within 6 months of the year end.
Capital Gains TaxOn transfer of property or shares, payable on or before the transfer is lodged.On transfer

At a glance

Your year, month by month

Payroll (9th) and VAT (20th) recur every month. Instalment tax and annual deadlines are flagged separately for your selected year end.

Monthly (recurring) Instalment tax Annual / one-off
Why timing matters

Late filing and late payment