LAWS OF KENYA

THE INCOME TAX ACT

CHAPTER 470

Revised Edition 2023 [1973]

Published by the National Council for Law Reporting
with the Authority of the Attorney-General
www.kenyalaw.org
[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
Income Tax

CHAPTER 470

INCOME TAX ACT

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
PART I – PRELIMINARY
Section
1. Short title and commencement
2. Interpretation
PART II – IMPOSITION OF INCOME TAX
3. Charge of tax
4. Income from businesses
4A. Income from businesses where foreign exchange loss or gain is realized
4B. Export processing zone enterprise
5. Income from employment, etc.
6. Income from the use of property
6A. Imposition of residential rental Income Tax
7. Income from dividends
7A. Dividend distributed out of untaxed gains or profits
8. Income from pensions, etc.
9. Income of certain non-resident persons deemed derived from Kenya
10. Income from management or professional fees, royalties, interest and rents
11. Trust income, etc., deemed income of trustee, beneficiary, etc.
12. Imposition of instalment tax
12A. Imposition of advance tax
12B. Imposition of fringe benefit Tax
12C. Turnover and presumptive tax
12D. Minimum tax
12E. Digital service tax
PART III – EXEMPTION FROM TAX
13. Certain income exempt from tax, etc.
14. Interest on Government loans, etc., exempt from tax
PART IV – ASCERTAINMENT OF TOTAL INCOME
15. Deductions allowed
16. Deductions not allowed
17. Ascertainment of income of farmer in relation to stock
17A. Repealed by Act No. 9 of 2000, s. 43
18. Ascertainment of gains or profits of business in relation to certain non-
resident persons
18A. Ascertainment of gains and profits of business in a preferential tax regime
18B. Application of sections 18C, 18D, 18E and 18F
18C. Notification to the Commissioner
18D. Filing of country-by-country report, master file and local file

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18E. Offences and penalties

18F. Definitions
19. Ascertainment of income of insurance companies
19A. Co-operative societies
20. Collective investment schemes
21. Members’ clubs and trade associations
22. Purchased annuities other than retirement annuities, etc.
22A. Deductions in respect of contributions to registered pension or provident
funds
22B. Deductions in respect of registered individual retirement funds
22C. Repealed
23. Transactions designed to avoid liability to tax
24. Avoidance of tax liability by non-distribution of dividends
25. Income settled on children
26. Income from certain settlements deemed to be income of settlor
27. Accounting periods not coinciding with year of income, etc.
28. Income and expenditure after cessation of business
28A. Special Operating Framework Arrangement
PART V – PERSONAL RELIEF
29. General
30. Personal relief
30A. Affordable housing relief
31. Insurance relief
32. Deleted
33. Deleted
PART VI – RATES, DEDUCTIONS AND SET-
OFF OF TAX AND DOUBLE TAXATION RELIEF
A–Rates of Tax
34. Rates of tax
34A. Deleted by Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9(k).
B – Deduction of Tax
35. Deduction of tax from certain income
36. Deduction of tax from annuities, etc., paid under a will, etc.
37. Deductions of tax from emoluments
37A. Penalty for failure to make deductions under section 35, 36 or 37
38. Application to Government
C–Set-off of Tax
39. Set-off of tax
39A. Repealed
39B. Set-off tax rebate for apprenticeships
D-Double Taxation Relief
40. Repealed
41. Special arrangements for relief from double taxation
41A. Agreements for exchange of information

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42. Computation of credits under special arrangements

43. Time limit
PART VII – PERSONS ASSESSABLE
44. Wife’s income, etc.
45. Income of a person assessed on him
46. Income of incapacitated person
47. Income of non-resident person
48. Income of deceased person, etc.
49. Liability of joint trustees
50. Liability of person in whose name income of another person assessed
51. Indemnification of representative
51A. Repealed
PART VIII – RETURNS AND NOTICES
52. Returns of income and notice of chargeability
52A. Deleted
52B. Final return with self-assessment
53. Repealed
54. Documents to be included in return of income
54A. Keeping of records of receipts, expenses, etc.
54B. Supply of information upon change in particulars
55. Books and accounts
56. Deleted
57. Return as to salaries, pensions, etc.
58. Return as to fees, commissions, royalties, etc.
59. Occupier’s return of rent
60. Return of lodgers and inmates
61. Return of income received on account of other persons
62. Return as to income exempt from tax
63. Return in relation to settlements
64. Return in relation to registered pension fund, etc.
65. Return of annuity contract benefits
66. Return of residentcompany dividends
67. Return as to interestpaid or credited by banks, etc.
68. Return as to dividends paid by building societies
69. Deleted
70. Deleted
71. Deleted
72. Repealed
72A. Deleted
72B. Penalty for the negligence of authorized tax agent
72C. Penalty on underpayment of instalment tax
72D. Repealed
PART IX – ASSESSMENTS

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73. Assessments
74. Repealed
74A. Instalment assessment
74B. Deleted
75. Deleted
75A. Repealed
75B. Deleted
76. Assessment not to be made on certain employees
76A. Assessment not to be made on certain incomes
77. Deleted
78. Deleted
79. Deleted
80. Deleted
81. Deleted
PART X – OBJECTIONS, APPEALS AND RELIEF FOR MISTAKES
82. Repealed
83. Repealed
84. Deleted
85. Deleted
86. Deleted
87. Deleted
88. Deleted
89. Deleted
90. Deleted
91. Deleted
91A. Deleted
PART XI – COLLECTION, RECOVERY AND REPAYMENT OF TAX
92. Time within which payment is to be made
92A. Due date for payment of tax under self-assessment
93. Deleted
94. Deleted
95. Deleted
95A. Repealed
96. Deleted
96A. Deleted
97. Deceased persons
98. Repealed
99. Repealed
100. Deleted
101. Deleted
102. Deleted
103. Deleted
104. Collection of tax from ship owner, etc.
105. Repealed

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106. Repayment of tax in respect of income accumulated under trusts

PART XII – OFFENCES AND PENALTIES
107. General penalty
108. Repealed
109. Failure to comply with notice, etc.
110. Deleted
111. Deleted
112. Deleted
113. Deleted
114. Deleted
115. Deleted
116. Deleted
117. Deleted
118. Deleted
119. Deleted
120. Deleted
121. Deleted
PART XIII – ADMINISTRATION
122. Deleted
123. Deleted
123A. Deleted
123B. Deleted
123C. Deleted
124. Deleted
125. Deleted
126. Deleted
PART XIV – MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
127. Deleted
127A. Deleted
127B. Deleted
127C. Deleted
127D. Deleted
127E. Deleted
128. Deleted
129. Deleted
130. Rules
131. Exemption from stamp duty
132. Deleted
133. Repeals and transitional
SCHEDULES
EXEMPTIONS
INVESTMENT ALLOWANCE

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RATES OF PERSONAL RELIEF AND TAX

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
SCHEDULED PROFESSIONS AND SCHEDULED QUALIFICATIONS
TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
SEVENTH SCHEDULE — SPECIAL PROVISIONS ON COMMUNITY
EMPLOYEES (Deleted)
ACCRUAL AND COMPUTATION OF GAINS FROM PROPERTY OTHER
THAN INVESTMENT SHARES TRANSFERRED BY INDIVIDUALS
TAXATION OF EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE AND AUTHORISED AGENTS
TAXATION OF EXPORT PROCESSING ZONE ENTERPRISES
PROVISIONS RELATING TO INSTALMENT TAX
THIRTEENTH SCHEDULE — TRANSACTIONS FOR WHICH PERSONAL
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (PIN) WILL BE
REQUIRED (Repealed)

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[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
Income Tax

CHAPTER 470

INCOME TAX ACT

[Date of assent: 21st December, 1973.]
[Date of commencement: 1st January, 1974.]
An Act of Parliament to make provision for the charge, assessment and
collection of income tax; for the ascertainment of the income to be
charged; for the administrative and general provisions relating thereto;
and for matters incidental to and connected with the foregoing
[Act No. 16 of 1973, Act No. 13 of 1975, Act No. 7 of 1976, Act No. 11 of 1976, Act No. 12 of 1977,
Act No. 16 of 1977, Act No. 8 of 1978, Act No. 13 of 1978, Act No. 13 of 1979, Act No. 6 of
1981, Act No. 18 of 1979, Act No. 12 of 1980, Act No. 1 of 1982, Act No. 10 of 1980, Act No.
8 of 1983, Act No. 14 of 1982, Act No. 10 of 1988, Act No. 18 of 1984, Act No. 13 of 1984, Act
No. 8 of 1985, Act No. 8 of 1989, Act No. 10 of 1986, Act No. 10 of 1987, Act No. 9 of 1992,
Act No. 10 of 1990, Act No. 3 of 1988, Act No. 9 of 1989, Legal Notice 342 of 1989, Act No.
20 of 1989, Act No. 21 of 1990, Act No. 7 of 1990, Act No. 6 of 1994, Act No. 8 of 1991, Act
No. 4 of 1993, Act No. 4 of 2004, Act No. 13 of 1995, Act No. 9 of 2000, Act No. 4 of 1999, Act
No. 15 of 2003, Act No. 6 of 2005, Act No. 10 of 2006, Act No. 9 of 2007, Act No. 8 of 2008,
Act No. 8 of 2009, Act No. 10 of 2010, Act No. 4 of 2012, Act No. 57 of 2012, Act No. 38 of
2013, Act No. 16 of 2014, Act No. 40 of 2013, Legal Notice 32 of 2015, Act No. 14 of 2015,
Act No. 29 of 2015, Legal Notice 12 of 2016, Act No. 38 of 2016, Act No. 15 of 2017, Act No.
11 of 2017, Act No. 10 of 2018, Act No. 9 of 2018, Act No. 23 of 2019, Act No. 1 of 2020, Act
No. 2 of 2020, Act No. 8 of 2020, Act No. 22 of 2020, Act No. 8 of 2021, Act No. 22 of 2022.]

PART I – PRELIMINARY
1. Short title and commencement
This Act may be cited as the Income Tax Act, and shall, subject to the Sixth
st
Schedule, come into operation on 1 January, 1974, and apply to assessments for
the year of income 1974 and subsequent years of income.
2. Interpretation
(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—
"accounting period", in relation to a person, means the period for which that
person makes up the accounts of his business;
"actuary" means—
(a) a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries in England; or of the Faculty
of Actuaries in Scotland; or of the Society of Actuaries in the United
States of America; or of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries; or
(b) such other person having actuarial knowledge as the Commissioner
of Insurance may approve;
"agency fees" means payments made to a person for acting on behalf of any
other person or group of persons, or on behalf of the Government and excludes
any payments made by an agent on behalf of a principal when such payments are
recoverable;
"annuity contract" means a contract providing for the payment to an individual
of a life annuity, and
"assessment" means an assessment, instalment assessment, self-
assessment, or additional assessment made under this Act;

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"authorized tax agent" means any person who prepares or advises for
remuneration, or who employs one or more persons to prepare for remuneration,
any return, statement or other document, with respect to a tax under this Act; and
for the purposes of this Act, the preparation of a substantial portion of a return,
statement or other document shall be deemed to be the preparation of the return,
statement or other document;
"bank" means a bank or financial institution licensed under the Banking Act
(Cap. 488);
"bearer" means the person in possession of a bearer instrument; and
"bearer instrument" includes a certificate of deposit, bond, note or any similar
instrument payable to the bearer;
"building society" means a building society registered under the Building
Societies Act (Cap. 489);
"business" includes any trade, profession or vocation, and every manufacture,
adventure and concern in the nature of trade, but does not include employment;
"child relief" deleted by Act No. 12 of 1977, s. 5;
"collective investment scheme" has the meaning assigned to it in section 2 of
the Capital Markets Act (Cap. 485A);
"commercial vehicle" means a road vehicle which the Commissioner is satisfied
is—
(a) manufactured for the carriage of goods and so used in connection
with a trade or business; or
(b) a motor omnibus within the meaning of that term in the Traffic Act
(Cap. 403); or
(c) used for the carriage of members of the public for hire or reward;
"Commissioner" means—
(a) the Commissioner-General appointed under section 11(1) of the
Kenya Revenue Authority Act (Cap. 469); or
(b) with respect to powers or functions that have been delegated under
section 11(4) of the Kenya Revenue Authority Act (Cap. 469) to
another Commissioner, that other Commissioner;
"company" means a company incorporated or registered under any law in force
in Kenya or elsewhere;
"compensating tax" means the addition to tax imposed under section 7A;
"consultancy fees" means payments made to any person for acting in an
advisory capacity or providing services on a consultancy basis;
"contract of service" means an agreement, whether oral or in writing, whether
expressed or implied, to employ or to serve as an employee for any period of time,
and includes a contract of apprenticeship or indentured learnership, under which
the employer has the power of selection and dismissal of the employee, pays his
wages or salary and exercises general or specific control over the work done by
him; and for the purpose of this definition an officer in the public service shall be
deemed to be employed under a contract of service;
"contractual payments" deleted by Act No. 6 of 2001, s. 42;
"control", in relation to a person, means—

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(a) that the person, directly or indirectly, holds at least twenty per cent of
the voting rights in a company;
(b) a loan advanced by the person to another person constitutes at
least seventy per cent of the book value of the total assets of the
other person excluding a loan from a financial institution that is not
associated with the person advancing the loan;
(c) a guarantee by the person for any form of indebtedness of another
person constitutes at least seventy per cent of the total indebtedness
of the other person excluding a guarantee from a financial institution
that is not associated with the guarantor;
(d) the person appoints more than half of the board of directors of another
person or at least one director or executive member of the governing
board of that person;
(e) the person is the owner of or has the exclusive rights over the know-
how, patent, copyright, trade mark, licence, franchise or any other
business or commercial right of a similar nature, on which another
person is wholly dependent for the manufacture or processing of
goods or articles or business carried on by the other person;
(f) the person or a person designated by that person—
(i) supplies at least ninety per cent of the supply of the purchases
of another person; and
(ii) upon assessment, the Commissioner deems influence in the
price or other conditions relating to the supply of the purchases
of another person;
(g) the person purchases or designates a person—
(i) to purchase at least ninety per cent of the sales of another
person; and
(ii) upon assessment, the Commissioner deems influences in the
price or any other conditions of the sales of another person;
(h) the person has any other relationship, dealing or practice with another
person which the Commissioner may deem to constitute control;
"corporation rate" means the corporation rate of tax specified in paragraph 2 of
Head B of the Third Schedule;
"Court" means the High Court;
"current year of income", in relation to income charged to instalment tax, means
the year of income for which the instalment tax is payable;
"debenture" includes any debenture stock, mortgage, mortgage stock, or any
similar instrument acknowledging indebtedness, secured on the assets of the
person issuing the debenture; and, for the purposes of paragraphs (d) and (e)
of section 7(1) of this Act, includes any loan or loan stock, whether secured or
unsecured;
"deemed interest" means an amount of interest equal to the average ninety-
one day Treasury Bill rate, deemed to be payable by a resident person in respect
of any outstanding loan provided or secured by the non-resident, where such loan
is provided free of interest;
"defined benefit provision", in respect of a registered fund, means the terms of
the fund under which benefits in respect of each member of the fund are determined

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in any way other than that described in the definition of a "defined contribution
provision";
"defined benefit registered fund" means a registered fund that contains a
defined benefit provision, whether or not it also contains a defined contribution
provision;
"defined contribution provision", in respect of a registered fund, means terms
of the fund—
(a) which provide for a separate account to be maintained in respect of
each member, to which are credited contributions made to the fund
by, or in respect of, the member and any other amounts allocated to
the member, and to which are charged payments in respect of the
member; and
(b) under which the only benefits in respect of a member are benefits
determined solely with reference to, and provided by, the amount of
the member’s account;
"defined contribution registered fund" means a registered fund under which the
benefits of a member are determined by a defined contribution provision, and does
not contain a defined benefit provision;
"demurrage charges" deleted by Act No. 23 of 2019, s. 2.;
"director" means—
(a) in relation to a body corporate the affairs of which are managed by a
board of directors or similar body, a member of that board or similar
body;
(b) in relation to a body corporate the affairs of which are managed by a
single director or similar person, that director or person;
(c) in relation to a body corporate the affairs of which are managed by
the members themselves, a member of the body corporate,
and includes any person in accordance with whose directions and instructions
such persons are accustomed to act;
"discount" means interest measured by the difference between the amount
received on the sale, final satisfaction or redemption of any debt, bond, loan, claim,
obligation or other evidence of indebtedness, and the price paid on purchase or
original issuance of the bond or evidence of indebtedness or the sum originally
loaned upon the creation of the loan, claim or other obligation;
"dividend" means any distribution (whether in cash or property, and whether
made before or during a winding up) by a company to its shareholders with respect
to their equity interest in the company, other than distributions made in complete
liquidation of the company of capital which was originally paid directly into the
company in connection with the issuance of equity interests;
"due date" means the date on or before which any tax is due and payable under
this Act or pursuant to any notice issued under this Act;
"employer" includes any resident person responsible for the payment of, or on
account of, any emoluments to any employee, and any agent, manager or other
representative so responsible in Kenya on behalf of any non-resident employer;
"export processing zone enterprise" has the meaning assigned to it by the
Export Processing Zones Act, (No. 12 of 1990);

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“fair market value” means the comparable market price available in an open and
unrestricted market between independent parties acting at arm's length and under
no compulsion to transact, which is expressed in terms of money or money’s worth;
"family relief" deleted by Act No. 8 of 1996, s. 27;
"financial derivative” means a financial instrument the value of which is linked
to the value of another instrument underlying the transaction which is to be settled
at a future date;
"foreign tax", in relation to income charged to tax in Kenya, means any income
tax or any tax of a similar nature charged under any law in force in any place with the
Government of which a special arrangement has been made by the Government
of Kenya and which is the subject of that arrangement;
"incapacitated person" means a minor, and any person adjudged under any law,
whether in Kenya or elsewhere, to be in a state of unsoundness of mind (however
described);
"individual" means a natural person;
"individual rates" means the individual rates of income tax specified in
paragraph 1 of Head B of the Third Schedule;
"individual retirement fund" means a fund held in trust by a qualified institution
for a resident individual for the purpose of receiving and investing funds in
qualifying assets in order to provide pension benefits for such an individual or the
surviving dependants of such an individual subject to the Income Tax (Retirement
Benefit) Rules and "registered individual retirement fund" means an individual
retirement fund where the trust deed for such a fund has been registered with the
Commissioner;
"infrastructure bond" means a bond issued by the Government for the financing
of a strategic public infrastructure facility including a road, hospital, port, sporting
facility, water and sewerage system, a communication network or energy project;
"information technology" means any equipment or software for use in storing,
retrieving, processing or dissemination information;
"insurance relief" deleted by Act No. 8 of 1996, s. 27;
"interstate tax" means any income tax or any tax of a similar nature changed
under any law in force in Kenya;
"interest" (other than interest charged on tax) means interest payable in any
manner in respect of a loan, deposit, debt, claim or other right or obligation, and
includes any premium or discount by way of interest and any commitment or service
fee paid in respect of any loan or credit or an Islamic finance return;
"investee company" has the meaning assigned to it under the Capital Markets
Act (Cap. 485A) and the regulations made thereunder;
"Islamic finance arrangement" means all financial arrangements, including
transactions, instruments, products or related activities that are structured in
accordance with Islamic law;
"Islamic finance return" means any amount received or paid in relation to Sukuk
or an Islamic finance arrangement;
"Kenya" includes the continental shelf and any installation thereon as defined
in the Continental Shelf Act (Cap. 312);
"local committee" means a local committee established under section 82 of this
Act;

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"loss", in relation to gains or profits, means a loss computed in the same manner
as gains or profits;
"Management Act" means the East African Income Tax Management Act (E.A.
Cap. 24);
"management or professional fee" means any payment made to any person,
other than a payment made to an employee by his employer, as consideration
for any managerial, technical, agency, contractual, professional or consultancy
services however calculated;
"married relief" deleted by Act No. 12 of 1977, s. 5;
"Minister" means the Cabinet Secretary for the time being responsible for
matters relating to finance;
"National Social Security Fund" means the National Social Security Fund
established under section 3 of the National Social Security Fund Act (Cap. 258);
"natural resource income" means—
(i) an amount including a premium or such other like amount paid as
consideration for the right to take minerals or a living or nonliving
resource from land or sea; or
(ii) an amount calculated in whole or in part by reference to the quantity
or value of minerals or a living or non-living resource taken from land
or sea;
"non-resident rate" means a non-resident tax rate specified in paragraph 3 of
Head B of the Third Schedule;
"notice of objection" means a valid notice of objection to an assessment given
under section 84(1);
"number of full-year members", in respect of a registered fund, means the sum
of the periods of service in the year under the fund of all members of the fund,
where the periods are expressed as fractions of a year;
"oil company", deleted by Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 2;
"officer" means the Commissioner and any other member of staff of the Kenya
Revenue Authority appointed under section 13 of the Kenya Revenue Authority
Act (Cap. 469);
"original issue discount" means the difference between the amount received
on the final satisfaction or redemption of any debt, bond, loan, claim, obligation
or other evidence of indebtedness, and the price paid on original issuance of the
bond or evidence of indebtedness or the sum originally loaned upon creation of the
obligation, loan, claim or other obligation;
"paid" includes distributed, credited, dealt with or deemed to have been paid in
the interest or on behalf of a person and "pay", "payment" and "payable" have
corresponding meanings;
"pension fund" means any fund for the payment of pensions or other similar
benefits to employees on retirement, or to the dependants of employees on the
death of such employees and "registered pension fund" means one which has
been registered with the Commissioner in such manner as may be prescribed;
"pensionable income" means—
(a) in relation to a member of a registered pension or provident fund or of
an individual eligible to contribute to a registered individual retirement

