There are instances when you will be asked to produce a certificate of tax compliance in Kenya. So, you may be wondering, “How to get a tax compliance certificate in Kenya?’’. Well, tax compliance also known as Tax clearance certificate is the official document that KRA issues as proof that one or an organization has filed and paid all taxes.

Previously, getting a tax compliance certificate was difficult task and one could take long before the application be approved. However, that is not the case anymore as KRA has eased the process and can get the certificate instantly so long as one does not have any pending dues with KRA.

Instances when one may be required to provide a tax compliance certificate as per KRA website are:

• Tax Compliance Certificates for Taxpayers seeking tenders with Government Ministries and Institutions.
• Tax Compliance Certificates to employees leaving service nor seeking new job opportunities.
• Tax Compliance Certificates for taxpayers seeking liquor Licenses.
• Tax Compliance Certificates to Clearing and Forwarding Agents.

For one to apply and get a tax compliance certificate in Kenya, then one must makes sure that they are compliant in:

• Filing of tax returns for applicable tax obligations before the due date
• Paying due tax on or before the due date.
• Clearance or payment of all outstanding tax debt.

The validity of the tax compliant certificate is one year and the application is done through the iTax portal. Once the application has been approved the certificate will be sent through the applicants email. For the persons or organizations receiving the certificate, they can check the validity of the certificate using the KRA M-Service App.

With that being said, let us now look at the steps involved in getting the tax compliance certificate in Kenya.

What are the Steps of Applying a Tax Compliance Certificate in Kenya?

• Visit the Kenya Revenue Authority iTax Portal by clicking on https://itax.kra.go.ke/KRA-Portal/
• Login to KRA Portal by filling in your PIN (your KRA PIN), your password and solving the arithmetic question captcha. In case you have forgotten your password just click on forgot “password”. A new password will be sent to your email and you will use that to login to the iTax portal after which you will be prompted to create a new password.
• After logging in to your iTax, you will get to see that dashboard as shown below.
• Click on “Apply for Tax Compliance Certificate from the provided drop down menu. You will be asked to provide a reason for applying the compliance certificate.
• Note that a pop up message will appear on your screen showing the message “Please be informed that you are entitled for the Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC) without any workflow. Please click OK to continue.”
• This is proof of how quick and efficient KRA has made the process of getting the certificate. Therefore, if for instance you need the tax compliance certificate to apply for tender or any other purposes and you do not have any outstanding tax obligations then you will get an approval for the same immediately as the iTax system will auto approve the application.
• After filling in the reason for the application click on the SUBMIT button. You will then be redirected to the page that shows “Auto Approval for Tax Compliance Certificate has been submitted successfully.”
• Go ahead and click on the download button “Click Here To Download Tax Compliance Certificate: KRA….

Go ahead and print the needed copy and save the document in softcopy for future use as the certificate has a validity period of one year.

Besides using the KRA M-Service App to ascertain the validity of the tax compliance certificate, you can also verify through the iTax. Verify through the iTax portal by clicking on Useful Links that appears just after certificates and click on TCC checker.

Fill in the Tax Compliance Certificate number, solve the security check and click verify. Kenya Revenue Authority will generate the details of the holder of the certificate such as his/her name, PIN number, and the status of the certificate.

Taxpayers Whose Application Tax Compliance Certificate Is Auto Approved

The new KRA system has made it easy for certain groups of individuals to get Tax Compliance Certificate immediately after application/. Such applicants are: individuals or applicants who have just applied for a KRA PIN therefore it is automatic that they do not have any dues.

In addition, tax compliant applicants who always make sure that their tax due or obligations are filed and paid on time.

It goes without saying that if one has not been filling their returns or paying their tax liabilities on time, then, their application for TCC will not be automatic.

Therefore, if you have not been filing your tax returns and for instance you are required to present your TCC during tender application. Your application to get the Tax Compliance Certificate will not be auto approved until you file your returns for the pending period.

This is why it is important to always make sure that your tax returns are up to date to avoid such scenarios and penalties.