Kenyan VAT rates - Avalara

Rate	Type	Which goods or services
16%	Standard	All other supplies of goods, services and imports
0%	Zero	Exports of goods and services; international passenger transport; certain petroleum supplies
0%	Exempt	Certain agricultural supplies; financial services; medical supplies; tour operator services; entrance to national parks; domestic passenger transport; medical; education and training; residential property; betting and gaming; domestic water
3%	Turnover Tax	Turnover Tax on any business below the VAT registration threshold

Kenyan VAT compliance

Tax Point

The date on which VAT is due is known as the tax point or time of supply. In Kenya, this is the earliest of the following:

When the goods or services are supplied
Invoice issuance date
Cash payments
Customs clearance for imports

Split VAT payments

For business-to-government (B2G) transactions, the government body must withhold 6% of the VAT due to the commercial vendor. A number of larger financial institutions are also required to withhold VAT settlements. This is paid directly to the tax office

VAT Invoices

VAT registered businesses must issue VAT invoices with the following details:

Name and address of suppliers
Customer details
Date
Unique VAT number
Description of goods or services provided
Net, VAT and Gross price

Foreign currency VAT invoices are permitted. The exchange rate used may be from any major publicly quoted exchange rate. Simplified invoices may also be issued for small value transactions for B2B and B2C transactions.

VAT returns

VAT returns are due on a monthly basis. The return and related VAT due must be filed by the 20^th of the following month. Returns are filed electronically. Where the VAT suffered exceeds the sales VAT, then the credit may be rolled over or a reclaim made.

VAT Recovery by non-residents

Foreign companies may not reclaim Kenyan VAT incurred unless they are VAT registered.

Get help solving your VAT challenges

Other Pages:

Kenyan VAT rates and VAT compliance

Kenyan VAT registration

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