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fund, the employment income specified in section 3(2)(a)(ii) subjected

to deduction of tax under section 37;
(b) in the case of an individual eligible to contribute to a registered
individual retirement fund, the gains or profits from business subject
to tax under section 3(2)(a)(i) earned as the sole proprietor or as a
partner of the business:
Provided that where a loss from business is realized the loss shall be deemed
to be zero;
"permanent establishment" includes—
(a) a fixed place of business through which business is wholly or partly
carried on and includes a place of management, a branch, an office,
a factory, a workshop, a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry or any other
place of extraction or exploitation of natural resources, a warehouse
in relation to a person whose business is providing storage facilities
to others, a farm, plantation or other place where agricultural, forestry
plantation or related activities are carried on and a sales outlet;
(b) a building site, construction, assembly or installation project or any
supervisory activity connected to the site or project, but only if it
continues for a period of more than one hundred and eighty-three
days:
Provided that for the purpose of determining whether the period
specified in this paragraph has been exceeded—
(i) where a person carries on activities at a place that constitutes
a building site or construction or installation project and these
activities are carried on during one or more periods of time that,
in the aggregate, exceed thirty days but do not exceed one
hundred and eighty-three days; and
(ii) connected activities are carried on at the same building site
or construction or installation project during different periods of
time, each exceeding thirty days, by one or more enterprises
closely related to the first-mentioned enterprise, the different
periods of time shall be added to the aggregate period of
time during which the first-mentioned enterprise has carried
on activities at that building site or construction or installation
project;
(c) the provision of services, including consultancy services, by a person
through employees or other personnel engaged for that purpose, but
only where the services or connected business in Kenya, continue for
a period of, or periods exceeding in the aggregate, ninety-one days in
any twelve-month period commencing or ending in the year of income
concerned;
(d) an installation or structure used in the exploration for natural
resources:
Provided that the exploration continues for a period of not less than
ninety-one days;
(e) a dependent agent of a person who acts on their behalf in respect
of any activities which that person undertakes in Kenya including
habitually concluding contracts, or playing the principal role leading

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to the conclusion of contracts that are routinely concluded without

material modification by the person,
but excludes the following activities where the activities are of a preparatory or
auxiliary character—
(i) the use of facilities solely for the purpose of storage, or display of
goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise;
(ii) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the
enterprise solely for the purpose of storage, or display;
(iii) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the
enterprise solely for the purpose of processing by another enterprise;
(iv) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose
of purchasing goods or merchandise, or of collecting information, for
the enterprise;
(v) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of
carrying on, for the enterprise, any other activity; and
(vi) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for any
combination of activities mentioned in paragraphs (i) to (v).
"permanent home" means a place where an individual resides or which is
available to that individual for residential purposes in Kenya, or where in the opinion
of the Commissioner the individual’s personal or economic interests are closest;
"permanent or semi-permanent crops" means such crops which the Minister
may, by notice in the Gazette, declare to be permanent or semi-permanent crops
for the purposes of this Act;
"personal relief" means—
(a) the personal relief provided for under Part V; and
(b) the relief mentioned in section 30;
"preceding year assessment", in relation to instalment tax, means the tax
assessed for the preceding year of income as of the date the instalment tax is
due without regard to subsequent additions to, amendments of, or subtractions
from the assessment and in the event that as of the date the instalment tax is due
no assessment for the preceding year of tax has, as yet, been made, means the
amount of tax estimated by the person as assessable for the preceding year of
income;
"premises" means land, any improvement thereon, and any building or, where
part of a building is occupied as a separate dwelling-house, that part;
"provident fund" includes any fund or scheme for the payment of lump sums
and other similar benefits, to employees when they leave employment or to
the dependants of employees on the death of those employees but does not
include any national provident fund or national social security fund established by
the Government and "registered provident fund" means one which has been
registered with the Commissioner in such manner as may be prescribed;
"provisional return of income" deleted by Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 2;
"public pension scheme" means a pension scheme that pays pension or lump
sums out of the Consolidated Fund;
"qualified institution" means a bank licensed under the Banking Act (Cap. 488),
or an insurer registered under the Insurance Act (Cap. 487), or such other financial
institution as may be approved under the Retirement Benefits Act, (No. 3 of 1997);

16
[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
Income Tax

"qualifying assets", in respect of a registered individual retirement fund, means

time deposits, treasury bills, treasury bonds, securities traded on any securities
exchange approved under the Capital Markets Act (Cap. 485A) and such other
categories of assets as may be prescribed in the investment guidelines issued
under the Retirement Benefits Act, (No. 3 of 1997);
"qualifying dividend" means that part of the aggregate dividend that is
chargeable to tax under section 3(2)(b) and which has not been otherwise
exempted under any other provision of this Act, but shall not include a dividend paid
by a designated cooperative society subject to tax under section 19A(2) or 19A(3);
"qualifying dividend rate of tax" means the resident withholding tax rate in
respect of a qualifying dividend specified in the Third Schedule;
"qualifying interest" means the aggregate interest, discount or original issue
discount receivable by a resident individual in any year of income:
Provided that—
(a) interest earned on an account held jointly by a husband and wife shall
be deemed to be qualifying interest; and
(b) in the case of housing bonds, the aggregate amount of interest shall
not exceed three hundred thousand shillings.
"qualifying interest rate of tax" means the resident withholding tax rate in respect
of interest specified in paragraph 5 of the Third Schedule;
"real estate investment trust" shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Capital
Markets Act (Cap. 485A);
"registered annuity contract" means one which has been registered with the
Commissioner in such manner as may be prescribed;
"registered fund" means a registered pension fund or a registered provident
fund;
"registered home ownership savings plan" means a savings plan established
by an approved institution and registered with the Commissioner for receiving
and holding funds in trust for depositors for the purpose of enabling individual
depositors to purchase a permanent house;
"registered trust scheme" means a trust scheme for the provision of retirement
annuities which has been registered with the Commissioner in such manner as
may be prescribed;
"registered unit trust" means a unit trust registered by the Commissioner in such
manner as may be prescribed;
"registered venture capital company" means a venture capital company
registered by the Commissioner in such manner as may be prescribed;
"resident", when applied in relation—
(a) to an individual, means—
(i) that he has a permanent home in Kenya and was present in
Kenya for any period in any particular year of income under
consideration; or
(ii) that he has no permanent home in Kenya but—
(A) was present in Kenya for a period or periods amounting
in the aggregate to 183 days or more in that year of
income; or

17
CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
Income Tax

(B) was present in Kenya in that year of income and in

each of the two preceding years of income for periods
averaging more than 122 days in each year of income;
(b) to a body of persons, means—
(i) that the body is a company incorporated under a law of Kenya;
or
(ii) that the management and control of the affairs of the body
was exercised in Kenya in a particular year of income under
consideration; or
(iii) that the body has been declared by the Minister, by notice in
the Gazette, to be resident in Kenya for any year of income;
"resident withholding rate" means a rate of resident withholding tax specified in
paragraph 5 of Head B of the Third Schedule;
"retirement annuity" means a retirement annuity payable under a registered
annuity contract;
"Retirement Benefits Authority" means the Authority by that name established
under the Retirement Benefits Act, (No. 3 of 1997);
"return of income" means a return of income furnished by a person consequent
upon a notice served by the Commissioner under section 52 of this Act including
a return of income together with a self-assessment of tax furnished to the
Commissioner in accordance with the provisions of section 52B, together with any
documents required to be furnished therewith;
"royalty" means a payment made as a consideration for the use of or the right
to use—
(a) any copyright of a literary, artistic or scientific work; or
(b) any cinematograph film, including film or tape for radio or television
broadcasting; or
(c) any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, formula or process; or
(d) any industrial, commercial or scientific equipment,
or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific equipment or
experience, and any gains derived from the sale or exchange of any right or
property giving rise to that royalty;
"securities exchange" has the meaning assigned to it in section 2 of the Capital
Markets Authority Act (Cap. 485A);
"single relief" deleted by Act No. 8 of 1996, s. 27;
"special arrangement" means an arrangement for relief from double taxation
having effect under section 41 of this Act or an agreement for the exchange of tax
information under section 41A;
"special single relief" deleted by Act No. 8 of 1991, s. 52;
"specified mineral" deleted by Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 2;
"Sukuk" has the meaning assigned to it in the Public Finance Management Act,
2012 (No. 18 of 2012);
"tax" means the income tax charged under this Act;
"tax computerized system" means any software or hardware for use in storing,
retrieving, processing or disseminating information relating to tax;

18
[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
Income Tax

"telecommunication operator" means any person licensed as such under the

Kenya Information and Communications Act, (No. 2 of 1998);
"total income" means, in relation to a person, the aggregate amount of his
income, other than income exempt from tax under Part III, chargeable to tax under
Part II, as ascertained under Part IV;
"trade association" means a body of persons which is an association of persons
separately engaged in any business with the main object of safeguarding or
promoting the business interests of those persons;
"training fee" means a payment made in respect of a business or user training
services designed to improve the work practices and efficiency of an organization,
and includes any payment in respect of incidental costs associated with the
provision of such services;
Provided that training fee shall not include fees paid for educational services
provided by—
(a) a pre-primary, primary, or secondary school;
(b) a technical college or university;
(c) an institution established for the promotion of adult education,
vocational training or technical education.
"Tribunal" means the tribunal established under section 83;
"unit holder", in relation to a unit trust, means the owner of an interest in the
moneys, investments and other property which are for the time being subject to
the trusts governing the unit trust, such interest being expressed in the number of
units of which he is the owner;
"unit trust" has the meaning assigned to it in section 2 of the Capital Markets
Act (Cap. 485A);
"venture company" means a company incorporated in Kenya in which a venture
capital company has invested and which at the time of first investment by the
venture capital company has assets with a market value or annual turnover of less
than five hundred million Kenya shillings;
"whole time service director" means a director of a company who is required
to devote substantially the whole of his time to the service of such company in a
managerial or technical capacity and is not the beneficial owner of, or able, either
directly or through the medium of other companies or by any other means, to control
more than five per cent of the share capital or voting power of such company;
"wife’s employment income" means gains or profits from employment arising
from a contract of service which is chargeable to tax under section 3(2)(a)(ii)
and pensions, lump sums and withdrawals from a registered fund, public pension
scheme or registered individual retirement fund which are chargeable to tax under
section 3(2)(c), of a woman living with her husband, excepting income derived by
her as a trustee or manager of a settlement created by her husband the income of
which is deemed under section 25 or 26 to be the income of the settler or income
derived by her as an employee of—
(a) a partnership in which her husband is a partner;
(b) her husband; or
(c) a company, the voting power of which is held to the extent of twelve
and one-half per cent or more at any time during the year of income

19
CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
Income Tax

by her or by her husband or by both jointly, either directly or through

nominees;
"wife’s professional income" means the gains or profits of a married woman
living with her husband derived from the exercise by her (but not as a partner of a
partnership in which her husband is a partner) of one of the professions specified
in the Fifth Schedule being also a person who has the qualifications specified in
that Schedule relevant to that profession;
"wife’s professional income rate" means the wife’s professional income rate
specified in paragraph 1A of Head B of the Third Schedule;
"wife’s self-employment income" means gains or profits arising from a business
of a married woman living with her husband which are chargeable to tax under
section 3(2)(a)(i) and any income chargeable under section 3(2)(a)(iii) or section
3(2)(b), but does not include any income derived from the provision of goods or
services by her to a business, partnership or a company owned by or the voting
power of which is held to the extent of twelve and one-half per cent, or more at
any one time during the year of income by her or her husband either directly or
through nominee;
"wife’s self-employment income rate" means the wife’s self-employment income
rate specified in paragraph 1A of Head B of the Third Schedule;
"winnings" includes winnings of any kind and a reference to the amount or the
payment of winnings shall be construed accordingly;
st
"year of income" means the period of twelve months commencing on 1 January
st
in any year and ending on 31 December in that year.
(1A) Where under the provisions of this Act, any accounts, books of accounts
or other records are required to be kept, such accounts, books or other records
may be kept in written form or on micro-film, magnetic tape or any other form of
mechanical or electronic data retrieval mechanism.
(2) In relation to any year of income in respect of which an order relating to
tax or personal reliefs has been made under the Provisional Collection of Taxes
and Duties Act (Cap. 415), reference in this Act to rates of tax and personal reliefs
shall, so long as the order remains in force, be construed as references to the
rates or reliefs specified in that order; and if, after the order has ceased to have
effect, the rates of tax and of personal reliefs in relation to that year of income as
specified in this Act as amended are different from those referred to in the order,
and assessments have already been made having regard to those rates in the
order, then all necessary adjustments shall be made to the assessments to give
effect to the rates of tax and of personal reliefs for that year of income as specified
in this Act as amended for that year of income.
[Act No. 7 of 1976, s. 2, Act No. 12 of 1977, s. 5, Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9, Act
No. 12 of 1980, s. 3, Act No. 14 of 1982, s. 16, Act No. 10 of 1987, s. 31, Act No.
10 of 1988, s. 28, Act No. 9 of 1989, 2nd Sch., Act No. 10 of 1990, s. 38, Act No.
8 of 1991, s. 52, Act No. 9 of 1992, s. 35, Act No. 6 of 1994, s. 33, Act No. 13 of
1995, s. 73, Act No. 8 of 1996, s. 27, Act No. 8 of 1997, s. 27, Act No. 4 of 1999, s.
32, Act No. 9 of 2000, s. 40, Act No. 6 of 2001, s. 42, Act No. 7 of 2002, s. 37, Act
No. 15 of 2003, s. 29, Act No. 4 of 2004, s. 45, Act No. 6 of 2005, s. 20, Act No.
10 of 2006, s. 16, Act No. 8 of 2008, s. 23, Act No. 8 of 2009, s. 16, Act No. 4 of
2012, s. 9, Act No. 57 of 2012, s. 13, Act No. 38 of 2013, s. 9, Act No. 16 of 2014,
s. 2, Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 7, Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 2, Act No. 15 of 2017, s. 11,

20
[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
Income Tax

Act No. 9 of 2018, Sch., Act No. 10 of 2018, s. 2, Act No. 23 of 2019, s. 2, Act No.
2 of 2020, Sch, Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 2, Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 2.]
PART II – IMPOSITION OF INCOME TAX
3. Charge of tax
(1) Subject to, and in accordance with, this Act, a tax to be known as income tax
shall be charged for each year of income upon all the income of a person, whether
resident or non-resident, which accrued in or was derived from Kenya.
(2) Subject to this Act, income upon which tax is chargeable under this Act is
income in respect of—
(a) gains or profits from—
(i) any business, for whatever period of time carried on;
(ii) any employment or services rendered;
(iii) any right granted to any other person for use or occupation of
property;
(b) dividends or interest;
(c) (i) a pension, charge or annuity; and
(ii) any withdrawals from, or payments out of, a registered pension
fund or a registered provident fund or a registered individual
retirement fund; and
(iii) any withdrawals from a registered home ownership savings
plan;
(ca) income accruing from a business carried out over the internet or an
electronic network including through a digital marketplace;
(d) deleted by Act No. 14 of 1982, s. 17;
(e) an amount deemed to be the income of any person under this Act or
by rules made under this Act;
(f) gains accruing in the circumstances prescribed in, and computed in
accordance with, the Eighth Schedule;
(g) subject to section 15(5A), the net gain derived on the disposal of an
interest in a person, if the interest derives twenty per cent or more of
its value, directly or indirectly, from immovable property in Kenya;
(h) a natural resource income; and
(i) gains from financial derivatives, excluding financial derivatives traded
at the Nairobi Securities Exchange.
(2A) The Cabinet Secretary shall make regulations to provide for the
mechanisms of implementing the provisions of subsection (2)(ca).
(3) For the purposes of this section—
(a) "person" does not include a partnership;
(b) a bonus or interest paid by a designated cooperative society, as
defined under section 19A, shall be deemed to be a dividend;
(ba) "digital marketplace" means an online or electronic platform which
enables users to sell or provide services, goods or other property to
other users;
(c) for the purposes of subsection (2)(g) and section 15(5A) —

21
CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
Income Tax

(i) "immovable property" means a mining right, an interest

in a petroleum agreement, mining information or petroleum
information;
(ii) "net gain" in relation to the disposal of an interest in a person,
means the consideration for the disposal reduced by the cost
of the interest; and
(iii) the terms "consideration", "cost", "disposal", "interest in
a person", "mining information", "mining right", "person",
"petroleum agreement", and "petroleum information" have
the meaning assigned to them in the Ninth Schedule.
[Act No. 13 of 1975, s. 2, Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9, Act No. 14 of 1982, s. 17, Act
No. 10 of 1990, s. 39, Act No. 8 of 1991, s. 53, Act No. 9 of 1992, s. 36, Act No. 4
of 1993, s. 35, Act No. 13 of 1995, s. 74, Act No. 57 of 2012, s. 14, Act No. 16 of
2014, s. 3, Act No. 23 of 2019, s. 3, Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 3, Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 3.]

4. Income from businesses

For the purposes of section 3(2)(a)(i)—
(a) where a business is carried on or exercised partly within and partly
outside Kenya by a resident person, the whole of the gains or profits
from such business shall be deemed to have accrued in or to have
been derived from Kenya;
(b) the gains or profits of a partner from a partnership shall be the sum
of—
(i) any remuneration payable to him by the partnership together
with any interest on capital so payable, less any interest on
capital payable by him to the partnership; and
(ii) his share of the total income of the partnership, calculated after
deducting the total of any remuneration and interest on capital
payable to any partner by the partnership and after adding any
interest on capital payable by any partner to the partnership,
and where the partnership makes a loss, calculated in the manner set out in
subparagraph (ii), his gains or profits shall be the excess, if any, of the amount set
out in subparagraph (i) over his share of that loss;
Provided that in computing the total income of a partnership, there shall be
deducted the cost of medical expenses or medical insurance cover paid by the
partnership for the benefit of any partner, subject to a limit of one million shillings
per year;
(c) any sum received under any insurance against loss of profits, or
received by way of damages or compensation for loss of profits, shall
be deemed to be gains or profits of the year of income in which it is
received;
(d) where in computing gains or profits for any year of income any
expenditure or loss has been deducted, or a deduction in respect of
any reserve or provision to meet any liability has been made, and in
a later year of income the whole or part of such expenditure or loss
is recovered, or the whole or part of that liability is released, or the
retention in whole or in part of such reserve or provision has become
unnecessary, then any sum so recovered or released or no longer
required as a reserve or provision shall be deemed to be gains or

22
[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
Income Tax

profits of the year of income in which it is recovered or released or

no longer required:
Provided that if the person so chargeable with tax in respect of any such sum
requests the Commissioner in writing to exercise his power under this proviso, the
Commissioner may divide the sum into so many equal portions, not exceeding
six, as he may consider fit, and one such portion shall be taken into account in
computing the gains or profits of such person for the year of income in respect of
which such sum is so deemed to be gains or profits and for each of the previous
years of income corresponding to the number of portions;
(e) where under the Second Schedule it is provided that a balancing
charge shall be made, or a sum shall be treated as a trading receipt,
for any year of income, the amount thereof shall be deemed to be
gains or profits of that year of income;
(f) in computing the gains or profits of a "licensee""contractor" or
"subcontractor" as defined in the Ninth Schedule, the provisions of
that Schedule shall apply.
[Act No. 18 of 1984, s. 2, Act No. 8 of 2009, s.
17, Act No. 4 of 2012, s. 10, Act No. 16 of 2016, s. 4.]

4A. Income from businesses where foreign exchange loss or gain is realized
st
(1) A foreign exchange gain or loss realized on or after the 1 January, 1989
in a business carried on in Kenya shall be taken into account as a trading receipt
or deductible expenses in computing the gains and profits of that business for the
year of income in which that gain or loss was realized:
Provided that—
(i) no foreign exchange gain or loss shall be taken into account to the
extent that taking that foreign exchange gain or loss into account
would duplicate the amounts of gain or loss accrued in any prior year
of income; and
(ii) the foreign exchange loss shall be deferred (and not taken into
account)—
(a) where a foreign exchange loss is realized by a company whose
gross interest paid or payable to related persons and third parties
exceeds thirty per cent of the company’s earnings before interest,
taxes, depreciation and amortization in any financial year; or
(b) to the extent of any foreign exchange gain that would be realized if all
foreign currency assets and liabilities of the business were disposed
of or satisfied on the last day of the year of income and any foreign
exchange loss so deferred shall be deemed realized in the next
succeeding year of income.
(1A) For the avoidance of doubt accumulated losses shall be taken into account
in computing the amount of revenue reserves.
(2) The amount of foreign exchange gain or loss shall be calculated in
1 2
accordance with the difference between (a times r ) and (a times r ) where—
a
is the amount of foreign currency received, paid or otherwise computed with
respect to a foreign currency asset or liability in the transaction in which the foreign
exchange gain or loss is realized;

23
CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
Income Tax

1
r is the applicable rate of exchange for that foreign currency ("a") at the date
of the transaction in which the foreign exchange gain or loss is realized;
2
r is the applicable rate of exchange for that foreign currency ("a") at the date
on which the foreign currency asset or liability was obtained or established or on
th
the 30 December, 1988, whichever date is the later.
(3) For the purposes of this section, no foreign exchange loss shall be deemed
to be realized where a foreign currency asset or liability is disposed of or satisfied
and within a period of sixty days a substantially similar foreign currency asset or
liability is obtained or established.
(4) For the purposes of this section—
"control"deleted by Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 4.;
"company" does not include a bank or a financial institution licensed under the
Banking Act (Cap. 488), or non-deposit taking microfinance businesses under the
Microfinance Act, 2006, entities licensed under the Hire Purchase Act and persons
exempt under section 16(2)(j)(iii);
"all loans" shall have the meaning assigned in section 16(3);
"foreign currency asset or liability" means an asset or liability denominated
in, or the amount of which is otherwise determined by reference to, a currency
other than the Kenya Shilling.
[Act No. 10 of 1988, s. 29, Act No. 4 of 1993, s. 36, Act No. 8 of 2008, s.
24, Act No. 8 of 2009, s. 18, Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 4, Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 4.]

4B. Export processing zone enterprise

Where a business is carried on by an export processing zone enterprise, the
provisions of the Eleventh Schedule shall apply.
[Act No. 10 of 1990, s. 40.]

