KRA launched Shuru — a WhatsApp chatbot at +254 711 099 999 — in April 2026. It allows taxpayers to generate eTIMS invoices, file returns, and access other KRA services directly through WhatsApp.
What Shuru Does Well
Shuru is great for creating one invoice at a time. You message the bot, enter your buyer's KRA PIN, add the item details and price, and it generates a PDF invoice. You can also use it to file a NIL return, check your compliance status, and access other basic KRA services — all from WhatsApp, with no app download needed.
The Shuru bot is completely free and works on any phone that has WhatsApp.
Where KompliTax Is Different
KompliTax is designed for businesses doing 50 or more transactions per month. Instead of entering each invoice manually on WhatsApp, you paste your M-Pesa SMS messages, AI categorizes everything automatically, and you generate all your invoices in bulk with one click.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Shuru (KRA) | KompliTax |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice creation | One at a time | Bulk (unlimited) |
| M-Pesa SMS import | ✗ Manual entry | ✓ AI auto-extracts |
| Transaction categorization | ✗ | ✓ AI-powered |
| Compliance score | ✗ | ✓ Real-time (0–100) |
| VAT summary / tax reports | ✗ | ✓ Full reports |
| Deadline reminders | ✗ | ✓ Automated |
| Landlord management | ✗ | ✓ Full portal |
| Multi-client accountant tools | ✗ | ✓ Accountant Pro plan |
| Cost | Free | Free plan + paid tiers |
When to Use Each
Use Shuru when: You do fewer than 10 transactions per month and need a quick way to create individual invoices — especially if you already have WhatsApp and don't want to create another account.
Use KompliTax when: You do 50+ transactions monthly and need automation, bulk processing, compliance tracking, tax reports, and deadline reminders. Or if you're a landlord or accountant managing multiple entities.
Think of Shuru as a calculator and KompliTax as a spreadsheet that does the math for you.