Filing Your Tax Returns4 min readLast updated: April 2026

Important Tax Deadlines for 2026

All KRA tax filing and payment deadlines for 2026 — income tax, VAT, MRI, PAYE, and Turnover Tax.

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Missing a KRA deadline results in automatic penalties and interest. Here are all the key dates for 2026.

Income Tax (2025 Year of Income)

  • Tax payment deadline: 30 April 2026 — if you owe tax from 2025, pay by this date to avoid 2% monthly interest
  • Return filing deadline: 30 June 2026 — file your 2025 income tax return on iTax
  • Late filing penalty: KES 20,000 or 5% of tax due, whichever is higher

VAT Returns

  • Due by the 20th of every month for the previous month's transactions
  • Example: Your March 2026 VAT return is due by 20 April 2026
  • Late filing penalty: KES 10,000 or 5% of tax due, whichever is higher
  • Interest: 2% per month on unpaid VAT

Monthly Residential Rental Income (MRI) Tax

  • Due by the 20th of every month for that month's rental income
  • Rate: 7.5% of gross rental income (no deductions allowed)
  • Applies to annual rental income between KES 288,000 and KES 15 million
  • Above KES 15 million/year: use normal income tax bands instead

PAYE (Pay As You Earn)

  • Employers must remit by the 9th of the following month
  • Example: March 2026 PAYE is due by 9 April 2026
  • Late penalty: 25% of the tax due, plus 2% monthly interest

Turnover Tax (TOT)

  • For businesses earning KES 1–25 million annually
  • Rate: 1.5% of gross monthly turnover
  • Due by the 20th of each month
  • TOT businesses do not also pay income tax — it's an alternative regime

General Late Payment Penalty

For all tax types: 2% interest per month on the unpaid amount, compounding monthly. A KES 100,000 tax debt unpaid for 12 months accrues approximately KES 26,824 in interest alone.

Never Miss a Deadline

KompliTax sends you automatic reminders via email and in-app notifications before every VAT deadline (20th of the month), income tax deadline (April and June), and MRI deadline. Enable notifications in your dashboard settings.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information based on current KRA requirements and is for guidance purposes only. Tax law is subject to change. KompliTax does not provide legal or tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional or KRA directly for advice specific to your situation.

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