5. Income from employment, etc.

(1) For the purposes of section 3(2)(a)(ii) of this Act, an amount paid to—
(a) a person who is, or was at the time of the employment or when
the services were rendered, a resident person in respect of any
employment or services rendered by him in Kenya or outside Kenya;
or
(b) a non-resident person in respect of any employment with or services
rendered to an employer who is resident in Kenya or the permanent
establishment in Kenya of an employer who is not so resident,
shall be deemed to have accrued in or to have been derived from Kenya.
(2) For the purposes of section 3(2)(a)(ii)"gains or profits" includes—
(a) any wages, salary, leave pay, sick pay, payment in lieu of leave, fees,
commission, bonus, gratuity, or subsistence, travelling, entertainment
or other allowance received in respect of employment or services
rendered, and any amount so received in respect of employment or
services rendered in a year of income other than the year of income
in which it is received shall be deemed to be income in respect of that
other year of income:
Provided that—

24
[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
Income Tax

(i) where any such amount is received in respect of a year of

income which expired earlier than four years prior to the year of
income in which it was received, or prior to the year of income
in which the employment or services ceased, if earlier, it shall
be deemed to be income of the year of income which expired
five years prior to the year of income in which it was received, or
prior to the year of income in which the employment or services
ceased as the case may be; and
(ii) where the Commissioner is satisfied that subsistence,
travelling, entertainment or other allowance represents solely
the reimbursement to the recipient of an amount expended by
him wholly and exclusively in the production of his income from
the employment or services rendered then the calculation of
the gains or profits of the recipient shall exclude that allowance
or expenditure; and
(iii) notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (ii), where such
amount is received by an employee as payment of subsistence,
travelling, entertainment or other allowance, in respect of a
period spent outside his usual place of work while on official
duties, the first two thousand shillings per day expended
by him for the duration of that period shall be deemed to
be reimbursement of the amount so expended and shall be
excluded in the calculation of his gains or profits;
(b) save as otherwise expressly provided in this section, the value of
a benefit, advantage, or facility of whatsoever nature the aggregate
value whereof is not less than thirty six thousand shillings granted in
respect of employment or services rendered;
(c) an amount paid by the employer as a contribution to a pension fund,
or a registered provident fund or scheme:
Provided that—
(i) where the contract is for a specified term, any amount received
as compensation on the termination of the contract shall be
deemed to have accrued evenly over the unexpired period of
the contract;
(ii) where the contract is for an unspecified term and provides for
compensation on the termination thereof, the compensation
shall be deemed to have accrued in the period immediately
following the termination at a rate equal to the rate per annum
of the gains or profits from the contract received immediately
prior to termination;
(iii) where the contract is for an unspecified term and does not
provide for compensation on the termination thereof, any
compensation paid on the termination of the contract shall be
deemed to have accrued evenly in the three years immediately
following such termination;
(d) any balancing charge under Part II of the Second Schedule;
(e) the value of premises provided by an employer for occupation by his
employee for residential purposes;

25
CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
Income Tax

(f) an amount paid by an employer as a premium for an insurance on

the life of his employee and for the benefit of that employee or any
of his dependants:
Provided that this paragraph shall not apply where such an amount
is paid—
(i) to a registered or unregistered pension scheme, pension fund,
or individual retirement fund; or
(ii) for group life policy cover, unless such a cover confers a benefit
to the employee or any of his dependants.
(g) deleted by Act No. 6 of 1994, s. 34.
(a) Where an individual is a director or an employee or is a relative of a
director or an employee and has received a loan including a loan from
an unregistered pension or provident fund by virtue of his position as
a director or his employment, or the person to whom he is related,
he shall be deemed to have received a benefit in that year of income
equal to the greater of—
(i) the difference between the interest that would have been
payable on the loan received if calculated at the prescribed rate
of interest and the actual interest paid on the loan; and
(ii) zero:
Provided that where the term of the loan extends for a period beyond the date
of termination of employment, the provisions of this subsection shall continue to
apply for as long as the loan remains unpaid.
"market lending rates" means the average 91-day treasury bill rate
of interest for the previous quarter;
"prescribed rate of interest" means the following:
(i) in the year of income commencing on the 1st January, 1990, 6
per cent;
(ii) st
in the year of income commencing on the 1 January, 1991, 8
per cent;
(iii) st
in the year of income commencing on the 1 January, 1992,
10 per cent;
(iv) st
in the year of income commencing on the 1 January, 1993,
12 per cent;
(v) st
in the year of income commencing on the 1 January, 1994, 15
per cent; and
(vi) st
in the year of income commencing on or after the 1 January,
1995, 15% or such interest rate based on the market lending
rates as the Commissioner may from time to time prescribe, to
cover a period of not less than six months but not more than
one year,
whichever is the lower.

26
[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
Income Tax

(2B) Where an employee is provided with a motor vehicle by his employer, he

shall be deemed to have received a benefit in that year of income equal to the
higher of—
(a) such value as the Commissioner may, from time to time, determine;
and
(b) the prescribed rate of benefit:
Provided that—
(i) where such vehicle is hired or leased from a third party, the
employee shall be deemed to have received a benefit in that
year of income equal to the cost of hiring or leasing; or
(ii) where an employee has restricted use of such motor vehicle,
the Commissioner shall, if satisfied of that fact upon proof by
the employee, determine a lower rate of benefit depending on
the usage of the motor vehicle.
(2C) For the purposes of subsection (2B)—
"prescribed rate of benefit" means the following rates in respect of each
month—
(a) in the 1996 year of income, 1% of the initial capital expenditure on the
vehicle by the employer;
(b) in the 1997 year of income, 1.5% of the initial capital expenditure on
the vehicle by the employer; and
(c) in 1998 and subsequent years of income, 2% of the initial expenditure
on the vehicle by the employer.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(e), the value of premises, excluding the
value of any furniture or other contents so provided, shall be deemed to be—
(a) in the case of a director of a company, other than a whole time service
director, an amount equal to the higher of fifteen per centum of his
total income excluding the value of those premises and income which
is chargeable under section 3(2)(f), the market rental value and the
rent paid by the employer;
(b) in the case of a whole time service director, an amount equal to
the higher of fifteen per centum of the gains or profits from his
employment, excluding the value of those premises, and income
which is chargeable under section 3(2)(f), the market rental value and
the rent paid by the employer;
(c) in the case of an agricultural employee required by the terms of
employment to reside on a plantation or farm, an amount equal to ten
per centum of the gains or profits from his employment:
Provided that for the purposes of this paragraph—
(i) "plantation" shall not include a forest or timber plantation; and
(ii) "agricultural employee" shall not include a director other than
a whole time service director;
(d) in the case of any other employee, an amount equal to fifteen per
centum of the gains or profits from his employment, excluding the
value of those premises or the rent paid by the employer if paid under
an agreement made at arm’s length with a third party, whichever is
the higher:

27
CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
Income Tax

Provided that—
(i) where the premises are provided under an agreement with a
third party which is not at arm’s length, the value of the premises
determined under this subsection shall be the fair market rental
value of the premises in that year, or the rent paid by the
employer, whichever is the higher; or
(ii) where the premises are owned by the employer, the fair market
rental value of the premises in that year.
(4) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in subsection (2) "gains or
profits" do not include—
(a) the expenditure on passages between Kenya and any place outside
Kenya borne by employer:
Provided that this paragraph shall not apply to expenditure other
than expenditure on the provision of passages for the benefit of an
employee recruited or engaged outside Kenya and who is in Kenya
solely for the purpose of serving the employer and is not a citizen of
Kenya;
(aa) expenditure on vacation trips to destinations in Kenya paid by the
employer on behalf of an employee:
Provided that—
(i) this paragraph shall cease to apply on the 1st July, 2015;
(ii) the period of vacation shall not exceed seven days; and
(iii) the term "employee" shall include the immediate family
members of the employee;
(b) in the case of a full-time employee or his beneficiaries (which
expression includes a whole time service director, or a director who
controls more than five per cent of the share capital or voting power
of a company) the value of any medical services provided by the
employer or medical insurance provided by an insurance provider
approved by the Commissioner of Insurance and paid for by the
employer on behalf of a full-time employee or his beneficiaries:
Provided that in the case of a director other than a whole time service
director, the value of the services shall be subject to such limit as the
Minister may, from time to time, prescribe;
(c) an amount paid by the employer as a contribution to a registered or
unregistered pension fund, provident fund, individual retirement fund
or scheme:
Provided that this paragraph shall not apply to any contributions paid
by an employer who is not a person chargeable to tax—
(i) to an unregistered pension scheme, unregistered provident
fund or unregistered individual retirement fund; or
(ii) to a registered pension scheme, a registered provident fund or
a registered individual retirement fund in excess of the amount
specified in section 22A or 22B;

28
[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
Income Tax

(d) educational fees of employee’s dependants or relatives disallowed

under section 16(2(a)(iv) which have been taxed in the hands of the
employer;
(e) fringe benefits subject to tax under section 12B;
(f) the value of meals served to employees in a canteen or cafeteria
operated or established by the employer or provided by a third party
who is a registered taxpayer (whether the meals are supplied in the
premises of the employer or the premises of the third party) where the
value of the meal does not exceed the sum of forty-eight thousand
shillings per year per employee subject to such conditions as the
Commissioner may specify;
(g) an amount paid by an employer as a gratuity or similar payment in
respect of employment or services rendered, which is paid into a
registered pension scheme:
Provided that—
(a) this paragraph shall only apply in respect of amounts not exceeding two
hundred and forty thousand shillings for each year of service;
(b) this paragraph shall not apply to any person who is eligible for deductions
under section 22A.
(h) For the purposes of this subsection—
(i) "beneficiaries" means the full time employee’s spouse and
not more than four children whose age shall not exceed twenty-
one years; and
(ii) "low income employee"deleted by Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 5(c).
(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the value of the benefit
(excluding the value of premises as determined under subsection (3) and the value
of benefit determined under subsection (2B) for the purposes of this section, shall
be the higher of the cost to the employer or the fair market value of the benefit:
Provided that—
(a) in the case of an employee share ownership plan, the value of the
benefit shall be the difference between the offer price, per share, at
the date the option is granted by the employer, and the market value,
per share on the date when the employee exercises the option;
(b) the Commissioner may, from time to time, prescribe the value where
the cost or the fair market value of a benefit cannot be determined.
(6) For the purposes of paragraph (a) of the proviso to subsection (5)—
(a) the benefits chargeable shall be deemed to have accrued on the date
the employee exercises the option;
(b) "offer price" means the price at which an employer’s shares are
initially offered to an employee under an employee share ownership
plan;
(c) "market value", in relation to a share means—
(i) where the shares are fully listed on any securities exchange
operating in Kenya, the mid-market value on the date the
shares were granted by the employer; or
(ii) where the shares are not fully listed, the price which the shares
might reasonably be expected to fetch on sale in the open

29
CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
Income Tax

market, which shall be agreed upon with the Commissioner

before the grant of the options;
(d) "share option" means the offer made by an employer to an employee
to purchase a fixed number of shares at a fixed price, which may be
paid for at the end of the vesting period;
(e) "vesting period" means a fixed period of time between the date of
offer by the employer and the date after which the option to purchase
can be exercised by the employee.
[Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9, Act No. 13 of 1979, s. 5, Act No. 10 of 1987, s. 32, Act No. 8 of
1989, s. 17, Act No. 10 of 1990, s. 41, Act No. 8 of 1991, s. 54, Act No. 9 of 1992, s. 37, Act No.
4 of 1993, s. 37, Act No. 6 of 1994, s. 34, Act No. 13 of 1995, s. 75, Act No. 8 of 1996, s. 28,
Act No. 8 of 1997, s. 28, Act No. 5 of 1998, s. 30, Act No. 6 of 2001, s. 43, Act No. 7 of 2002,
s. 38, Act No. 15 of 2003, s. 30, Act No. 4 of 2004, s. 46, Act No. 6 of 2005, s. 21, Act No. 10 of
2006, s. 17, Act No. 9 of 2007, s. 18, Act No. 8 of 2008, s. 25, Act No. 10 of 2010, s. 21, Act No.
4 of 2012, s. 11, Act No. 38 of 2013, s. 10, Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 5, Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 5.]

6. Income from the use of property

(1) For the purpose of section 3(2)(a)(iii) of this Act, "gains or profits" shall
include any royalty, rent, premium or similar consideration received for the use or
occupation of property.
(2) In the case of a lease or similar transaction, the income of a lessor shall be
determined in accordance with such rules as may be prescribed under this Act.
[Act No. 8 of 1997, s. 29.]

6A. Imposition of residential rental Income Tax

(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a tax to be known as
st
residential rental income tax shall be payable with effect from the 1 January, 2016
by any resident person from income which is accrued in or derived from Kenya for
the use or occupation of residential property, and which is in excess of two hundred
and eighty-eight thousand shillings but does not exceed fifteen million shillings
during any year of income.
Provided that this section shall not apply where a person who would otherwise
pay tax under this section, by notice in writing addressed to the Commissioner,
elects not to be subject to residential rental income tax, in which case the other
provisions of this Act shall apply to such a person.
(2) The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, prescribe regulations for the
better carrying out the provisions of this section.
[Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 8, Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 3, Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 2.]

7. Income from dividends

(1) For the purposes of section 3(2)(b) —
(a) a dividend paid by a resident company shall be deemed to be income
of the year of income in which it was payable;
(b) an amount shall be deemed to be a dividend distributed by a company
to a shareholder where —
(i) any cash or asset is distributed or transferred by that company
to or for the benefit of that shareholder or any person related
to that shareholder;
(ii) the shareholder or any person related to that shareholder is
discharged from any obligation measurable in money which is
owed to that company by that shareholder or related person;

30
[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
Income Tax

(iii) the amount is used by that company in any other manner for
the benefit of the shareholder or any person related to that
shareholder;
(iv) any debt owed by the shareholder or any person related to that
shareholder to any third party is paid or settled by that company;
(v) the amount represents additional taxable income or reduced
assessed loss of that company by virtue of any transaction with
the shareholder or related person to such shareholder, resulting
from an adjustment.
(c) when, in relation to a company that is being wound up voluntarily,
profits (including profits realised on the disposition of assets of
the company) whether earned before or during the winding up are
distributed (whether in cash or otherwise), the distribution shall be
deemed to be payment of a dividend;
(d) where any company issues debentures or redeemable preference
shares to any of its shareholders and receives therefor no payment,
the issue of such debentures or redeemable preference shares shall
be deemed to be a payment of a dividend on the shares held by the
shareholders of an amount equal to the nominal value or redeemable
value, whichever is the greater, of such debentures or redeemable
preference shares;
(e) where any company issues debentures or redeemable preference
shares to any of its shareholders for a sum less than their nominal
value or redeemable value, whichever is the greater, the issue of
such debentures or redeemable preference shares shall be deemed
to include a payment of a dividend on the shares held by the
shareholders of an amount equal to the excess:
Provided that this paragraph shall not apply if the sum paid for the
debentures or redeemable preference shares is ninety-five per cent
or more of their nominal value or redeemable value, whichever is the
greater;
(f) where a company issues ordinary or any other shares or rights to
acquire shares to any of its shareholders in respect of their existing
shares in a ratio not proportionate to their holding of the existing
equity, such distribution shall be treated as a dividend to the recipient
shareholders to the extent of the value of the proportionate increase
in their ownership of the company.
(2) Notwithstanding section 3(2)(b), a dividend received by a resident company,
other than a dividend received by a company which controls directly or indirectly
less than twelve and one-half per cent of the voting power of the company paying
the dividend, shall be deemed not to be income chargeable to tax.
(3) A dividend received by the financial institutions specified in the Fourth
Schedule shall be deemed to be income chargeable to tax in accordance with this
section.
[Act No. 2 of 1975, s. 5, Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9, Act No. 9 of 1992, s. 38, Act No. 4 of
1993, s. 38, Act No. 6 of 1994, s. 35, Act No. 8 of 2008, s. 26, Act No. 10 of 2018, s. 3.]

31
CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
Income Tax

7A. Dividend distributed out of untaxed gains or profits

Where a dividend is distributed out of gains or profits on which no tax is paid,
the company distributing the dividend shall be charged to tax in the year of income
in which the dividends are distributed at the resident corporate rate of tax on the
gains or profits from which such dividends are distributed:
Provided that this section shall not apply to income which is exempt under this
Act.
[Act No. 10 of 2018, s. 4, Act No. 23 of 2019, s. 4.]

8. Income from pensions, etc.

(1) For the purposes of section 3(2)(c) of this Act, any pension received by
a resident individual from a pension fund or pension scheme established outside
Kenya shall be deemed to have accrued in or to have been derived from Kenya to
the extent to which it relates to employment or services rendered by the individual,
or the husband or parent of the individual, in Kenya and the amount so derived
shall be the proportion of the total pension which the length of the employment
or services in Kenya, including periods of leave earned thereby, bears to the total
length of employment or services in respect of which the pension is paid.
(2) For the purposes of this Act any pension or retirement annuity received
by a non-resident individual from a pension fund or pension scheme established
in Kenya or under an annuity contract made in Kenya shall be deemed to have
accrued in or to have been derived from Kenya.
(3) For the purposes of this Act, any pension received in respect of employment
by or services rendered to the Community or one of its corporations shall be
deemed to have accrued in or to have been derived from Kenya—
(a) if received by a resident individual; or
(b) if received by a non-resident individual if the person making payment
of the pension was resident in Kenya.
(4) Notwithstanding section 3(2)(c), the first three hundred thousand shillings of
the total pensions and retirement annuities received by a resident individual from
a registered fund or the National Social Security Fund in a year of income shall be
deemed to be income not charged to tax.
(5) Notwithstanding section 3(2)(c), the following sums shall, subject to such
rules as the Commissioner may prescribe, be deemed to be income not chargeable
to tax—
(a) in the case of a lump sum commuted from a registered pension or
individual retirement fund, the first six hundred thousand shillings; or
(b) in the case of a withdrawal from a registered pension or individual
retirement fund upon termination of employment, the lesser of—
(i) the first sixty thousand shillings per full year of pensionable
service with that employer starting on the later of the date
the pensionable service began, or, where the employee
had previously received a lump sum payment from that
same employer, the date the employee’s pensionable service
recommenced after receipt of that lump sum; or
(ii) the first six hundred thousand shillings; or
(c) in the case of a lump sum paid out of a registered provident fund (or
a defined contribution registered fund deemed by the Commissioner

32
[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
Income Tax

to be a provident fund for the purposes of assessing under this

paragraph accumulations for the payment of lump sums other than
out of a pension) the total of—
(i) the lesser of the first six hundred thousand shillings or the first
sixty thousand shillings per full year of pensionable service with
that employer starting on the later of the date the pensionable
service began or, where the employee had previously received
a lump sum payment from that same employer, the date the
employee’s pensionable service recommenced after receipt of
that lump sum; and
(ii) where the registered fund receives no further contributions after
1990 year of income, or where the accumulated funds based
st
on contributions prior to the 1 January, 1991 and contributions
st
after the 31 December, 1990 are segregated, all lump sum
st
payments based on the contributions made prior to 1 January,
1991, or, in any other case, all benefits based on amounts
st
accumulated in the fund on the 31 December, 1990:
Provided that the trustees or provident fund managers shall have informed the
st
Commissioner in writing by 31 December, 1991 of the accumulated balances
st
and the members of the provident funds as of 31 December, 1990, the names
of the registered funds, the names and addresses of their employer, and whether
st
the registered provident fund has ceased receiving contributions as of 1 January,
1991 or whether the registered provident fund has segregated its funds;
(d) in the case of a benefit paid out of the National Social Security Fund,
the first six hundred thousand shillings; and
(e) in the case of a lump sum paid out of a registered home ownership
savings plan, the amount used for the purchase of an interest in or for
the construction of a permanent house for occupation by the depositor
within twelve months immediately following the year of withdrawal;
(f) the total pensions and retirement annuities received by a resident
individual from an unregistered pension or individual retirement fund
or scheme—
(i) the contributions to which have not been allowed as a deduction
under any other provisions of this Act; and
(ii) the income thereof has been taxed.
(5A) For the purposes of subsection 5(c)(ii), accumulated funds are segregated
where—
(a) the accumulated funds based on contributions prior to the 1st January
st
1991 are accounted for separately from contributions after 31
December, 1990; and
(b) the net accumulated funds on each account earn the average rate of
return on all the assets in the fund at the accounting date for a year
of income; and
(c) st
the net accumulated funds based on contributions prior to 1 January,
st
1991, are made up of the accumulated balances as at 31 December,

33
CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
Income Tax

1990, less any withdrawals from the fund plus any investment income
earned on the fund up to the accounting date for a year of income.
(6) Upon the death of an employee who is a member or beneficiary of a
registered fund—
(a) the widow, widower or dependants shall qualify as a group for the
same tax exempt amounts out of pension income and lump sums as
are available under subsections (4) and (5) respectively as if such
amounts had been received by the employee; and
(b) where the registered fund provides for no payment of retirement
benefits other than the payment of a lump sum to an estate, the
first one million four hundred thousand shillings of such a lump sum
payment shall be deemed to be income not chargeable to tax as
income of the estate or its direct beneficiaries.
(7) Upon the death of the beneficiary of a registered individual retirement fund
or registered home ownership savings plan the balance of funds shall be deemed
to have been withdrawn immediately preceding the time of his death and shall be
included in his income for that year, except—
(a) where such funds have been bequeathed to the spouse, the
ownership of the fund may be transferred to the spouse; or
(b) where funds are bequeathed to his children under the age of eighteen
years at the time of his death, such funds shall be included in the
income of such children;
(c) where the funds of a depositor under a registered home ownership
savings plan are bequeathed to another depositor, the funds may be
transferred to that depositor.
(8) Upon dissolution of the marriage of the beneficiary of a registered individual
retirement fund, or registered home ownership savings plan, as part of a written
agreement, all or part of the balance of funds of that beneficiary may be transferred
to a registered individual retirement fund or registered house ownership savings
plan, in the name of the former spouse of that beneficiary.
(9) Where the Commissioner determines that an individual retirement fund no
longer complies with the registration rules, the fund shall be deemed to be no longer
an individual retirement fund and the balance of the fund shall be included in the
income of the beneficiary in the year of income in which the fund ceased to comply
with the rules.
(9A) Where the Commissioner withdraws the registration of a home ownership
savings plan, then the balance of the funds held in each depositor’s account shall
be included in that depositor’s income with effect from the beginning of the year of
income in which the grounds for the withdrawal arose, except where such funds are
transferred to a similar plan in an approved institution within twelve months of the
withdrawal of the registration with the prior written approval of the Commissioner
in which case such funds shall not be included in the depositor’s income.
(10) For the purposes of this subsection—
(a) pension and lumpsums paid from a public pension scheme, shall be
deemed to be received from a registered pension fund or a registered
provident fund, as the case may be;

34
[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
Income Tax

(b) any surplus funds in respect of a registered pension fund or a

registered provident fund withdrawn by or refunded to an employer
shall be deemed to be the income of that employer.
(11) In subsection (10), the expression "surplus funds" means surplus funds
identified through an actuarial valuation carried out in accordance with this Act or
any rules made thereunder.
[Act No. 2 of 1975, s. 5, Act No. 8 of 1985, s. 11, Act No. 10 of 1990, s. 42, Act No. 8 of 1991,
s. 55, Act No. 9 of 1992, s. 40, Act No. 4 of 1993, s. 40, Act No. 6 of 1994, s. 36, Act No. 13 of
1995, s. 76, Act No. 8 of 1996, s. 29, Act No. 6 of 2001, s. 44, Act No. 7 of 2002, s. 39, Act No.
15 of 2003, s. 31, Act No. 4 of 2004, s. 47, Act No. 6 of 2005, s. 22, Act No. 8 of 2009, s. 20.]

