The Kenya Income Authority (KRA) has launched a set of recent digital instruments designed to permit taxpayers to settle their dues with out ever stepping foot in a authorities workplace.
The tax man nited it’s pivoting towards an “AI-first” method to simplify compliance, because it seeks to satisfy an bold income goal of Kshs 2.968 trillion for the 2025/26 Monetary Yr.
On Thursday, 22 January, Commissioner Basic Humphrey Wattanga confirmed {that a} new 24-hour WhatsApp chatbot is now dwell, providing 15 totally different companies.
This transfer follows the latest introduction of a USSD platform, making certain that even these with out smartphones can stay tax-compliant.
Easy methods to use the KRA WhatsApp Chatbot
For taxpayers with web entry, the WhatsApp service offers a step-by-step information to submitting returns on the iTax portal.
Save the quantity: Add the official KRA WhatsApp contact +254 711099999 to your cellphone ebook.
Begin the chat: Open WhatsApp and ship the phrase “Hello” or “Menu” to the quantity.
Confirm id: The bot will immediate you to confirm your particulars for safety functions.
Choose a service: You may then select from 15 choices, together with PIN administration, ETIMS invoicing, and tax return help.
“You may file returns by way of WhatsApp and thru the net,” Mr Wattanga mentioned. “Simply ask a question by way of our 24-hour WhatsApp chatbot… the place we now have 15 companies that may be served.”
Submitting by way of USSD (No web required)
Recognising that not everybody has a smartphone, the KRA has additionally rolled out a USSD service. That is notably helpful for small-scale merchants and landlords and one can merely dial *222# on any cell phone.
It’s worht noting that this platform handles PIN registration, Month-to-month Rental Earnings (MRI), Turnover Tax (TOT), and functions for Tax Compliance Certificates.
The authority said that the system was developed as a result of “not each taxpayer has a smartphone, dependable web, and even the digital experience” to navigate complicated on-line portals.
The ‘Digital Taxman’: AI and Knowledge
These updates are a part of a broader technological overhaul. Mr Wattanga revealed that the KRA is now investing closely in synthetic intelligence (AI), machine studying, and knowledge analytics to watch tax administration extra successfully.
KRA Chairman Ndiriitu Muriithi added that modernising these IT programs is significant for “erasing paper-based processes” and reducing prices for the typical Kenyan.
The digital push seems to be paying dividends. Within the second half of the 2025/26 fiscal yr, which concluded in December 2025, the KRA collected Sh307.6 billion in opposition to a goal of Sh285 billion. This represents a efficiency price of 108 p.c.
Moreover, Customs and Border Management reported Sh85.9 billion, the very best month-to-month assortment within the authority’s historical past.
With a required progress of 15.4 p.c over the earlier yr’s collections, the KRA stays optimistic that these simplified digital instruments will assist it bridge the hole and attain its almost 3 trillion shilling objective.