9. Income of certain non-resident persons deemed derived from Kenya

(1) Where a non-resident person carries on the business of shipowner,
charterer or air transport operator and any ship or aircraft owned or chartered by
him calls at any port or airport in Kenya, the gains or profits from such business
from the carriage of passengers who embark, or cargo or mail which is embarked,
in Kenya shall be the gross amount received on account of the carriage and
those gains or profits shall be deemed to be income derived from Kenya; but
this subsection shall not apply to gains or profits from the carriage of passengers
who embark, or cargo or mail which is embarked, in Kenya solely as a result of
transhipment.
Provided that all income of a non-resident shipping line including income from
delay in taking delivery of goods or returning any of the equipment used for
transportation of goods shall be deemed to be income derived from Kenya.
(2) Where a non-resident person carries on, in Kenya, the business of
transmitting messages by cable, radio, optical fibre, television broadcasting, Very
Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT), internet, satellite or by any other similar method
of communication, then the gains or profits from the business shall be the gross
amount received for the transmission of messages which are transmitted by
the apparatus established in or outside Kenya, whether or not those messages
originate from Kenya, and such gains and profits shall be deemed to be income
derived from Kenya.
(3) Where a resident person enters into a financial derivatives contract with
a non-resident person, any gain accruing to the non-resident person from that
arrangement shall be subject to tax at the rate specified in the Third Schedule.
(4) The provisions of subsection (3) shall be carried out in accordance with
Regulations made by the Cabinet Secretary.
[No. Act 10 of 2006, s. 18, Act No. 9 of 2007, s.
19, Act No. 23 of 2019, s. 5, Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 6.]

10. Income from management or professional fees, royalties, interest and

rents
(1) For the purposes of this Act, where a resident person or a person having
a permanent establishment in Kenya makes a payment to any other person in
respect of—
(a) a management or professional fee or training fee;
(b) a royalty or natural resource income;
(c) interest and deemed interest;
(d) the use of property;

35
CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
Income Tax

(e) an appearance at, or performance in, any place (whether public or

private) for the purpose of entertaining, instructing, taking part in any
sporting event or otherwise diverting an audience; or
(f) an activity by way of supporting, assisting or arranging an appearance
or performance referred to in paragraph (e) of this section;
(g) winnings;
(h) deleted by Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 6(b);
(i) deleted by Act No. 23 of 2019, s. 6(a);
(j) an insurance or reinsurance premium.
(k) sales promotion, marketing, advertising services, and transportation
of goods (excluding air and shipping transport services;
the amount thereof shall be deemed to be income which accrued in or was
derived from Kenya:
Provided that—
(i) this subsection shall not apply unless the payment is incurred in
the production of income accrued in or derived from Kenya or in
connexion with a business carried on or to be carried on, in whole or
in part, in Kenya;
(ii) this subsection shall not apply to any such payment made, or
purported to be made, by the permanent establishment in Kenya of a
non-resident person to that non-resident person except for deductions
provided for by agreements under section 41;
(iii) for the avoidance of doubt, the expression "non-resident person" shall
include both head office and other offices of the non-resident person.
(2) A net gain referred to in section 3(2) (g) is deemed to be income that accrued
in or was derived from Kenya.
[Act No. 13 of 1975, s. 2, Act No. 8 of 2008, s. 28, Act No. 8 of 2009, s. 21, Act
No. 4 of 2012, s. 12, Act No. 57 of 2012, s. 15, Act No. 38 of 2013, s. 11, Act No. 16
of 2014, s. 6, Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 9, Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 4, Act No. 9 of 2018,
Sch., Act No. 10 of 2018, s. 5, Act No. 23 of 2019, s. 6, Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.]

11. Trust income, etc., deemed income of trustee, beneficiary, etc.

(1) Any income chargeable to tax under this Act and received by any person in
his capacity as a trustee, executor or administrator, shall be deemed to be income
of that trustee, executor or administrator as the case may be.
(2) Where an amount included in the income of the trustee, executor or
administrator under subsection (1) consists of qualifying dividends or qualifying
interest, that amount shall be deemed to be an amount chargeable to tax under
section 3(2)(b) and not section 3(2)(e).
(3) Any amount, received as income in a year of income by any person
beneficially entitled thereto from any trustee in his capacity as such, or paid out
of income by the trustee on behalf of such person, shall, subject to this Act, be
deemed to be income of such, and to the extent that any such amount is received
or so paid out of income chargeable to tax under this Act on that trustee it shall
be deemed to be income—
(a) in any case other than that of an annuity directed to be paid free of
tax—

36
[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
Income Tax

(i) of such gross amount as would, after deduction of tax at the

rate paid or payable on such income by such trustee, be equal
to the amount received or so paid; and
(ii) that has borne tax at such rate;
(b) in the case of an annuity directed to be paid free of tax, of such gross
amount as is equal to the amount of such annuity together with the
amount of the sums paid by the trustee to the annuitant to meet the
liability of the annuitant to tax on such annuity.
(3A) In the case of a registered trust, sub-section (3) shall only apply to—
(a) any amount that is paid out of the trust income on behalf of any
beneficiary and is used exclusively for the purpose of education,
medical treatment or early adulthood housing;
(b) income paid to any beneficiary which is collectively below ten million
shillings in the year of income;
(c) such other amount as the Commissioner may prescribe from time
to time and at such rate as prescribed in paragraph 5 of the Third
Schedule.
(4) The trustee, executor or administrator may designate a part or all of the
amounts paid by him to a person that is chargeable to tax under subsection (2)
to be qualifying dividends or qualifying interest and, in that case, such designated
amount shall be deemed to have been already tax paid.
(5) The cumulative totals, at any time, of the amounts designated up to that
time by a trustee under subsection (4) as qualifying dividends or qualifying interest
shall not exceed the cumulative totals of qualifying dividends or qualifying interest
st
respectively, received by the trustee, in his capacity as a trustee, after the 31
December, 1990 and up to that time.
[Act No. 8 of 1991, s. 56, Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 5.]

12. Imposition of instalment tax

(1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act, a tax to be known as
instalment tax shall be payable for the year of income commencing on or after
st
the 1 January, 1990 by every person chargeable to tax or any person who has
paid provisional tax in any year of income in accordance with the provisions of this
section, but a taxpayer shall not be required to pay the instalment tax—
(a) if the minimum tax payable under section 12D is higher than the
instalment tax under this section; and
(b) if he has reasonable ground to believe that the whole of the tax
payable by him in respect of those emoluments will be recovered
under section 37.
(2) The amount of instalment tax payable by any person for any current year
of income shall be the lesser of —
(a) the amount equal to the tax that would be payable by that person
if his total income for the current year was an amount equal to his
instalment income; or
(b) the amount specified in the preceding year assessment multiplied by
one hundred and ten per cent.

37
CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
Income Tax

(3) The amount of tax determined under either subsection (2)(a) or (b) shall be
reduced by the aggregate of the tax that has been or will be paid in the current year
by way of deduction under section 12A, 17A, 35 or 37.
(4) The amount of instalment tax required to be paid for any year of income
shall be the annual amount calculated in accordance with subsections (2) and (3)
but subject to the proportions as specified in the Twelfth Schedule.
(5) No instalment tax shall be payable by an individual in any year of income
where the total tax payable for that year of income is an amount not exceeding
forty thousand shillings.
[Act No. 14 of 1982, s. 18, Act No. 10 of 1988, s. 30, Act No. 10
of 1990, s. 43, Act No. 8 of 1991, s. 57, Act No. 13 of 1995, s. 77, Act
No. 8 of 1997, s. 31, Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 5, Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 3.]

12A. Imposition of advance tax

(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a tax to be known as
st
advance tax shall be payable commencing on the 1 January, 1996 in respect of
every commercial vehicle at the rates specified in the Third Schedule.
(2) The Commissioner may prescribe the conditions and procedures governing
the payment of advance tax.
[Act No. 13 of 1995, s. 78, Act No. 8 of 1996, s. 30, Act No. 4
of 1999, s. 33, Act No. 10 of 2006, s. 19, Act No. 10 of 2010, s. 22.]

12B. Imposition of fringe benefit Tax

(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a tax to be known as fringe
th
benefit tax shall be payable commencing on the 12 June, 1998 by every employer
in respect of a loan provided at an interest rate lower than the market interest rate,
to an individual who is a director or an employee or is a relative of a director or an
employee, by virtue of his position as director or his employment or the employment
of the person to whom is related:
Provided that the fringe benefit tax shall not apply to loans advanced on or
th
before 11 June, 1998.
(2) For the purpose of this section, the taxable value of a fringe benefit shall
be—
th
in the case of a loan provided after 11 June, 1998, or a loan provided on or
th th
before 11 June, 1998 the terms or conditions of which are varied after 11 June,
1998, the greater of—
(i) the difference between the interest that would have been payable on
the loan if calculated at the market interest rate and the actual interest
paid on the loan; and
(ii) zero:
Provided that where the term of the loan extends for a period beyond the date
of termination of employment, the provisions of this section shall continue to apply
for as long as the loan remains unpaid.
(3) Fringe benefit tax shall be charged on the total taxable value of a fringe
benefit provided by an employer in a month and shall be due and payable on or
before the tenth day of the following month:

38
[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
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st
Provided that the fringe benefit tax charged prior to 1 January, 1999 shall be
th
due and payable on or before 10 January, 1999.
(4) The Commissioner may prescribe the form and manner in which the fringe
benefit tax shall be payable and any other period for which the market rate of
interest may be applicable.
(5) The provisions of this Act in respect to fines, penalties, interest charges
objections and appeals shall apply mutatis mutandis to the fringe benefit tax
imposed under this section.
(6) For the purpose of this section—
"employee" and "relative of a director or employee" shall have the meaning
assigned thereto under section 5(2A) of this Act;
"loan" includes a loan from an unregistered pension or provident fund;
"market interest rate" means the average 91-day treasury bill rate of interest
for the previous quarter.
[Act No. 5 of 1998, s. 31, Act No. 6 of 2001, s. 45.]

12C. Turnover and presumptive tax

(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a tax to be known as
turnover tax shall be payable by any resident person whose turnover from business
is more than one million shillings but does not exceed or is not expected to exceed
fifty million shillings during any year of income.
(2) Despite subsection (1), a person who would otherwise be liable to
pay turnover tax under this section may, by notice in writing addressed to the
Commissioner, elect not to be subject to the provisions of this section, in which
case the other provisions of this Act shall apply to such person.
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (1), turnover tax shall not apply to —
(a) rental income;
(b) management or professional or training fees; or
(c) Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch;
(d) any income which is subject to a final withholding tax under this Act.
(4) A person subject to turnover tax under this section shall submit a return and
pay the tax due to the Commissioner on or before the twentieth day of the month
following the end of the tax period.
(5) Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.
(6) Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.
(7) A person subject to turnover tax under this section shall be required to
keep records necessary for the determination and ascertainment of the tax in
accordance with the Tax Procedures Act, 2015.
(8) For purposes of this section "tax period" means a calendar month.
[Act No. 10 of 2006, s. 20, Act No. 8 of 2008, s. 29, Act No.
10 of 2018, s. 6, Act No. 23 of 2019, s. 7, Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.]

12D. Minimum tax

(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a tax to be known as
minimum tax shall be payable by a person if —
(a) that person's income is not exempt under this Act;

39
CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
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(b) that person's income is not chargeable to tax under sections 5, 6A,
12C, the Eighth or the Ninth Schedules; or
(c) the instalment tax payable by that person under section 12 is lower
than the minimum tax.
(d) Deleted by Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 6(a).
(e) Deleted by Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 6(a).
(1A) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), a person shall not pay
minimum tax if that person—
(a) is engaged in business whose retail price is controlled by the
Government;
(b) is engaged in insurance business;
(c) is engaged in manufacturing and that person's cumulative investment
in the preceding four years from assent is at least ten billion shillings;
(d) is licensed under the Special Economic Zones (No. 16 of 2015); and
(e) is engaged in distribution business whose income is wholly based on
a commission.
(2) The tax payable under this section shall be paid in instalments which shall
be due on the twentieth day of each period ending on the fourth, sixth, ninth and
twelfth month of the year of income.
[Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 4, Act No. 22 of 2020, Sch., Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 6.]

12E. Digital service tax

(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a tax to be known as
digital service tax shall be payable by a non-resident person whose income from
the provision of services is derived from or accrues in Kenya through a business
carried out over the internet or an electronic network including through a digital
marketplace:
Provided that this section shall not apply to a non-resident person with a
permanent establishment in Kenya.
(2) A person subject to digital service tax shall submit a return and pay the tax
due to the Commissioner on or before the twentieth day of the month following the
end of the month in which the digital service was offered.
(3) Despite subsection (1), digital service tax shall not apply to income
chargeable under section 9(2) or section 35.
[Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 4, Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 7, Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 7.]

PART III – EXEMPTION FROM TAX

13. Certain income exempt from tax, etc.
(1) Notwithstanding anything in Part II, the income specified in Part I of the First
Schedule which accrued in or was derived from Kenya shall be exempt from tax
to the extent so specified.
(2) The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, provide—
(a) that any income or class of income which accrued in or was derived
from Kenya shall be exempt from tax to the extent specified in such
notice;
(b) that any exemption under subsection (1) of this section shall cease to
have effect either generally or to the extent specified in the notice.

40
[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
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(3) A notice under subsection (2) of this section shall be laid before the
National Assembly without unreasonable delay, and if a resolution is passed by the
Assembly within twenty days on which it next sits after the notice is so laid that the
notice be annulled, it shall thenceforth be void, but without prejudice to the validity
of anything previously done thereunder, or to the issuing of a new notice.
[Act No. 13 of 1978, Sch.]

14. Interest on Government loans, etc., exempt from tax

(1) Notwithstanding anything in Part II, interest payable on the securities
specified in Part II of the First Schedule shall be exempt from tax to the extent so
specified.
(2) The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, provide that the interest payable
on any loan charged on the Consolidated Fund or on the revenues of any local
authority, shall, insofar as such interest is income which accrued in or was derived
from Kenya, be exempt from tax, either generally or only in respect of interest
payable to persons who are not resident.
[Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9.]

PART IV – ASCERTAINMENT OF TOTAL INCOME

15. Deductions allowed
(1) For the purpose of ascertaining the total income of any person for a year of
income there shall, subject to section 16 of this Act, be deducted all expenditure
incurred in such year of income which is expenditure wholly and exclusively
incurred by him in the production of that income, and where under section 27 of this
Act any income of an accounting period ending on some day other than the last
day of such year of income is, for the purpose of ascertaining total income for any
year of income, taken to be income for any year of income, then such expenditure
incurred during such period shall be treated as having been incurred during such
year of income.
(2) Without prejudice to sub-section (1) of this section, in computing for a year
of income the gains or profits chargeable to tax under section 3(2)(a) of this Act,
the following amounts shall be deducted:
(a) bad debts incurred in the production of such gains or profits which
the Commissioner considers to have become bad, and doubtful debts
so incurred to the extent that they are estimated to the satisfaction of
the Commissioner to have become bad, during such year of income
and the Commissioner may prescribe such guidelines as may be
appropriate for the purposes of determining bad debts under this
subparagraph;
(b) amounts to be deducted under the Second Schedule in respect of that
year of income;
(bb) amounts to be deducted under the Ninth Schedule in respect of that
year of income;
(c) any expenditure of a capital nature incurred during that year of income
by the owner or occupier of farm land for the prevention of soil erosion;
(d) any expenditure of a capital nature incurred in that year of income
by any person on legal costs and stamp duties in connexion with
the acquisition of a lease, for a period not in excess of, or expressly
capable of extension beyond, ninety-nine years, of premises used or
to be used by him for the purposes of his business;

41
CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
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(e) any expenditure, other than expenditure referred to in paragraph (f) of

this section, incurred in connection with any business before the date
of commencement of that business where such expenditure would
have been deductible under this section if incurred after such date, so,
however, that the expenditure shall be deemed to have been incurred
on the date on which such business commenced;
(f) in the case of the owner of premises, any sums expended by him
during such year of income for structural alterations to the premises
where such expenditure is necessary to maintain the existing rent:
Provided that no deduction shall be made for the cost of an extension
to, or replacement of, such premises;
(g) the amount considered by the Commissioner to be just and
reasonable as representing the diminution in value of any implement,
utensil or similar article, not being machinery or plant in respect
of which a deduction may be made under the Second Schedule,
employed in the production of gains or profits;
(h) Deleted by Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 5;
(i) in the case of gains or profits of the owner of any land from the sale
of, or the grant of the right to fell, standing timber which was growing
on such land at the time such owner acquired such land—
(i) where such land was acquired for valuable consideration, so
much of the consideration as the Commissioner may determine
to be just and reasonable as representing the cost of such
standing timber; or
(ii) where no valuable consideration was given for the land, so
much of such amount as the Commissioner may determine
to be just and reasonable as representing the value of such
standing timber at the time the owner acquired such land, as is
attributable to such timber sold during such year of income;
(j) in the case of gains or profits from the sale of standing timber by a
person who has purchased the right to fell such timber, so much of
the price paid for such right as the Commissioner may determine to
be just and reasonable as attributable to the timber sold during such
year of income;
(k) Deleted by Act No. 8 of 1997, s. 32;
(l) any expenditure of a capital nature incurred in such year of income by
the owner or tenant of any agricultural land, on clearing such land, or
on clearing and planting thereon permanent or semi-permanent crops;
(m) Deleted by Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 7(a);
(n) any expenditure incurred by any person for the purposes of a business
carried on by him being—
(i) expenditure of a capital nature on scientific research; or
(ii) expenditure not of a capital nature on scientific research; or
(iii) a sum paid to a scientific research association approved for
the purposes of this paragraph by the Commissioner as being
an association which has as its object the undertaking of
scientific research related to the class of business to which such
business belongs; or

42
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(iv) a sum paid to any university, college, research institute or

other similar institution approved for the purposes of this
paragraph by such Commissioner for the scientific as is
research mentioned in subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph;
(o) any sum contributed in such year of income by an employer
to a national provident fund or other retirement benefits scheme
established for employees throughout Kenya by the provisions of any
written law;
(p) any expenditure on advertising in connexion with any business to the
extent that the Commissioner considers just and reasonable; and for
this purpose "expenditure on advertising" includes any expenditure
intended to advertise or promote, whether directly or indirectly, the
sale of the goods or services provided by that business;
(q) Deleted by Act No. 13 of 1984, s. 19;
(r) an amount equal to one-third of the total gains and profits from
employment of an individual who is not a citizen of Kenya and—
(i) whose employer is a non-resident company or partnership
trading for profit;
(ii) who is in Kenya solely for the performance of his duties in
relation to his employer’s regional office, which office has
been approved for the purposes of this paragraph by the
Commissioner;
(iii) who is absent from Kenya for the performance of those duties
for a period or periods amounting in the aggregate to one
hundred and twenty days or more in that year of income; and
(iv) whose gains and profits from that employment are not
deductible in ascertaining the total income chargeable to tax
under this Act of his employer or of any company or partnership
which controls, or is controlled by, that employer;
(s) Deleted by Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 5;
(ss) Deleted by Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 5;
(t) expenditure incurred by the lessee in the case of a lease or similar
transaction as determined in accordance with such rules as may be
prescribed under this Act;
(u) Deleted by Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 5.
(v) Deleted by Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 5.
(w) any donation in that year of income to a charitable organization whose
income is exempt from tax under paragraph 10 of the First Schedule
to this Act, or to any project approved by the Cabinet Secretary
responsible for matters relating to finance;
(x) expenditure of a capital nature incurred in that year of income, with
the prior approval of the Minister, by a person on the construction of a
public school, hospital, road or any similar kind of social infrastructure;
(y) Deleted by Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 8.
(z) expenditure incurred in that year of income by a person sponsoring
sports, with the prior approval of the Cabinet Secretary responsible
for sports;

43
CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
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(aa) expenditure incurred in that year of income on donations to the Kenya

Red Cross, county governments or any other institution responsible
for the management of national disasters to alleviate the effects of a
national disaster declared by the President.
(ab) Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.
(3) Without prejudice to subsection (1), in ascertaining the total income of a
person for a year of income the following amounts shall be deducted:
(a) the amount of interest paid in respect of that year of income by the
person upon money borrowed by him and where the Commissioner is
satisfied that the money so borrowed has been wholly and exclusively
employed by him in the production of investment income which is
chargeable to tax under this Act:
Provided that—
(i) the amount of interest which may be deducted under this
paragraph shall not exceed the investment income chargeable
to tax for that year of income, and where the amount of that
interest paid in that year exceeds the investment income of that
year, the excess shall be carried forward to the next succeeding
year and deducted only from investment income and, in so
far as the interest has not already been so deducted, from
investment income of the subsequent years of income; and
(ii) for the purposes of this paragraph, "investment income"
means dividends and interest but excludes qualifying dividends
and qualifying interest;
(b) the amount of interest not exceeding three hundred thousand shillings
paid by him in respect of that year of income upon money borrowed
by him from one of the first five financial institutions specified in
the Fourth Schedule and applied to the purchase or improvement of
premises occupied by him during that year of income for residential
purposes:
Provided that—
(i) if any person occupies any premises for residential purposes
for part only of a year of income the deduction under this
paragraph shall be reduced accordingly; and
(ii) no person may claim a deduction under this paragraph in
respect of more than one residence;
(c) deleted by Act No. 14 of 1982, s. 19;
(d) in the case of a partner, the amount of the excess, if any, of his share
of any loss incurred by the partnership, calculated after deducting
the total of any remuneration and interest on capital payable to any
partner by the partnership and after adding any interest on capital
payable by any partner to the partnership, over the sum of any
remuneration and such interest so payable to him less any such
interest so payable by him;
(e) deleted by Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9;
(f) the amount of any loss realized in computing, in accordance with
paragraph 5(2), of the Eighth Schedule, gains chargeable to tax under
section 3(2)(f); but the amount of any such loss incurred in a year of

44
[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
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income shall be deducted only from gains under section 3(2)(f) in that
year of income and, in so far as it has not already been deducted,
from gains in subsequent years of income;
(g) in the case of a business which is a sole proprietorship, the cost of
medical expenses or medical insurance cover incurred for the benefit
of the proprietor, subject to a limit of one million shillings per year.
(4) Where the ascertainment of the total income of a person results in a deficit
for a year of income, the amount of that deficit shall be an allowable deduction
in ascertaining the total income of such person for that year and the succeeding
years of income.
(4A) Deleted by Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 8 (b).
(5) Notwithstanding subsection (4), the Minister may, on the recommendation
of the Commissioner, extend the period of deduction beyond ten years where a
person applies through the Commissioner for such extension, giving evidence of
inability to extinguish the deficit within that period.
5. A person to whom this subsection applies who has succeeded to any
(a) business, or to a share therein, either as a beneficiary under the will
or on the intestacy of a deceased person who carried on, solely or in
partnership, that business shall be entitled to a deduction in the year
of income in which he so succeeds in respect of such part of any deficit
in the total income of the deceased for his last year of income as is
attributable to any losses incurred by the deceased in the business in
that year of income or in earlier years of income.
(5A) For the purpose of section 3(2)(g), the amount of the net gain to be included
in income chargeable to tax is —
(a) deleted by Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 10(c)(i);
(b) the amount computed according to the following formula —
A x B/C
Where—
A is the amount of the net gain;
B is the value of the interest derived, directly or indirectly, from immovable
property in Kenya; and
C is the total value of the interest.
(6) For the purposes of this section—
(a) "scientific research" means any activities in the fields of natural or
applied science for the extension of human knowledge, and when
applied to any particular business includes—
(i) any scientific research which may lead to, or facilitate, an
extension of that business or of businesses in that class;
(ii) any scientific research of a medical nature which has a special
relation to the welfare of workers employed in that business, or
in businesses of that class;
(b) expenditure of a capital nature on scientific research does not include
any expenditure incurred in the acquisition of rights in, or arising out
of scientific research but, subject thereto, does include all expenditure
incurred for the prosecution of, or the provision of facilities for the
prosecution of, scientific research.

45
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(7) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act—

(a) the gains or profits of a person derived from any one of the seven
sources of income respectively specified in paragraph (e) of this
subsection (and in this subsection called "specified sources") shall
be computed separately from the gains or profits of that person
derived from any other of the specified sources and separately from
any other income of that person;
(b) where the computation of gains or profits of a person in a year of
income derived from a specified source results in a loss, that loss may
only be deducted from gains or profits of that person derived from the
same specified source in the following year and, in so far as the loss
has not already been so deducted, in subsequent years of income;
(c) the subparagraphs of paragraph (e) of this section shall be construed
so as to be mutually exclusive;
(d) gains chargeable to tax under section 3(2)(f) of this Act and losses
referred to in subsection (3)(f) of this section shall not be deemed
income or losses derived or resulting from specified sources for the
purposes of this subsection;
(e) the specified sources of income are—
(i) rights granted to other persons for the use or occupation of
immovable property;
(ii) employment (including former employment) of personal
services for wages, salary, commissions or similar rewards (not
under an independent contract of service), and a self-employed
professional vocation;
(iii) employment the gains or profits from which is wife’s
employment income, profession the gains or profits from which
is wife’s professional income and wife’s self-employment the
gains or profits from which is wife’s self-employment income;
(iv) agricultural, pastoral, horticultural, forestry or similar activities,
not falling within subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of this paragraph;
(ivA) surplus funds withdrawn by or refunded to an employer in
respect of registered pension or registered provident funds
which are deemed to be the income of the employer under
section 8(10);
(ivB) income of a licensee from one licence area or a contractor from
one contract area as determined in accordance with the Ninth
Schedule; and
(v) other sources of income chargeable to tax under section 3(2)
(a), not falling within subparagraph (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of this
paragraph.
(8) Deleted by Act No. 10 of 2006, s. 21.
[Act No. 2 of 1975, s. 5, Act No. 13 of 1975, s. 2, Act No. 7 of 1976, s. 2, Act No. 16 of 1977,
Sch., Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9, Act No. 6 of 1981, s. 5, Act No. 1 of 1982, s. 3, Act No. 14 of 1982, s.
19, Act No. 8 of 1983, s. 14, Act No. 13 of 1984, s. 19, Act No. 18 of 1984, s. 3, Act No. 8 of 1985, s.
12, Act No. 10 of 1986, s. 29, Act No. 10 of 1988, s. 31, Act No. 8 of 1989, s. 18, Act No. 10 of 1990,
s. 44, Act No. 8 of 1991, s. 58, Act No. 9 of 1992, s. 41, Act No. 4 of 1993, s. 41, Act No. 13 of 1995,
s. 79, Act No. 8 of 1996, s. 31, Act No. 8 of 1997, s. 32, Act No. 9 of 2000, s. 42, Act No. 6 of 2001, s.
46, Act No. 15 of 2003, s. 32, Act No. 4 of 2004, s. 48, Act No. 6 of 2005, s. 23, Act No. 10 of 2006,
s. 21, Act No. 9 of 2007, s. 20, Act No. 8 of 2008, s. 30, Act No. 8 of 2009, s. 22, Act No. 16 of 2014,

46
[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
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s. 7. Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 10, Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 6, Act No. 15 of 2017, s. 12, Act No. 10 of 2018,
s. 7, Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch, Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 5, Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 8, Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 8.]

16. Deductions not allowed

(1) Save as otherwise expressly provided, for the purposes of ascertaining the
total income of a person for any year of income, no deduction shall be allowed in
respect of—
(a) any expenditure or loss which is not wholly and exclusively incurred
by him in the production of the income;
(b) any capital expenditure, or any loss, diminution or exhaustion of
capital.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, no deduction shall be
allowed in respect of—
(a) expenditure incurred by a person in the maintenance of himself, his
family or establishment or for any other personal or domestic purpose
including the following—
(i) entertainment expenses for personal purposes; or
(ii) hotel, restaurant or catering expenses other than for meals or
accommodation expenses incurred on business trips or during
training courses or work related conventions or conferences, or
meals provided to employees on the employer’s premises;
(iii) vacation trip expenses except those customarily made on home
leave as provided in the proviso to section 5(4)(a) and (aa);
(iv) educational fees of employee’s dependants or relatives; or
(v) club fees including entrance and subscription fees, except as
provided in section 15(2)(v);
(b) any expenditure or loss which is recoverable under any insurance,
contract, or indemnity;
(c) any income tax or tax of a similar nature paid on income:
Provided that, save in the case of foreign tax in respect of which
a claim is made under section 41, a deduction shall be allowed
in respect of income tax or tax of a similar nature, including
compensation tax paid on income which is charged to tax in a country
outside Kenya to the extent to which that tax is payable in respect of
and is paid out of income deemed to have accrued in or to have been
derived from Kenya;
(d) any sums contributed to a registered or unregistered pension, saving,
or provident scheme or fund, except as provided in section 15(2)(o),
or any sum paid to another person as a pension;
(e) a premium paid under an annuity contract;
(f) any expenditure incurred in the production of income deemed under
section 10 of this Act to have accrued in or to have been derived from
Kenya where such expenditure was incurred by a non-resident person
not having a permanent establishment within Kenya;
(fa) any expenditure incurred in the production of dividend income
deemed under paragraph (a) of subsection (1), of section 7 to have
been derived from Kenya where such expenditure was incurred by

47
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a non-resident person not having a permanent establishment within

Kenya;
(g) deleted by Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9;
(h) any loss incurred in any business which, having regard to the nature
of the business, to the principal occupation of the owner, partners,
shareholders or other persons having a beneficial interest therein, to
the relationship between any such persons or to any other relevant
factor, the Commissioner considers it reasonable to regard as not
being carried on mainly with a view to the realization of profits; and,
without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, a business shall be
deemed not to be carried on for any year of income with a view to the
realization of profits where more than one quarter of the amount of the
revenue expenditure incurred in such business in such year relates to
goods, services, amenities or benefits, or to the production of goods,
services, amenities or benefits, which are of a personal of domestic
nature enjoyed by the owner, partners, shareholders or other persons
having a beneficial interest in the business or a member of the family
or the domestic establishment of any such person;
(i) deleted by Act No. 10 of 2006, s. 22;
(j) gross interest paid or payable to related persons and third parties
in excess of thirty per cent of earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization of the borrower in any financial year:
Provided that-
(i) any income which is exempt from tax shall be excluded from
the calculation of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation
and amortization; and
(ii) this paragraph shall apply to-
(A) interest on all loans;
(B) payments that are economically equivalent to interest;
and
(C) expenses incurred in connection with raising the finance.
(iii) this paragraph shall not apply to-
(A) banks or financial institutions licensed under the Banking
Act;
(B) micro and small enterprises registered under the Micro
and Small Enterprises Act, 2012;
(C) microfinance institutions licensed and non-deposit taking
microfinance businesses under the Microfinance Act,
2006 (No. 19 of 2006);
(D) entities licensed under the Hire Purchase Act (Cap. 507);
(E) non-deposit taking institutions involved in lending and
leasing business;
(F) companies undertaking the manufacture of human
vaccines;
(G) companies engaged in manufacturing whose cumulative
investment in the preceding five years from the

48
[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
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commencement of this provision is at least five billion

shillings;
(H) companies engaged in manufacturing whose cumulative
investment is at least five billion shillings:
Provided that the investment shall have been made outside Nairobi City
County and Mombasa County; and
(I) holding companies that are regulated under the Capital
Markets Act (Cap. 485A).
(ja) an amount of deemed interest where the person is controlled by a
non-resident person alone or together with not more than four other
persons and where the company is not a bank or a financial institution
licensed under the Banking Act (Cap. 488).
(k) deleted by Act No. 8 of 1997, s. 33;
(l) deleted by Act No. 8 of 2009, s. 23.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), the expressions—
"all loans" means loans, overdrafts, ordinary trade debts, overdrawn current
accounts or any other form of indebtedness for which the company is paying a
financial charge, interest, discount or premium;
"deemed interest"deleted by Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 7.
(4) For the avoidance of doubt, the expression "revenue reserves" under
subsection (2) includes accumulated losses.
(5) The Commissioner shall prescribe the form and manner in which the
deemed interest shall be computed and the period for which it shall be applicable.
[Act No. 7 of 1976, s. 2, Act No. 11 of 1976, s. 7, Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9, Act No.
14 of 1982, s. 20, Act No. 10 of 1988, s. 32, Act No. 10 of 1990, s. 45, Act No. 9 of
1992, s. 42, Act No. 6 of 1994, s. 37, Act No. 8 of 1997, s. 33, Act No. 6 of 2001, s.
47, Act No. 7 of 2002, s. 40, Act No. 15 of 2003, s. 33, Act No. 6 of 2005, s. 24, Act
No. 10 of 2006, s. 22, Act No. 8 of 2008, s. 31, Act No. 8 of 2009, s. 23, Act No. 10
of 2010, s. 23, Act No. 4 of 2012, s. 13, Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 8, Act No. 38 of 2016,
s. 7, Act No. 23 of 2019, s. 8, Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 9, Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 9.]
17. Ascertainment of income of farmer in relation to stock
(1) The stock owned by a farmer at the beginning and end of each period for
which he makes up the accounts of his farming business shall, in computing the
gains or profits from such business, be taken into account at such value as the
Commissioner may determine to be just and reasonable.
(2) An election duly made by a farmer under section 16 of the Management Act
shall be binding upon him for all subsequent years of income in which he carries
on the business of farming:
Provided that on application in writing by the farmer, the Commissioner may,
subject to such adjustment that he may consider appropriate, permit any farmer
who has elected not to take into account the value of stock to revoke his election
with effect from the year of income prior to that in which the application is made.
(3) Subject to subsection (4) of this section, every farmer who has elected not
to take into account the value of stock shall be charged for each year of income
on all amounts received for stock disposed of by him in any circumstances and
whether or not the proceeds thereof would, but for this section, be regarded as
a capital receipt; and, if a part of the stock is disposed of otherwise than in the

49
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open market, he shall be charged on the cost or open market value of such stock,
whichever is the lesser, so, however, that in no case shall he be charged on less
than the amount received for such stock:
Provided that if the sale of any stock has been undertaken as part of the
operations involved in changing from one type of farming to another and the whole
or part of the amounts received therefrom has been expended in purchasing stock
of a different kind, or on purposes essential to such change where no deduction is
allowable under the Second Schedule in respect of such expenditure, the amounts
so received, to the extent to which they are so expended, and the amount so
expended, shall be disregarded for the purposes of ascertaining his total income
for a year of income.
(4) Where a farmer who has elected not to take into account the value of stock
ceases to carry on the business of farming, the Commissioner in ascertaining the
farmer’s total income for the year of income in which cessation takes place, may
make such adjustment as he may determine to be just and reasonable in respect
st
of the value of any stock held by that farmer on 1 January, 1936, or on the date
on which he commenced the business whichever date is the later.
(5) Every farmer who has elected not to take into account the value of stock
shall furnish, when the Commissioner so requires, a statement setting out to the
best of his knowledge and belief the value of the stock held by him at any date
relevant for the purposes of this section.
(6) Subject to any such adjustment referred to in subsection (4) of this section
and to such adjustments as the Commissioner would have considered appropriate
had an application been received under the proviso to subsection (2) of this section,
the executors or administrators of a farmer who has elected not to take into account
the value of stock and who dies while carrying on a business of farming shall be
charged in respect of stock belonging to the deceased farmer at the time of his
death—
(a) if sold in the open market, on the realized price;
(b) if transferred without payment to a beneficiary under the will or on the
intestacy of the deceased farmer, on the open market value:
Provided that where such beneficiary succeeds to such business of farming and
elects, by notice in writing to the Commissioner within one year after the end of
the year of income in which the farmer dies, not to take into account the value of
stock, the following provisions shall have effect in relation to any stock which was
so transferred to him—
(i) no amount shall be charged on the executors or administrators in
respect of such stock transferred to him; and
(ii) this section shall be applied to such beneficiary as if he had carried on
the business of farming throughout the whole period from the date on
which the deceased farmer commenced that business and had made
the election which the deceased farmer made;
(c) in any other case, on the open market value, as if such price or value
had been income of such farmer for the year of income in which he
died.
(7) In this section "stock" means all livestock and produce, and crops which
have been harvested.

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[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
Income Tax

17A. Repealed by Act No. 9 of 2000, s. 43

Repealed by Act No. 9 of 2000, s. 43.
18. Ascertainment of gains or profits of business in relation to certain non-
resident persons
(1) Where a non-resident person carries on any business in Kenya which
consists of manufacturing, growing, mining, or producing, or harvesting, whether
from the land or from the water, a product or produce, or whether or not the contract
of sale is made within or without Kenya, and sells outside, or for delivery outside,
Kenya such product or produce, utilizes that product or produce in any business
carried on by him outside Kenya, then the gains or profit from such business carried
on in Kenya shall be deemed be income derived from Kenya and to be gains or
profits such amount as would have accrued if such product or produce had been
sold wholesale to the best advantage.
(2) Where a bank which is a permanent establishment of a non-resident person
holds outside Kenya any deposits, assets or property acquired from its operations
in Kenya, the gains or profits accruing from such deposits, assets or other property
held outside Kenya shall be deemed to be income accrued in or derived from
Kenya.
(3) Where a non-resident person carries on business with a related resident
person and the course of such business is such that it produces to the resident
person or through its permanent establishment either no profits or less than the
ordinary profits which might be expected to accrue from that business if there had
been no such relationship, then the gains or profits of such resident person or
through its permanent establishment from such business shall be deemed to be
of such an amount as might have been expected to accrue if the course of that
business had been conducted by independent persons dealing at arm’s length.
(4) For the purpose of ascertaining the gains or profits of any business carried
on in Kenya no deductions shall be allowed in respect of any expenditure incurred
outside Kenya by a non-resident person other than expenditure in respect of which
the Commissioner determines that adequate consideration has been given; and,
in particular, no deduction shall be allowed in respect of expenditure—
(a) on remuneration for services rendered by the non-resident directors
(other than whole-time service directors) of a non-resident company
the directors whereof have a controlling interest therein, in excess
of five per cent of the total income of such company, calculated
before the deduction of such expenditure, or of twenty-five thousand
shillings, whichever is the greater, so, however, that in no case shall a
deduction in excess of one hundred and fifty thousand shillings shall
be allowed;
(b) on executive and general administrative expenses expect to the
extent that the Commissioner may determine that expenditure to be
just and reasonable.
(5) When a non-resident person carries on a business in Kenya through
a permanent establishment in Kenya the gains or profits of the permanent
establishment shall be ascertained without any deduction in respect of interest,
royalties or management or professional fees paid or purported to be paid by
the permanent establishment to the non-resident person and by disregarding any
foreign exchange loss or gain with respect to net assets or liabilities purportedly

51
CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
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established between the permanent establishment in Kenya and the non-resident

person.
Provided that for the avoidance of doubt, the expression "non-resident person"
shall include both the head office and other offices of the non-resident person.
(6) For the purposes of subsection (3), a person is related to another if—
(a) either person participates directly or indirectly in the management,
control or capital of the business of the other;
(b) a third person participates directly or indirectly in the management,
control or capital of the business of both; or
(c) an individual, who participates in the management, control or capital
of the business of one, is associated by marriage, consanguinity or
affinity to an individual who participates in the management, control
or capital of the business of the other.
(7) Deleted by Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 9(d).
(8) The Minister may, by rules published in the Gazette—
(a) issue guidelines for the determination of the arm’s length value of a
transaction for purposes of this section; or
(b) specify such requirements as he may consider necessary for the
better carrying out of the provisions of this section.
[Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9, Act No. 18 of 1984, s. 4, Act No. 8 of 1989, s. 20, Act
No. 13 of 1995, s. 81, Act No. 4 of 2004, s. 49, Act No. 10 of 2006, s. 23, Act No.
10 of 2010, s. 24, Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 9.]
18A. Ascertainment of gains and profits of business in a preferential tax
regime
(1) Where —
(a) a resident person carries on business with a related resident person
operating in a preferential tax regime; or
(b) a resident person carries on business with —
(i) a non-resident person located in a preferential tax regime; or
(ii) an associated enterprise of a non-resident person located in a
preferential tax regime; or
(iii) a permanent establishment of a non-resident person operating
in Kenya where the non-resident person is located in a
preferential tax regime,
and the business produces no gains or produces less gains than those
which would have been expected to accrue from that business if the
business activity was not with a party in a preferential tax regime,
the gains of that resident person from that business shall be deemed
to be the amount which would have been expected to accrue if that
business had been conducted by an independent person dealing at
arm’s length, or if none of the parties were located in a preferential
tax regime.
(2) For the purposes of this section, "preferential tax regime” means —
(a) any Kenyan legislation, regulation or administrative practice which
provides a preferential rate of tax to such income or profit, including
reductions in the tax rate or the tax base; or

52
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(b) a foreign jurisdiction which—

(i) does not tax income;
(ii) taxes income at a rate that is less than twenty per cent;
(iii) does not have a framework for the exchange of information;
(iv) does not allow access to banking information; or
(v) lacks transparency on corporate structure, ownership of legal
entities located therein, beneficial owners of income or capital,
financial disclosure, or regulatory on supervision.
[Act No. 15 of 2017, s. 13, Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 10.]

18B. Application of sections 18C, 18D, 18E and 18F

The provisions of sections, 18C, 18D, 18E, and 18F shall apply to returns for
the year of income 2022 and subsequent years of income.
[Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 11.]

18C. Notification to the Commissioner

(1) A multinational enterprise group or a constituent entity, other than an
excluded multinational enterprise group, that is resident in Kenya, shall notify the
Commissioner, not later than the last day of the reporting financial year of that
group -
(a) whether or not it is the ultimate parent entity of the group;
(b) in case it is not the ultimate parent entity of the group, whether or not
it is a surrogate parent entity; or
(c) in case paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply, the identity of the
constituent entity which is the ultimate parent entity or surrogate
parent entity and the tax residence of that constituent entity.
(2) The notification referred to in subsection (1) shall be made to the
Commissioner in such form as the Commissioner may specify.
[Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 12.]

18D. Filing of country-by-country report, master file and local file

(1) An ultimate parent entity or a constituent entity of a multinational enterprise
group with a gross turnover of ninety-five billion shillings (including extraordinary or
investment income) that is resident in Kenya shall file a country-by-country report
with the Commissioner of its financial activities in Kenya and for all other jurisdiction
where the group has taxable presence.
(2) An ultimate parent entity shall file the country-by-country report referred to
under subsection (1) not later than twelve months after the last day of the reporting
financial year of the group.
(3) In addition to the provisions in subsection (1), an ultimate parent entity or
a constituent entity of a multinational enterprise group shall file a master file and a
local file to the Commissioner in such manner as the Commissioner may specify.
(4) The master file and the local file shall be filed not later than six months after
the last day of the reporting financial year of the multinational enterprise group.
(5) A country-by-country report filed under subsection (1) shall consist of —
(a) the information relating to the identity of each constituent entity, its
jurisdiction of tax residence, if different, jurisdiction where such entity

53
CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
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is organized, and the nature of the main business activity or activities

of such entity;
(b) the group's aggregate information including information relating to the
amount of revenue, profit or loss before income tax, income tax paid,
income tax accrued, stated capital, accumulated earnings, number of
employees and tangible assets other than cash or cash equivalents
with regard to each jurisdiction where the group has taxable presence;
and
(c) any other information as may be required by the Commissioner.
(6) A master file under subsection (3) shall contain —
(a) a detailed overview of the group;
(b) the group’s growth engines;
(c) a description of the supply chain of the key products and services;
(d) the group’s research and development policy;
(e) a description of each constituent entity’s contribution to value creation;
(f) information about intangible assets and the group intercompany
agreements associated with them;
(g) information on any transfer of intangible assets within the group
during the tax period, including the identity of the constituent entities
involved, the countries in which those intangible assets are registered
and the consideration paid as part of the transfer;
(h) information about financing activities of the group;
(i) the consolidated financial statements of the group;
(j) tax rulings, if any, made in respect of the group; and
(k) any other information that the Commissioner may require.
(7) A local file under subsection (3) shall contain —
(a) details and information on the resident constituent entity’s activities
within the multinational enterprise group;
(b) management structure of the resident constituent entity;
(c) business strategies including structuring, description of the material-
controlled transactions, the resident constituent entity’s business and
competitive environment;
(d) the international transactions and amounts paid to the resident
constituent entity or received by the entity; and
(e) any other information that the Commissioner may require.
(8) Where there are more than one constituent entities of the same multinational
enterprise group that are resident in Kenya, the multinational enterprise group may
designate one of such constituent entities as a surrogate parent entity.
(9) A resident surrogate parent entity of a multinational enterprise group shall
not be required to file a country-by-country report with the Commissioner with
respect to the reporting financial year of the group, if —
(a) the ultimate parent entity is obligated to file a country-by-country
report in its jurisdiction of tax residence;
(b) the jurisdiction in which the ultimate parent entity is resident for tax
purposes has an international agreement and a competent authority
agreement in force; and

54
[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
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(c) the Commissioner has not notified the resident constituent entity in
Kenya of a systemic failure, if any.
(10) A resident constituent entity of a multinational enterprise group shall not
be required to file a country-by-country report with the Commissioner with respect
to the reporting financial year of the group, if —
(a) a non-resident surrogate parent entity files the country-by-country
report on the group with the competent authority of the tax jurisdiction
of the entity;
(b) the jurisdiction in which the non-resident surrogate parent entity is
resident requires the filing of country-by-country reports;
(c) the competent authority of the jurisdiction in which the non-resident
surrogate parent entity is resident and Kenya have a competent
authority agreement for the exchange of information;
(d) the competent authority in the jurisdiction where the non-resident
surrogate parent is resident has not notified Kenya of a systemic
failure; or
(e) the non-resident parent entity has notified the competent authority in
the jurisdiction of its tax residence that the entity is the designated
surrogate parent entity of the group.
(11) The Commissioner shall maintain the confidentiality of the information
contained in a return submitted in accordance with section 6(1) and section 6A(2)
of the Tax Procedures Act, 2015 (No. 29 of 2015).
[Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 12.]

18E. Offences and penalties

A person who fails to comply with the provisions of sections 18C and 18D
commits an offence and shall be subject to the penalties prescribed under the Tax
Procedures Act, 2015 (No. 29 of 2015).
[Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 12.]

18F. Definitions
For the purposes of sections 18C, 18D and 18E -
"competent authority agreement" means an agreement between authorized
representatives of jurisdictions which are parties to an international agreement that
requires the exchange of country-by-country reports;
"consolidated financial statements" means financial statements of a
multinational enterprise group in which the assets, liabilities, income, expenses and
cash flows of the ultimate parent entity and the constituent entities are presented
as those of a single enterprise;
"constituent entity” means—
(a) any separate business unit of a multinational enterprise group that is
included in the consolidated financial statements of the multinational
enterprise group for financial reporting purposes, or which would be
so included if equity interests in such business unit of a multinational
enterprise group were traded on a public securities exchange;
(b) any such business unit that is excluded from the multinational
enterprise group’s consolidated financial statements solely on size or
materiality grounds;

55
CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
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(c) any permanent establishment of any separate business unit of

the multinational enterprise group included in paragraphs (a) or
(b) provided that the business unit prepares a separate financial
statement for such permanent establishment for financial reporting,
regulatory, tax reporting, or internal management control purposes;
“a country-by-country report” means a report filed under section 18D(1)
describing the financial activities of each constituent entity in all the jurisdictions
where the group has taxable presence;
"excluded multinational enterprise group” means, with respect to any
financial year of the group, a group having total consolidated group revenue of less
than the amount specified in section 18D(1);
“group” means a collection of enterprises related through ownership or control
such that it is either required to prepare consolidated financial statements for
financial reporting purposes under applicable accounting principles or would be
so required if equity interests in any of the enterprises were traded on a public
securities exchange and includes a single enterprise with one or more foreign
permanent establishments;
“international agreement” means a bilateral or multilateral tax agreement to
which Kenya is a party which provides for the exchange of tax information between
Kenya and other jurisdictions;
“local file” means a file under section 18D(7) containing material transactions
of the local taxpayer;
“master file” means a file under section 18D(6) containing standardized
information relevant for all multinational enterprise group members;
"multinational enterprise group” means a group that includes two or more
enterprises which are resident in different jurisdictions including an enterprise that
carries on business through a permanent establishment or through any other entity
in another jurisdiction;
“reporting financial year” means an annual accounting period with respect to
which the ultimate parent entity of the multinational enterprise group prepares its
financial statements;
"surrogate parent entity” means one constituent entity of the multinational
enterprise group appointed by such group to file the country-by-country report in
that constituent entity’s jurisdiction of tax residence, on behalf of the group;
“systemic failure” means failure to comply with the competent authority
agreement for reasons other than those provided in the agreement;
“ultimate parent entity” means an entity that —
(a) is resident in Kenya for tax purposes;
(b) is not controlled by another entity; and
(c) owns or controls a multinational enterprise group.
[Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 12.]

19. Ascertainment of income of insurance companies

(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Act, this section shall apply for the purpose
of computing the gains or profits of insurance companies from insurance business
which is chargeable to tax; and for the purposes of this Act a mutual insurance

56
[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
Income Tax

company shall be deemed to carry on an insurance business the surplus from

which shall be ascertained in the manner provided for in this section for ascertaining
gains or profits and which shall be deemed to be gains or profits which are charged
to tax under this Act.
(2) Where an insurance company carries on life insurance business in
conjunction with insurance business of any other class, the life insurance business
of the company shall be treated as a separate business from any other class of
insurance business carried on by the company.
(3) The gains or profits for any year of income from the insurance business,
other than life insurance business, of a resident insurance company, whether
mutual or proprietary, shall be the amount arrived at after—
(a) taking, for such year of income, the sum of—
(i) the amount of the gross premiums from such business (less
such premiums returned to the insured and such premiums
paid on reinsurance as relate to such business); and
(ii) the amount of other income from such business, including any
commission or expense allowance received or receivable from
re-insurers and any income derived from investments held in
connexion with that business; and
(b) deducting from the sum arrived at under paragraph (a) a reserve for
unexpired risks referable to that business at the percentage adopted
by the company at the end of that year of income and adding thereto
the reserve deducted for unexpired risks at the end of the previous
year of income:
Provided that the reserves are estimated on the basis of actuarial principles,
including discounting of ultimate costs; and
(c) deducting from the figure arrived at under paragraphs (a) and (b) of
this subsection—
(i) the amount of the claims admitted in such year of income in
connexion with such business (provided that claims incurred
but not paid or not reported before the end of the accounting
period are estimated on the basis of actuarial principles
including the discounting of ultimate costs); less any amount
recovered in respect thereof under reinsurance; and
(ii) the amount of agency expenses incurred in such year of income
in connection with such business; and
(iii) the amount of any other expenses allowable as a deduction
(excluding costs and expenses attributable to earning exempt
income) as determined by the ratio of exempt investment
income to the sum of investment and exempt investment
income in that year of income in computing the gains or profits
of that business under this Act.
(4) The gains or profits for any year of income from the insurance business,
other than life insurance business, of a non-resident insurance company, whether
mutual or proprietary, shall be the amount arrived at after—
(a) taking, for such year of income, the sum of—
(i) the amount received or receivable in Kenya of the gross
premiums from such business (less such premiums returned

57
CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
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to the insured and such premiums paid on reinsurance, other

than to the head office of such company, as relates to such
business); and
(ii) the amount of other income from such business, not being
income from investments, received or receivable in Kenya
including any commission or expense allowance received or
receivable from reinsurance, other than from the head office of
such company, of risks accepted in Kenya; and
(iii) such amount of income from investments as the Commissioner
may determine to be just and reasonable as representing
income from investment of the reserves referable to such
business done in Kenya; and
(b) deducting from the sum arrived at under paragraph (a) a reserve
for unexpired risks outstanding at the end of that year of income in
respect of policies for which the premiums are received or receivable
in Kenya at the percentage adopted by the company in relation to its
insurance business as a whole, other than life insurance, but adding
to that sum the reserve deducted for similar unexpired risks at the end
of the previous year of income:
Provided that the reserves are estimated on the basis of actuarial principles,
including discounting of ultimate costs; and
(c) deducting from the figure arrived at under paragraphs (a) and (b)—
(i) the amount of the claims admitted in that year of income in
connection with that business (Provided that claims incurred
but not paid or not reported before the end of the accounting
period are estimated on the basis of actuarial principles
including the discounting of ultimate costs); less any amount
recovered in respect thereof under reinsurance; and
(ii) the amount of agency expenses incurred in such year of income
in connexion with such business; and
(iii) an amount being such proportion as the Commissioner may
determine to be just and reasonable of those expenses of the
head office of that company as would have been allowable as a
deduction in that year of income in computing its gains or profits
if the company had been a resident company in so far as those
amounts relate to policies the premiums in respect of which are
received or receivable in Kenya.
(5) The gains or profits for a year of income from the long term insurance
business of a resident insurance company, whether mutual or proprietary, shall be
the sum of the following—
(a) the amount of actuarial surplus, as determined under the Insurance
Act and recommended by the actuary to be transferred from the life
fund for the benefit of shareholders;
(b) any other amounts transferred from the life fund for the benefit of
shareholders; and
(c) thirty per centum of management expenses and commissions that
are in excess of the maximum amounts allowed by the Insurance Act
(Cap. 487).

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[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
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(5A) Where the actuarial valuation of the life fund results in a deficit for a year
of income and the shareholders are required to inject money into the life fund,
the amount of money so transferred shall be treated as a negative transfer for the
purposes of subsection (5)(a):
Provided that the amount of negative transfer shall be limited to the actuarial
surplus recommended by the actuary to be transferred from the life fund for the
benefit of shareholders in previous years of income.
(6) The gains or profits for a year of income from the long term insurance
business of a non-resident insurance company, whether mutual or proprietory, shall
be the sum of the following—
(a) the same proportion of the amount of actuarial surplus recommended
by the actuary to be transferred to the shareholders as the actuarial
liability in respect of its long term insurance business in Kenya bears
to the actuarial liability in respect of its total long term insurance
business; and
(b) the same proportion of any other amounts transferred from the life
fund for the benefit of shareholders as the actuarial liability in respect
of its long term insurance business in Kenya bears to the actuarial
liability in respect of its total long term insurance business; and
(c) the same proportion of thirty per cent of management expenses and
commissions that are in excess of the maximum amounts allowed by
the Insurances Act (Cap. 487) as the actuarial liability in respect of its
long term insurance business in Kenya bears to the actuarial liability
in respect of its total long term insurance business.
(6A) Where the actuarial valuation of the life fund results in a deficit for a year
of income and the shareholders are required to inject money into the life fund, the
proportionate amount of the money so transferred shall be treated as a negative
transfer for the purposes of subsection (6)(a):
Provided that the amount of negative transfers shall be limited to the amount of
actuarial surplus recommended by the actuary to be transferred from the life fund
for the benefit of the shareholders in the previous years on income.
(6B) For the avoidance of doubt, the gains arising from the transfer of property
by an insurance company other than property connected to life insurance business
shall be taxed in accordance with the provisions of the Eighth Schedule.
(7) In this section—
"annuity fund" means, where an annuity fund is not kept separately from the
life insurance fund of the company such part of the life insurance fund as represents
the liability of the company under its annuity contracts;
"company" includes a body of persons;
"exempt investment income" means dividends chargeable to tax under
section 3(2)(a)(i) plus income from disposal of investment shares traded in any
securities exchange operating in Kenya;
"investment income" does not include—
(a) dividends chargeable to tax under section 3(2)(a)(i); and
(b) income from the disposal of investment shares traded in any securities
exchange operating in Kenya;

59
CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
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"life insurance fund" does not include the annuity fund, if any, nor such part
of the life insurance fund as represents the liability of the company under any
registered annuity contract, registered trust scheme, registered pension scheme
or registered pension fund;
"life insurance premiums" means premiums referable to the life insurance
business other than annuity business;
"life insurance expenses" means expenses referable to the life insurance
business other than annuity business.
(8) The amount of the gains or profits from insurance business, both from
life insurance and from other classes of insurance business, arrived at under this
section shall be taken into account together with any other income of the company
charged to tax in ascertaining the total income of that company.
(9) Deleted by Act No. 8 of 2008, s. 32(c).
[Act No. 8 of 1991, s. 59, Act No. 9 of 1992, s. 43, Act No. 4 of 1993, s.
42, Act No. 6 of 1994, s. 38, Act No. 8 of 1997, s. 34, Act No. 5 of 1998, s. 32,
Act No. 8 of 2008, s. 32, Act No. 8 of 2009, s. 24, Act No. 10 of 2018, s. 8.]

19A. Co-operative societies

(1) This section shall apply to designated co-operative societies other than—
(a) a society which has been exempted from all the provisions of the Co-
operative Societies Act (Cap. 490) under section 92 of that Act; or
(b) a society in respect of which the Commissioner is of the opinion,
having regard to the number of members composing it, the nature of
its business, the manner in which its business is conducted, the extent
of its transactions with non-members or any other relevant factors, is
a body corporate carrying on business for its own profit.
(2) In the case of every designated co-operative society, other than a
designated primary society, the income on which tax shall be charged shall be its
total income for the year of income deducting therefrom an amount equal to the
aggregate of bonuses and dividends declared for that year and distributed by it to
its members in money or an order to pay money; but the deduction shall in no case
exceed the total income of the society for that year of income.
(3) In the case of every designated primary society, other than a designated
primary society which is registered and carries on business as a credit and savings
co-operative society to which the provisions of subsection (4) apply, the income on
which tax shall be charged shall be its total income for the year of income deducting
therefrom an amount equal to the aggregate of bonuses and dividends declared for
that year and distributed by it to its members in money or an order to pay money.
(4) In the case of a designated primary society which is registered and carries
on business as a credit and savings co-operative society its total income for any
year of income shall, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act, be deemed
to be the aggregate of—
(a) fifty per centum of its gross income from interest (other than interest
from its members);
(b) its gross income from any right granted for the use or occupation of
any property, not being a royalty, ascertained in accordance with the
provisions of this Act;
(c) gains chargeable to tax under section 3(2)(f);

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(d) any other income (excluding royalties) chargeable to tax under this Act
not falling within paragraph (a), (b) or (c) ascertained in accordance
with the provisions of this Act.
(5) Any loss incurred in respect of any year of income prior to the year of income
prior to the year of income 1985 shall not be deductible.
(6) Where the written down value of any asset or class of assets cannot be
readily ascertained, the Commissioner may, for the purpose of granting any wear
and tear allowance in respect of the year of income 1985, determine the amount
of the written down value of any asset or class of assets.
(7) In this section—
"bonus" and "dividend" shall, for the purposes of subsections (2) and (3),
have the same meaning as in the Co-operative Societies Act;
"designated co-operative society" means a co-operative society registered
under the Co-operative Societies Act;
"primary society" means a co-operative society registered under the Co-
operative Societies Act the membership of which is restricted to individual persons.
[Act No. 13 of 1984, s. 20, Act No. 8 of 1985, s. 13, Act No. 6
of 2001, s. 48, Act No. 15 of 2003, s. 34, Act No. 38 of 2013, s. 12.]

20. Collective investment schemes

(1) Subject to such conditions as may be specified by the Minister under section
1—
(a) a unit trust;
(b) a collective investment scheme set up by an employer for purposes
of receiving monthly contributions from taxed emoluments of his
employees and investing them primarily in shares traded on any
securities exchange operating in Kenya;
(c) a real estate investment trust; or
(d) an investee company of a real estate investment trust,
registered by the Commissioner, shall be exempt from income tax except for the
payment of withholding tax on interest income and dividends as a resident person
as specified in the Third Schedule to the extent that its unit holders or shareholders
are not exempt persons under the First Schedule.
(2) All distributions of income, and all payments for redemption of units of sale
of shares received by unit holders or shareholders shall be deemed to have been
already tax paid.
[Act No. 10 of 1990, s. 47, Act No. 7 of 2002, s.
41, Act No. 4 of 2012, s. 14, Act No. 23 of 2019, s. 9.]

21. Members’ clubs and trade associations

(1) A body of persons which carries on a members’ club shall be deemed to
be carrying on a business and the gross receipts on revenue account (including
entrance fees and subscriptions) shall be deemed to be income from a business:
Provided that where not less than three-quarters of such gross receipts, other
than gross investment receipts, are received from the members of such club, such
body of persons shall not be deemed to be carrying on a business and no part of
such gross receipts, other than gross investment receipts, shall be income.

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(2) A trade association may elect, by notice in writing to the Commissioner,

in respect of any year of income to be deemed to carry on a business charged
to tax, whereupon its gross receipts on revenue account from transactions with
its members (including entrance fees and annual subscriptions) and with other
persons shall be deemed to be income from business for that and succeeding years
of income.
(3) In this section—
"member" means—
(a) in relation to a members’ club, a person who, while he is a member,
is entitled to an interest in all the assets of such club in the event of
its liquidation;
(b) in relation to a trade association, a person who is entitled to vote at a
general meeting of such trade association;
"members’ club" means a club or similar institution all the assets of which are
owned by or held in trust for the members thereof;
"gross investment receipts" means gross receipts in respect of interest,
dividends, royalties, rents, other payments for rights granted for use or occupation
of property, or gains of a kind referred to in paragraph (f) of subsection (2) of section
3.
[Act No. 1 of 1982, s. 3.]

22. Purchased annuities other than retirement annuities, etc.

(1) Notwithstanding section 3(2)(c) of this Act, where any payment of an
annuity to which this section applies is made, that portion of the payment which as
represents the capital element thereof, as ascertained under subsection (2) of this
section, shall not be deemed to be income.
(2) For the purpose of this section—
(a) an annuity includes any amount payable on a periodic basis, whether
payable at intervals longer or shorter than a year;
(b) the portion of each payment of an annuity to which this section applies
which represents the capital element thereof shall be that proportion
of each such payment which the consideration or purchase price for
the contract bears to the total payments—
(i) to be made under the contract, in the case of a contract for a
term of years certain; or
(ii) expected at the date of the contract to be made under the
contract, in the case of a contract under which the continuation
of such payments depends in whole or in part upon the survival
of an individual;
(c) where the continuation of such payments depends in whole or in part
upon the survival of an individual—
(i) if any table of mortality has been used as the basis for
determining the consideration or purchase price for the
contract, that table shall be used in computing the payments
expected to be made under the contract, calculations being
based upon complete expectation of life;
(ii) if no table of mortality has been used as the basis for
determining the consideration or purchase price for the

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contract, such table of mortality as the Commissioner considers

appropriate to the case shall be used in computing the
payments expected to be made under the contract, calculations
being based on complete expectation of life;
(iii) the age of that individual at the date of the contract shall be
determined by subtracting the calendar year of his birth from
the calendar year in which that date falls;
(d) where the continuation of payments depends upon the survival of
an individual and where, in the event of the death of such individual
before such payments aggregate a stated sum, the contract provides
that the unpaid balance of the stated sum shall be paid either in a
lump sum or by instalments, then the contract shall be deemed for the
purpose of determining the expected term thereof to provide for the
continuance of such payments thereunder for a minimum term certain
equal to the nearest complete number of years required to complete
the payment of the stated sum;
(e) where such payments commence on the expiry of a term of years
or on the death of any individual, then the consideration or purchase
price for the contract shall be taken to be—
(i) the lump sum, if any, which the individual entitled to those
payments is entitled to receive in lieu thereof; or
(ii) if there is no lump sum, the sum ascertainable from the contract
as the present value of the annuity at the date those payments
commence; or
(iii) if there is no such sum, the present value of those payments
computed as at the date the payments commence on the basis
of a rate of interest of four per cent per annum and, where
the payments depend upon the survival of an individual, the
probabilities of survival of that individual shall be computed
according to the table of mortality referred to in paragraph (c).
(3) This section shall apply to annuities, whenever purchased or commencing,
payable under a contract but shall not apply—
(a) to any annuity payable under a registered annuity contract or a
registered trust scheme; or
(b) to any annuity purchased under any direction in a will, or purchased to
provide for an annuity payable under a will or settlement out of income
of property disposed of by such will or settlement; or
(c) to any annuity purchased under any pension scheme or pension fund;
or
(d) to any annuity purchased by any person in recognition of the services
or past services of another person.
22A. Deductions in respect of contributions to registered pension or
provident funds
(1) Notwithstanding section 16 (2) (d) and (e), the deduction in respect of
contributions of an employee in a year shall be limited to the lesser of—
(a) the sum of the contributions made by the employee to registered funds
in the year; or
(b) thirty per cent of the employee’s pensionable income in the year; or

63
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(c) two hundred and forty thousand shillings (or, where contributions are
made to registered funds of the employer in respect of a part year
of service of the member, twenty thousand five hundred shillings per
month of service).
(2) Notwithstanding section 16 (2) (d) and (e), the deduction in respect of the
contributions made by an employer in a year under defined contribution provisions
of registered funds shall be limited to the sum of the deductible contributions of the
employer in the year under defined contribution provisions of registered funds on
behalf of members of the funds:
Provided that, in respect of each member, the sum of the deductible
contributions of an employer in a year under the defined contribution provisions of
registered funds on behalf of a member of a registered fund means the amount by
which the lesser of—
(a) the sum of the contributions in the year made by the employer
on behalf of the member under defined contribution provisions of
registered funds including contributions made out of surplus funds as
required under section 22 (6); and by the member to registered funds
of the employer;
(b) thirty per cent of the member’s pensionable income from the
employer; or
(c) two hundred and forty thousand shillings (or, where contributions are
made to registered funds of the employer in respect of a part year
of service of the member, twenty thousand five hundred shillings
per month of service), exceeds the deductible contributions made by
the member in the year to registered funds of the employer under
subsection (1).
(3) Notwithstanding section 16 (2) (d) and (e) the deduction in respect of the
contributions made by an employer in a year under defined benefit provisions of
registered funds shall be limited to the amount by which the lesser of—
(a) the sum of the contributions made by the employer and by the
employees in the year to registered funds in respect of members of
the defined benefit registered funds of the employer; or
(b) thirty per cent of the sum of the pensionable incomes from the
employer in the year of members of defined benefit registered funds
of the employer; or
(c) two hundred and forty thousand shillings times the number of full-year
members of defined benefit registered funds of the employer, exceeds
the sum of—
(i) the deductible contributions made in the year to registered
funds of the employer by members of registered funds of the
employer under subsection (1); and
(ii) the amounts deducted by the employer for the year for
contributions made under defined contribution provisions of
registered funds under subsection (2) in respect of the
members of the defined benefit registered funds.
(4) In determining the deductible amounts that can be made to registered funds
by employees and by employers, subsection (1) shall be applied before subsection
(2) and subsection (2) shall be applied before subsection (3).

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(5) Pension funds in respect of an employee may be transferred to another

registered fund or registered individual retirement fund and not be treated as a
withdrawal under section 3(2)(c)—
(a) where an employee retires or terminates his employment with an
employer and joins the services of another employer and requests
funds to be transferred from the former employer’s registered fund to
the new employer’s registered fund; or
(b) where an employer establishes a new registered fund and transfers
the existing pension rights of an employee to that new registered fund;
or
(c) where an employee terminates his employment with an employer and
requests funds, which would otherwise be withdrawn or commuted
as a lump sum, to be transferred to a registered individual retirement
fund; or
(d) where an employee and the employer agree mutually to transfer the
funds relating to the existing retirement benefit rights of the employee
from one registered fund of the employer to another registered fund of
that employer provided that the trust deeds of both registered funds
allow such a transfer; or
(e) where an individual beneficiary directs that all funds in a registered
individual retirement fund be transferred directly to another such fund:
Provided that, in all cases, the Commissioner is notified in such form as he may
from time to time direct.
(6) Where a defined contribution registered fund is determined by an audit to
have surplus funds, such funds shall be allocated to the accounts of members in
lieu of contributions by an employer in each subsequent year until the surplus is
exhausted.
(7) Where a registered fund is wound up, any surplus funds therein shall be
deemed to be the funds of the employer and shall be immediately withdrawn by
the employer unless the trust deed in respect of such registered fund specifies the
contrary.
(8) For the purposes of this section, contributions made to the National Social
Security Fund shall be deemed to be contributions made to a defined contribution
registered fund.
[Act No. 10 of 1990, s. 48, Act No. 8 of 1991, s. 60, Act No. 9 of 1992, s.
44, Act No. 4 of 1993, s. 43, Act No. 6 of 1994, s. 39, Act No. 13 of 1995, s.
82, Act No. 8 of 1996, s. 32, Act No. 8 of 1997, s. 35, Act No. 5 of 1998, s. 33,
Act No. 4 of 1999, s. 34, Act No. 9 of 2000, s. 44, Act No. 6 of 2005, s. 25.]

22B. Deductions in respect of registered individual retirement funds

(1) An individual who is not a member of a registered fund or a public pension
st
scheme at any time in a year of income commencing on or after the 1 January,
1994 shall be eligible to contribute to a registered individual retirement fund up to
the amount deductible under subsection (2).
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 16 (2) (d) and (e), the deduction
in respect of contributions of an individual to a registered individual retirement fund
in a year shall be limited to the lesser of—

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(a) the sum of the contributions made by the individual or by the employer
of the individual on his behalf on or before the 31st of December of
the year; or
(b) thirty per cent of pensionable income of the individual in that year; or
(c) two hundred and forty thousand shillings (or, where the contributions
are made on behalf of the individual by his employer in respect of a
part year of service of the individual, twenty thousand shillings per
month of service) reduced by the amount of the contributions made
by the individual or by an employer on behalf of the individual to the
National Social Security Fund in that year.
(3) All funds maintained by an individual in a registered individual retirement
fund shall be held in one account with a qualified institution.
[Act No. 9 of 1992, s. 45, Act No. 6 of 1994, s. 40, Act No. 13 of 1995, s. 83, Act
No. 8 of 1996, s. 33, Act No. 8 of 1997, s. 36, Act No. 5 of 1998, s. 34, Act No. 4 of
1999, s. 35, Act No. 9 of 2000, s. 45, Act No. 4 of 2004, s. 50, Act No. 6 of 2005, s. 26.]

22C. Repealed
Repealed by Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 6.
23. Transactions designed to avoid liability to tax
(1) Where the Commissioner is of the opinion that the main purpose or one of
the main purposes for which a transaction was effected (whether before or after the
passing of this Act) was the avoidance or reduction of liability to tax for any year of
income, or that the main benefit which might have been expected to accrue from
the transaction in the three years immediately following the completion thereof was
the avoidance or reduction of liability to tax, he may, if he determines it to be just
and reasonable, direct that such adjustments shall be made as respects liability to
tax as he considers appropriate to counteract the avoidance or reduction of liability
to tax which could otherwise be effected by the transaction.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the powers conferred by subsection
(1) of this section, those powers shall extend—
(a) to the charging to tax of persons who, but for the adjustments, would
not be charged to the same extent;
(b) to the charging of a greater amount of tax than would be charged but
for the adjustments.
(3) Any direction of the Commissioner under this section shall specify the
transaction or transactions giving rise to the direction and the adjustments as
respects liability to tax which the Commissioner considers appropriate.
24. Avoidance of tax liability by non-distribution of dividends
(1) Where the Commissioner is of the opinion that a private company has
not distributed to its shareholders as dividends within a reasonable period, not
exceeding twelve months, after the end of its accounting period such part of
its income for that period which could be so distributed without prejudice to the
requirements of the company’s business, he may direct that that part of the income
of the company shall be treated for the purposes of this Act as having been
distributed as a dividend to the shareholders in accordance with their respective
interests and shall be deemed to have been paid on a date twelve months after
the end of that accounting period.

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(2) The Commissioner may direct that a charge be made upon a company in
respect of adjustments to the liability of a shareholder as a result of a direction
under subsection (1):
Provided that—
(i) if such a charge is made, such company shall be entitled to recover
from the shareholder the amount of tax attributable to the adjustment
made in respect of such shareholder; and
(ii) where an adjustment is made under this section relating to the
distributable profits of a company and such profits are subsequently
distributed, the proportionate share therein of a shareholder shall be
excluded in computing the total income of that shareholder.
(3) Deleted by Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9(i)(ii).
(4) A private company may at any time before making a distribution of a dividend
to its shareholders inquire of the Commissioner whether the distribution would be
regarded by him as sufficient for the purpose of subsection (1) of this section, and
the Commissioner, after calling on the company for such information that he may
reasonably require, shall advise the company whether or not he proposes to take
action under this section.
(5) Where under this section part of the income of a company is treated
as having been distributed and divided to its shareholders and in consequence
thereof, another company is treated as having received a dividend, then for the
purpose of applying the provisions of subsection (1) of this section to the other
company, the dividend which it is treated as having received shall be deemed to be
part of such income of the other company available for distribution by such other
company to its shareholders as dividends.
25. Income settled on children
(1) Where, under any settlement, income is paid during the life of the settlor
to or for the benefit of a child of the settlor in a year of income, such income shall
be deemed to be income of the settlor for such year of income and not income of
any other person:
Provided that this subsection shall not apply to any year of income in which—
(i) the income so paid does not exceed one hundred shillings; or
(ii) the child attains the age of eighteen years.
(2) For the purposes of, but subject to, this section—
(a) income which is dealt with under a settlement so that it, or assets
representing it, will or may become payable or applicable to or for the
benefit of a child of the settlor in the future (whether on the fulfilment
of a condition, or the happening of a contingency, or as the result of
the exercise of a power of discretion, or otherwise) shall be deemed
to be paid to or for the benefit of that child;
(b) any income so dealt with which is not required by the settlement to be
allocated at the time when it is so dealt with, to any particular child or
children of the settlor shall be deemed to be paid in equal shares to or
for the benefit of each of the children to or for the benefit of whom or
any of whom the income or assets representing it will or may become
payable or applicable;

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(c) in relation to any settlor, only income originating from that settlor shall
be taken into account as income paid under the settlement to or for
the benefit of a child of the settlor.
(3) Where under subsection (1) of this section tax is charged on and is paid
by the person by whom the settlement was made, that person shall be entitled to
recover from any trustee or other person to whom the income is payable under
the settlement the amount of the tax so paid, and for that purpose to require
the Commissioner to furnish to him a certificate specifying the amount of the tax
so paid, and a certificate so furnished shall be conclusive evidence of the facts
appearing therein.
(4) Where the amount of the tax chargeable upon any person for any year of
income is, by reason of subsection (1) of this section, affected by tax deducted
from the income under Head B of Part VI, the amount by which the tax is affected
shall, if the amount of tax is thereby reduced, be paid by him to the trustee or other
person to whom the income is payable under the settlement or, where there are
two or more such persons, shall be apportioned among those persons as the case
may require; and if any question arises as to the amount of a payment or as to any
apportionment to be made under this subsection, that question shall be decided by
the Commissioner whose decision thereon shall be final.
(5) Any income which is deemed under this section to be the income of a person
shall be deemed to be the highest part of his income.
(6) This section shall apply to every settlement, wheresoever it was made
or entered into and whether it was made or entered into before or after the
st
commencement of this Act, except a settlement made or entered into before 1
January, 1939, which immediately before that date was irrevocable, and shall
(where there is more than one settlor or more than one person who made the
settlement) have effect in relation to each settlor as if he were the only settlor.
(7) In this section—
(a) "child" means a child under the age of eighteen years and includes
a step-child, an adopted child and an illegitimate child;
(b) "settlement" includes any disposition, trust, covenant, agreement,
arrangement, or transfer of assets, but does not include any
disposition, trust, covenant, agreement, arrangement, or transfer of
assets through a registered family trust or resulting from an order of
a court unless that order is made in contemplation of this provision;
(c) "settlor", in relation to a settlement, includes any person by whom
the settlement was made or entered into directly or indirectly, and
any person who has provided or undertaken to provide funds directly
or indirectly for the purpose of the settlement, or has made with any
other person a reciprocal arrangement for that other person to make
or enter into the settlement;
(d) reference to income originating from a settlor are references to—
(i) income from property originating from that settlor; and
(ii) income provided directly or indirectly by that settlor;
(e) references to property originating from a settlor are references to—
(i) property which that settlor has provided directly or indirectly for
the purposes of the settlement; and
(ii) property representing that property; and

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(iii) so much of any property which represents both property so

provided and other property as, on such apportionment as
the Commissioner may determine to be just and reasonable,
represents the property so provided;
(f) references to—
(i) property or income which a settlor has provided directly or
indirectly include references to property or income which
has been provided directly or indirectly by another person in
pursuance of reciprocal arrangements with that settlor but do
not include references to property or income which that settlor
has provided directly or indirectly in pursuance of reciprocal
arrangements with another person;
(ii) property which represents other property include references to
property which represents accumulated income from that other
property.
(8) Where, under this section, income is deemed to be income of the settlor,
it shall be deemed to be income received by him as a person beneficially entitled
thereto under the settlement.
[Act No. 38 of 2013, s. 13, Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 11.]

26. Income from certain settlements deemed to be income of settlor

(1) All income which in a year of income accrued to or was received by any
person under a settlement from assets remaining the property of the settlor shall,
unless such income is deemed under section 25 of this Act to be income of the
settlor for an earlier year of income, be deemed to be income of the settlor for
the year of income in which it so accrued to or was received by that person and
not income of any other person whether or not such settlement is revocable and
whether it was made or entered into before or after the commencement of this Act.
(2) All income which in any year of income accrued to or was received by a
person under a revocable settlement shall be deemed to be income of the settlor
for such year of income and not income of any other person.
(3) Where in any year of income the settlor, or a relative of the settlor, or any
other person, under the direct or indirect control of the settlor or any of his relatives
or the settlor and any of his relatives, by agreement with the trustees of a settlement
in any way, whether by borrowing or otherwise, makes use of income arising, or
of accumulated income which has arisen, under the settlement to which he is not
entitled thereunder, then the amount of such income or accumulated income so
made use of shall be deemed to be income of such settlor for such year of income
and not income of any other person.
(4) For the purposes of this section, a settlement shall be deemed to be
revocable if under its terms the settlor—
(a) has a right to reassume control, directly or indirectly, over the whole
or any part of the income arising under the settlement or of the assets
comprised therein; or
(b) is able to have access, by borrowing or otherwise, to the whole or
any part of the income arising under the settlement or of the assets
comprised therein; or
(c) has power, whether immediately or in the future and whether with
or without the consent of any other person, to revoke or otherwise

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determine the settlement and in the event of the exercise of such

power, the settlor or the wife or husband of the settlor will or may
become beneficially entitled to the whole or any part of the property
comprised in the settlement or to the income from the whole or any
part of such property:
Provided that a settlement shall not be deemed to be revocable by reason
only that under its terms the settlor has a right to reassume control, directly or
indirectly, over income or assets relating to the interest of any beneficiary under
the settlement in the event that the beneficiary should predecease him.
(5) In this section—
"relative" of a person means—
(a) his spouse;
(b) any ancestor, lineal descendant, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew,
niece, step-father, step-mother, step-child, adopted child, and, in the
case of an adopted child, his adopter or adopters;
(c) the spouse of any such relative referred to in paragraph (b);
"settlement" includes any disposition, trust, covenant other than a registered
family trust, agreement, arrangement, or transfer of assets, other than—
(a) a settlement made for valuable and sufficient consideration;
(b) any agreement made by an employer to confer a pension upon an
employee in respect of any period after the cessation of employment
with such employer, or to provide an annual payment for the benefit
of the widow or any relative or dependant of that employee after his
death, or to provide a lump sum to an employee on the cessation of
such employment.
(6) Where, under this section, tax is charged on and is paid by the settlor, the
settlor shall be entitled to recover from the trustees or other person to whom the
income is payable under the settlement the amount of the tax so paid, and for
that purpose to require the Commissioner to furnish to him a certificate specifying
the amount of the tax so paid, and any certificate so furnished shall be conclusive
evidence of the facts appearing therein.
(7) Where, under this section, income is deemed to be income of the settlor,
it shall be deemed to be income received by him as a person beneficially entitled
thereto under the settlement.
[Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 12.]

27. Accounting periods not coinciding with year of income, etc.

(1) Where any person usually makes up the accounts of his business for a
st
period of twelve months ending on any day other than 31 December, then, for the
purpose of ascertaining his total income for any year of income, the income of any
such accounting period ending on such other date shall, subject to such adjustment
as the Commissioner may consider appropriate, be taken to be income of the year
of income in which the accounting period ends—
(a) in the case of a person other than an individual, as regards all income
charged under section 3 of this Act; and
(b) in the case of an individual, as regards all income charged under that
section other than gains or profits from any employment or services
rendered.

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(1A) A person carrying on an incorporated business may subject to the prior

written approval of the Commissioner alter the date to which the accounts of the
business are made up.
(1B) A person seeking the approval of the Commissioner under subsection
(1A) shall apply in writing to the Commissioner at least six months before the date
to which the accounts are intended to be made up.
(1C) The Commissioner shall within six months from the date of receipt of the
application communicate his decision in writing to the applicant.
(2) Where a person makes up the accounts of his business for a period greater
or less than twelve months, the Commissioner may, subject to such adjustments
as he may consider appropriate, including the assessment for a year of income
which, but for any alteration in the date to which the accounts of the business are
made up, would have been assessed for that year of income, treat the income of
that accounting period as income of the year of income in which the accounting
period ends, and tax shall be charged accordingly.
(3) The accounting period of a person carrying on any unincorporated business
shall be the period of twelve months ending on 31st December in each year; and
st
(4) Any person to whom subsection (3) applies shall not later than 31
December, 1998 change the accounting date to comply with the provisions of that
subsection.
[Act No. 7 of 1976, s. 2, Act No. 8 of 1996, s. 34.]

28. Income and expenditure after cessation of business

(1) Where a sum is received by any person after the cessation of his business
which, if it had been received prior to such cessation, would have been included
in the gains or profits from such business, then, to the extent to which such sum
has not already been included in such gains or profits, such sum shall be income
of such person for the year of income in which such sum is received.
(2) Where any sum is paid by any person after the cessation of his business
which, if it had been paid prior to such cessation, would have been deductible in
computing his gains or profits from such business, then, to the extent to which such
sum has not already been deducted in computing such gains or profits, it shall be
deducted in ascertaining his total income for the year of income in which it is paid
and to the extent that such sum or remainder of such sum, as the case may be,
cannot be so deducted, it shall be deducted in ascertaining his total income for the
year of income in which such business ceased.
[Act No. 8 of 1997, s. 37.]

28A. Special Operating Framework Arrangement

A company which -
(a) is engaged in business under a special operating framework
arrangement with the Government;
(b) incorporated for purposes of undertaking the manufacturer of human
vaccines;
(c) whose capital investment is at least ten billion shillings,
shall be subject to the rate of tax specified in the special operating framework
arrangement with the Government.
[Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 13.]

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PART V – PERSONAL RELIEF

29. General
(1) Subject to this section and to section 77, a resident individual who for a year
of income is in receipt of taxable income and has furnished a return of income in
respect of that year of income, shall, in respect of that year of income, be entitled
to a personal relief which shall be set off against tax payable by him for that year
of income at the rate and subject to the limitation specified in Head A of the Third
Schedule:
Provided that—
(i) notwithstanding that an individual has furnished no such return of
income, he shall, for the purposes of section 37, be given the personal
relief which he will be entitled to for that year of income; and
(ii) nothing in this section shall prevent the Commissioner from granting to
an individual in an assessment made under subsection (3) of section
73 that personal relief.
(2) On any change of relevant circumstances occurring during any year of
income, an individual shall be entitled only to the proportion of the amount of the
personal relief which he was entitled to at the commencement of such year of
income as—
(a) the number of full months in such year of income up to the end of the
month in which he ceased to be resident; or
(b) the number of full months in such year of income from the
commencement of the month in which he become resident,
as the case may be, bears to twelve; and in this subsection "relevant
circumstances" means the death or departure referred to in subsection (3) or the
arrival referred to in subsection (4) of this section.
(3) Where an individual, having been a resident individual, dies or departs from
Kenya with the intention of permanently leaving Kenya, he shall, in respect of that
year of income, be deemed to have been resident for the number of months in such
year of income up to and including the month in which he dies or so departs, as
the case may be:
Provided that, where such individual is entitled to leave with pay following
cessation of his employment in Kenya and part of such leave relates to the period
after his departure from Kenya, he shall be deemed for the purposes of this section
to have departed from Kenya on the date when the leave expires.
(4) When an individual arrives in Kenya with the intention of becoming resident
therein at any time after the beginning of any year of income, he shall, in respect of
such year of income, be deemed to have been resident for the number of months
in such year of income from and including the month in which he arrived.
[Act No. 8 of 1997, s. 38.]

30. Personal relief

A resident individual in receipt of taxable income shall be entitled to a tax relief
in this Act referred to as the personal relief.
[Act No. 12 of 1977, s. 5, Act No. 8 of 1996, s. 35.]

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30A. Affordable housing relief

(1) A resident individual who satisfies the Commissioner that in a year of income
that the person—
(a) is eligible to make an application under an affordable housing scheme;
(b) has applied and is awaiting the allocation of a house under an
affordable housing scheme; and
(c) is saving for a purchase under an affordable housing scheme
approved by the Cabinet Secretary in charge of housing,
shall for that year of income be entitled to a personal relief in this Act referred
to as the affordable housing relief.
(2) A person who has been allocated a house under the affordable housing
scheme and has been subject to an affordable housing relief under subsection (1)
shall not be re-eligible for a subsequent relief.
[Act No. 9 of 2018, Sch.]

31. Insurance relief

(1) A resident individual who proves that in a year of income—
(a) the individual has paid a premium for an insurance made by the
individual on the individual’s life or the life of the individual ’s spouse
or child and that the insurance secures a capital sum whether or not in
conjunction with another benefit, and that the insurance is made with
an insurance company lawfully carrying on in Kenya the business of
life insurance, and that sums payable under the insurance are payable
in Kenya in the lawful currency of Kenya; or
(b) his employer has paid a premium for that insurance on the life, and
for the benefit, of that individual which is charged with tax under this
Act on that individual; or
(c) he, as well as his employer, has paid a premium for the insurance
referred to in paragraph (b),
shall, for that year of income, be entitled to a personal relief in this Act referred
to as the insurance relief:
Provided that—
(i) no insurance relief shall be granted in respect of that part of a premium
for an insurance as secures a benefit which may, at the option of
the assured, be withdrawn at any time prior to the determination of
the insurance, and in that case the proportion of premiums otherwise
eligible for relief, if any, shall be the amount that the Commissioner
may determine to be just and reasonable;
(ii) no relief shall be granted in respect of a premium for an insurance
unless the person claiming the relief furnishes evidence as to the
nature and conditions of the insurance and such other particulars as
may be required by the Commissioner;
(iii) an education policy with a maturity period of at least ten years shall
qualify for relief; and
(iv) the provisions of this section shall apply only to life or education
st
policies whose term commences on or after 1 January, 2003;

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(v) st
a health policy whose term commences on or after 1 January, 2007
or a contribution made to the National Hospital Insurance Fund, shall
qualify for relief;
(vi) where a policy is surrendered before its maturity, all the relief granted
to the policyholder shall be recovered from the surrender value of the
policy and remitted to the Commissioner by the insurer.
(2) In this section "child", means any child of the resident individual and
includes a step-child, an adopted child and an illegitimate child who was under the
age of eighteen years on the date the premium was paid.
[Act No. 8 of 1991, s. 61, Act No. 13 of 1995, s. 85, Act No. 8 of 1996, s. 36, Act No. 7
of 2002, s. 42, Act No. 10 of 2006, s. 25, Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 13, Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 14.]

32. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 8 of 1991, s. 62.
33. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 8 of 1996, s. 37.
PART VI – RATES, DEDUCTIONS AND SET-
OFF OF TAX AND DOUBLE TAXATION RELIEF
A–Rates of Tax
34. Rates of tax
(1) Subject to this section—
(a) tax upon the total income of an individual, other than that part of the
total income comprising wife’s employment income fringe benefits and
the qualifying interest, shall be charged for a year of income at the
individual rates for that year of income;
(b) tax upon that part of the total income which consists of wife’s
employment income, wife’s professional income rate and wife’s
self-employment income rate other than income arising from fringe
benefits shall be charged for a year of income at the wife’s
employment income rate, wife’s professional income rate and wife’s
self-employment income rate, as the case may be, for that year of
income;
(c) tax upon that part of the total income of an individual that comprises
the qualifying interest shall be charged for a year of income at the
qualifying interest rate of tax for that year of income;
(d) tax upon that part of the total income of a person that comprises
the qualifying dividends shall be charged for a year of income at the
qualifying dividend rate of tax for that year of income;
(e) tax upon the total income of a person other than an individual shall be
charged at the corporation rate for that year of income;
(f) tax upon that part of total income that comprises dividends other
than qualifying dividends shall be charged in a year of income at the
resident withholding rate in respect of a dividend specified in the Third
Schedule;
(g) tax upon the total fringe benefits provided by an employer shall be
charged at the resident corporation rate for that year of income;

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(h) tax upon gross receipts of a person chargeable to tax under section
12C shall be charged at the resident rate for that year of income;
(i) deleted by Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 11;
(j) tax upon the capital gains of a person charged under section 3(2)(f)
shall be charged at the rate of fifteen percent and shall not be subject
to further taxation;
Provided that in the case of a firm certified by the Nairobi International
Financial Centre Authority that —
(a) invests five billion shillings in Kenya; and
(b) the transfer of such investment is made after five years,
the applicable rate shall be the rate that was prevailing at the time that
the investment was made.
(k) tax upon gross rental receipts of a person chargeable to tax under
section 6A shall be charged at the resident rate specified under the
Third Schedule for that year of income;
(l) the transfer of interest in a person shall be charged as per provisions
of the Ninth Schedule;
(m) winnings;
(n) tax upon the gross turnover of a person whose income is chargeable
to tax under section 12D shall be charged at the rate specified in the
Third Schedule;
(o) tax upon the gross transaction value of services chargeable to tax
under section 12E shall be charged at the rate specified in the Third
Schedule.
(1A) Deleted by Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 10(b).
(1B) Deleted by Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 10(b).
(2) Tax upon the income of a non-resident person not having permanent
establishment in Kenya which consists of—
(a) a management or professional fee;
(b) a royalty or natural resource income;
(c) a rent, premium or similar consideration for the use or occupation of
property;
(d) a dividend;
(e) interest;
(f) a pension or retirement annuity;
(g) any payment in respect of any appearance at, or performance in,
any place (whether public or private) for the purpose of entertaining,
instructing, taking part in any sporting event or otherwise diverting an
audience; or
(h) any payment in respect of an activity by way of supporting, assisting
or arranging an appearance or performance referred to in paragraph
(g) of this subsection;
(i) winnings;
(j) a payment in respect of gains or profits from the business of
transmitting messages which is chargeable to tax under section 9(2);

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(k) deleted by Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 11(b)(i);

(n) deleted by Act No. 23 of 2019, s. 10;
(o) insurance or reinsurance premium, except insurance or reinsurance
premium paid in respect of aviation insurance;
(p) sales promotion, marketing, advertising services, and transportation
of goods (excluding air and shipping transport services; or
(q) gains from financial derivatives.
shall be charged at the appropriate non-resident rate in force at the date of
payment of such income and shall not be charged to tax under subsection (1).
(3) Repealed by Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9.
(4) In this section "person" does not include a partnership.
[Act No. 2 of 1975, s. 5, Act No. 13 of 1975, s. 2, Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9, Act No. 12
of 1980, s. 3, Act No. 6 of 1981, s. 5, Act No. 10 of 1987, s. 33, Act No. 10 of 1988, s.
33, Act No. 10 of 1990, s. 49, Act No. 9 of 1992, s. 46, Act No. 6 of 1994, s. 41, Act No.
5 of 1998, s. 36, Act No. 9 of 2007, s. 22, Act No. 4 of 2012, s. 15, Act No. 57 of 2012,
s. 16, Act No. 38 of 2013, s. 14, Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 10, Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 11,
Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 8, Act No. 9 of 2018, Sch., Act No. 10 of 2018, s. 9, Act No. 23 of
2019, s. 11, Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch, Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 7, Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 15.]

34A. Deleted by Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9(k).

B – Deduction of Tax
35. Deduction of tax from certain income
(1) Every person shall, upon payment of any amount to any non-resident person
not having a permanent establishment in Kenya in respect of—
(a) a management or professional fee or training fee except—
(i) a commission paid to a non-resident agent in respect of flowers,
fruits or vegetables exported from Kenya and auctioned in any
market outside Kenya and audit fees for analysis of maximum
residue limits paid to a non-resident laboratory or auditor; or
(ii) a commission paid by a resident air transport operator to a non-
resident agent in order to secure tickets for international travel;
(b) a royalty or natural resource income;
(c) a rent, premium or similar consideration for the use or occupation
of property, except aircraft or aircraft engines, locomotives or rolling
stock:
Provided that—
(i) where the bond, loan, claim, obligation or other evidence of
indebtedness is acquired by a person exempt under the First
Schedule or a financial institution specified in the Fourth Schedule
from a non-resident person, such an exempt person or financial
institution shall deduct tax from the difference between the acquisition
price and the original issue price; and
(ii) where a non-resident person disposes of a bond, loan, claim,
obligation or other evidence of indebtedness acquired from a person
exempt under the First Schedule or a financial institution specified
in the Fourth Schedule, tax shall be deducted upon final redemption
from the difference between the final redemption price and the

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acquisition price, if the exempt person or financial institution certifies

the acquisition price to the satisfaction of the Commissioner;
(d) a dividend;
(e) interest and deemed interest;
(f) a pension or retirement annuity:
(g) any appearance at, or performance in, a place (whether public or
private) for the purpose of entertaining, instructing, taking part in any
sporting event or otherwise diverting an audience; or
(h) any activity by way of supporting, assisting or arranging any
appearance or performance referred to in paragraph (g) of this
subsection, which is chargeable to tax, deduct therefrom tax at the
appropriate non-resident rate;
(i) winnings;
(j) deleted by Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 9(a);
(k) deleted by Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 11;
(l) gains or profits from the business of transmitting messages which is
chargeable to tax under section 9 (2);
(m) deleted by Act No. 23 of 2019, s. 12(i);
(n) insurance or reinsurance premium, except insurance or reinsurance
premium paid in respect of aircraft;
(o) sales promotion, marketing, advertising services, and transportation
of goods (excluding air and shipping transport services);
(p) gains from financial derivatives.
(1A) Subsection (1) shall not apply to payments made by filming agents and
filming producers approved by the Kenya Film Commission to actors and crew
members approved for purposes of paragraphs (g) and (h).
(2) Deleted by Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9(l)(ii).
(3) Subject to subsection (3A), a person shall, upon payment of an amount to
a person resident or having a permanent establishment in Kenya in respect of—
(a) a dividend; or
(b) interest, other than interest paid to a financial institution specified
in the Fourth Schedule which is resident or which has a permanent
establishment in Kenya, including interest arising from a discount
upon final satisfaction or redemption of a debt, bond, loan, claim,
obligation or other evidence of indebtedness measured as the original
issue discount, other than interest or discounts paid to a person
exempt under the First Schedule or a financial institution specified in
the Fourth Schedule:
Provided that—
(i) where the bond, loan, claim, obligation or other evidence of
indebtedness is acquired by a person exempt under the First
Schedule or a financial institution specified in the Fourth Schedule
from the resident person, such an exempt person or financial
institution shall deduct tax from the difference between the acquisition
price and the original issue price; and

77
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(ii) where the resident person disposes of a bond, loan, claim, obligation
or other evidence of indebtedness acquired from a person exempt
under the First Schedule or a financial institution specified in the
Fourth Schedule, tax shall be deducted upon final redemption from
the difference between the final redemption price and the acquisition
price, if the exempt person or financial institution certifies the
acquisition price to the satisfaction of the Commissioner;
(c) an annuity payment excluding that portion of the payment which
represents the capital element; or
(d) a commission or fee paid or credited by an insurance company to any
person for the provision, whether directly or indirectly, of an insurance
cover to any person or group of persons (except a commission or fee
paid or credited to another insurance company);
(e) a pension or a lump sum commuted or withdrawn from a registered
pension fund or a lump sum out of a registered provident fund in
excess of the tax exempt amounts specified in section 8(4) and (5),
or any amount paid out of a registered individual retirement fund, or a
benefit paid out of the National Social Security Fund in excess of the
tax exempt amount specified in section 8(5); or
(ee) surplus funds withdrawn from or paid out of registered pension or
provident funds;
(f) management or professional fee or training fee, the aggregate value
of which is twenty-four thousand shillings or more in a month:
Provided that for the purposes of this paragraph, contractual fee within the
meaning of "management or Professional fee" shall mean payment for work
done in respect of building, civil or engineering works;
(g) a royalty or natural resource income;
(h) winnings;
(i) deleted by Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 9 (b)(ii);
(j) rent, premium or similar consideration for the use or occupation of
immovable property.
(3A) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (3), only a person appointed
for that purpose by the Commissioner, in writing, shall deduct tax under paragraph
(j) of that subsection.
(3B) Deleted by Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 11(c).
(3C) Deleted by Act No. 9 of 2007, s. 23.
(4) No deduction shall be made under subsection (1) or (3) from a payment
which is income exempt from tax under this Act, or to which an order made under
this Act, or to which an order made under subsection (7) or (8) applies.
(5) Where a person deducts tax under this section he shall, on or before the
twentieth day of the month following the month in which the deduction was made—
(a) remit the amount so deducted to the Commissioner together with
a return in writing of the amount of the payment the amount of tax
deducted, and such other information as the Commissioner may
specify; and

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(b) furnish the person to whom the payment is made with a certificate
stating the amount of the payment and the amount of the tax
deducted.
(5A) The Commissioner shall pay the tax deducted from winnings under
subsection (1) (i) and (3) (h) into the Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund
established under section 24 of the Public Finance Management Act, (No. 18 of
2012).
(6) Deleted by Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 9(d).
(6A) Where any person who is required under subsection (3A) to deduct tax—
(a) fails to make the deduction or fails to deduct the whole amount of the
tax which he should have deducted; or
(b) fails to remit the amount of any deduction to the Commissioner on or
before the twentieth day of the month following the month in which
such deduction was made or ought to have been made, any Collector
of Stamp Duties appointed under section 4 of the Stamp Duty Act
(Cap. 480), shall stamp the instrument of which the property is the
subject matter under the Stamp Duty Act, and Registrars of Title or
Land Registrars appointed under any written law shall not register the
property under any written law, until such tax has been duly accounted
for:
Provided that the transferee of chargeable property may pay such tax and be
entitled to recover the amount of the tax from any consideration for the transfer in
his possession, by action in a court or by any other lawful means at his disposal.
(6B) Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
(6C) Subject to subsection (6B), the provisions of this Act relating to appeals
to local committees against assessment shall apply mutatis mutandis to appeals
under this section.
(6D) A person aggrieved by the imposition, by the Commissioner, of a penalty
under this section may, by notice in writing to the Commissioner, object to the
imposition within thirty clays of the date of service of the notice of the imposition.
(6E) The provisions of this Act in respect of objections shall, mutatis mutandis,
apply to objections under this section.
(7) The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, exempt from the provisions
of subsection (3) of this section any payment or class of payments made by any
person or class of persons resident or having a permanent establishment in Kenya.
(8) The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, amend or add to the Fourth
Schedule in respect of financial institutions resident or having a permanent
establishment in Kenya.
[Act No. 2 of 1975, s. 5, Act No. 13 of 1975, s. 2, Act No. 7 of 1976, s. 2, Act No. 8 of 1978,
s. 9, Act No. 13 of 1979, s. 5, Act No. 18 of 1979, Sch., Act No. 10 of 1987, s. 34, Act No.
10 of 1990, s. 50, Act No. 9 of 1992, s. 47, Act No. 4 of 1993, s. 44, Act No. 6 of 1994, s. 42,
Act No. 8 of 1996, s. 38, Act No. 4 of 1999, s. 36, Act No. 9 of 2000, s. 46, Act No. 6 of 2001,
s. 49, Act No. 7 of 2002, s. 43, Act No. 15 of 2003, s. 35, s. 36, Act No. 4 of 2004, s. 51, Act
No. 6 of 2005, s. 27, Act No. 10 of 2006, s. 26, Act No. 9 of 2007, s. 23, Act No. 8 of 2008, s.
33, Act No. 8 of 2009, s. 25, Act No. 10 of 2010, s. 25, Act No. 4 of 2012, s. 16, Act No. 57
of 2012, s. 17, Act No. 38 of 2013, s. 15, Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 11, Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 21,
Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch., Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 9, Act No. 9 of 2018, Sch, Act No. 10
of 2018, s. 10, Act No. 23 of 2019, s. 12, Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch., Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 16.]

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36. Deduction of tax from annuities, etc., paid under a will, etc.
(1) The trustees of a will or settlement shall, upon payment of any annuity under
such will or settlement, deduct therefrom tax at the rate paid or payable on the
income out of which such annuity is payable:
Provided that—
(i) no deduction of tax shall be made from such part of an annuity as such
is paid out of income in respect of which no tax is paid or payable;
(ii) any annuity directed to be paid free of tax shall be paid without
deduction of tax, and any sums paid by the trustees to the annuitant
to meet his liability to tax on the annuity shall also be paid without
deduction of tax and the trustees shall be entitled to repayment of the
tax paid by deduction or otherwise on such an amount of the income
of the trust as is equal to the total of the annuity and the sums so paid;
(iii) the Commissioner may authorize the trustees on payment of any
annuity other than an annuity directed to be paid free of tax to deduct,
from the amount of such annuity, tax at a rate lower than the rate paid or payable
on the income, or no tax, and thereupon the trustees shall deduct from the amount
of any such annuity so paid tax at the lower rate, or no tax, as the case may be.
(2) For the purposes of this section, where an annuity is not payable out of
income of specified assets, it shall be deemed to be payable out of income liable to
tax under this Act to the extent to which such income is available for the payment
thereof.
(3) Where section 11(2)(a) applies the trustee shall furnish each person to
whom or on whose behalf amounts are paid in a year of income with a certificate
setting out the gross amount of the payments, the amount of tax appropriate
thereto, and the net amount so paid in such year of income.
37. Deductions of tax from emoluments
(1) An employer paying emoluments to an employee shall deduct therefrom,
and account for tax thereon, to such extent and in such manner as may be
prescribed.
(2) If an employer paying emoluments to an employee fails—
(a) to deduct tax thereon;
(b) to account for tax deducted thereon; or
(c) to supply the Commissioner with a certificate provided by rules
prescribing the certificate,
the Commissioner may impose a penalty equal to twenty-five per cent of the
amount of tax involved or ten thousand shillings whichever is greater, and the
provisions of this Act relating to the collection and recovery of that tax shall also
apply to the collection and recovery of the penalty as if it were tax due from the
employer:
Provided that, instead of the Commissioner imposing a penalty under this
subsection, a prosecution may be instituted for an offence under section 109(1)(j).
(3) Deleted by Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 17.
(4) Any tax deducted under this section from the emoluments of an employee
shall be deemed to have been paid by that employee and shall be set-off for the
purposes of collection against tax charged on that employee in respect of those

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emoluments in any assessment for the year of income in which such emoluments
are received.
(5) Where a person who is required under this section to deduct tax fails to
remit the amount of any deduction to such person as the Commissioner may direct
within the time limit specified in rules made under section 130, the provisions of
this Act relating to the collection and recovery of tax, and the payment of interest
thereon, shall apply to the collection and recovery of that amount as if it were tax
due and payable by that person, the due date for the payment of which is the date
specified in rules made under section 130 by which that amount should have been
remitted to the payee.
(5A) An employer aggrieved by the imposition of a penalty by the Commissioner
or any other decision taken by the Commissioner under this section may, by notice
in writing to the Commissioner, within thirty days, object to such imposition or
decision.
(5B) The provisions of this Act in respect of objections shall, mutatis mutandis,
apply to objections under this section.
(6) Deleted by Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 10(a).
(7) Deleted by Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 10(b).
[Act No. 7 of 1976, s. 2, Act No. 1 of 1982, s. 3, Act No. 8 of 1983, s. 15, Act No. 8 of 1997,
s. 39, Act No. 5 of 1998, s. 37, Act No. 9 of 2000, s. 47, Act No. 8 of 2008, s. 34, Act No. 10
of 2010, s. 26, Act No. 29 of 2015, Sch., Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 10, Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 17.]

37A. Penalty for failure to make deductions under section 35, 36 or 37

Where a corporate body which is required to make a deduction under sections
35, 36 or 37, fails to remit the deducted amount as required or directed by the
Commissioner, every director and every officer of the corporate body concerned
with the management thereof, shall be guilty of an offence, unless he proves to
the satisfaction of the Court that he did not know, and could not reasonably be
expected to know that the deducted amount had not been remitted and that he
took all reasonable steps to ensure that the offence was not committed, and shall
be liable to a fine of not less than ten thousand shillings but not more than two
hundred thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years,
or to both.
[Act No. 8 of 1991, s. 63.]

38. Application to Government

The provisions of this Part relating to deduction of tax shall bind the
Government.
C–Set-off of Tax
39. Set-off of tax
(1) An amount of tax which—
(a) has been deducted under section 17A (in respect of a person other
than an individual), sections 35, 36 or 37; or
(b) has been borne by a trustee, executor or administrator in his capacity
as such on an amount paid as income to a beneficiary, shall be
deemed to have been paid by the person chargeable with that tax and
shall be set off for the purposes of collection against the tax charged
on that person for the year of income in respect of which it was

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deducted, and where an assessment is made by the Commissioner

on a person for a year of income under section 73 the amount of
tax which has already been paid under a provisional assessment on
that person for that year of income shall be set off for the purposes
of collection against the tax charged in the assessment made under
section 73;
(c) has been paid by a person under section 12A.
(2) If any citizen of Kenya chargeable to tax in Kenya for any year of income on
employment income or income in respect of any activity under section 10 (1)(e) of
this Act accrued in or derived from another country proves to the satisfaction of the
Commissioner that he has paid tax in such other country for such year of income
in respect of the same income, he shall be entitled to set-off by way of credit of the
same tax against the tax charged in Kenya on such income.
(3) The tax chargeable on the income of any person in respect of which set-off
is to be allowed under this section shall be taken to be the amount by which the tax
chargeable (before set-off under this section) in respect of his employment income
or income specified under section 10 (1)(e) is increased by the inclusion of such
income in his employment income or income specified under section 10(1)(e).
(4) Credit under this section shall not exceed the amount of tax payable in
Kenya on such employment income or income in respect of any activity under
section 10(1) (e).
[Act No. 20 of 1989, Sch., Act No. 7 of 1990, Sch., Act No. 6 of 2001, s. 50,
Act No. 9 of 2007, s. 24, Act No. 8 of 2008, s. 35, Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 18.]

39A. Repealed
Repealed by Act No. 8 of 2009, s. 26.
39B. Set-off tax rebate for apprenticeships
(1) Any employer who engages at least ten university or technical and
vocational education and training graduates as apprentices for a period of six to
twelve months during any year of income shall be eligible for tax rebate in the year
subsequent to the year of such engagement.
(2) The Cabinet Secretary may by notice in the Gazette make regulations for
the better carrying out of the provisions of this section.
[Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 13, Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 14.]

D-Double Taxation Relief

40. Repealed
Repealed by Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9(m).
41. Special arrangements for relief from double taxation
(1) Every special arrangement for relief from double taxation made with the
Government of any country outside of the Republic of Kenya with a view of affording
relief from double taxation in relation to income tax and any taxes of similar
character imposed by the laws of that country shall, subject to subsection (2) but
notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary in this Act or in any other written
law, have effect in relation to income tax, and every such agreement shall be
subject to the provisions of the Treaty Making and Ratification Act, 2012.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), where an arrangement made under this section
provides that income derived from Kenya is exempt or excluded from tax, or the

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application of the arrangement results in a reduction in the rate of Kenyan tax, the
benefit of that exemption, exclusion, or reduction shall not be available to a person
who, for the purposes of the arrangement, is a resident of the other contracting
state if fifty per cent or more of the underlying ownership of that person is held by
a person or persons who are not residents of that other contracting state for the
purposes of the agreement.
(3) Subsection (2) shall not apply if the resident of the other contracting state
is a company listed in a stock exchange in that other contracting state.
(4) In this section, the terms "person" and "underlying ownership" have the
respective meanings assigned to them in the Ninth Schedule.
[Act No. 7 of 1976, s. 2, Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 12, Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 15.]

41A. Agreements for exchange of information

The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, from time to time declare
that arrangements made with the government of any country with the view of
exchanging information relating to income tax or other taxes of a similar character
imposed by the laws of that country, shall, notwithstanding anything to the contrary
in this Act or any other written law, have effect in relation to income tax, and that
notice shall, subject to the provisions of this section, have effect accordingly.
[Act No. 4 of 2012, s. 17, Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 16.]

42. Computation of credits under special arrangements

(1) This section shall have effect where, under a special arrangement, foreign
tax payable in respect of income derived by a person resident in Kenya is to be
allowed as a credit against tax chargeable in respect of that income.
(2) Deleted by Act No. 7 of 1976, s. 2.
(3) The tax chargeable upon the income of a person in respect of which a credit
is to be allowed under a special arrangement shall be the amount by which the
tax chargeable (before allowance of the credit) in respect of his total income is
increased by the inclusion of that income in his total income; but where foreign tax
is payable at different rates on different parts of the total income of that person, the
tax chargeable on that income shall be apportioned to each part in such amounts
as the Commissioner may determine to be just and reasonable.
(4) A credit shall not exceed the lesser of the tax computed in accordance with
subsection (3) of this section or the foreign tax chargeable upon the income in
respect of which the credit is to be allowed or upon each part of that income.
(5) Where—
(a) any special arrangement provides, in relation to dividends of some
classes but not in relation to dividends of other classes, that foreign
tax not charged directly or by deduction in respect of dividends is to be
taken into account in considering whether any, and if so, what, credit
is to be given against tax in respect of those dividends; and
(b) a dividend is paid which is not of a class to which those arrangements
so apply,
then, if such dividend is paid to a company which controls, directly or indirectly,
not less than one half of the voting power in the company paying the dividend, a
credit shall be allowed as if such dividend were a dividend of a class in relation to
which such arrangements so provide.

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(6) A credit shall not be allowed under any special arrangement against tax
chargeable upon the income of any person for a year of income if he elects by
notice in writing to the Commissioner that credit shall not be allowed in the case
of his income for such year of income.
(7) Where the amount of a credit or exemption given under any special
arrangement is rendered excessive or insufficient by reason of an adjustment of
the amount of income tax, or tax of a similar nature, payable either in Kenya or
elsewhere, nothing in this Act limiting the time for the making of assessments or
claims for relief shall apply to any assessment or claim to which the adjustment
gives rise, being an assessment or claim made within six years from the time when
all such assessments, adjustments and other determinations have been made,
whether in Kenya or elsewhere, that are material in determining whether any and,
if so, what credit is to be given.
(8) In this section, "credit" means a credit mentioned in subsection (1).
[Act No. 7 of 1976, s. 2.]

43. Time limit

Subject to section 42(7) of this Act, any claim for an allowance by way of credit
under this Part shall be made to the Commissioner within six years from the end
of the year of income to which it relates.
PART VII – PERSONS ASSESSABLE
44. Wife’s income, etc.
Where under this Act the income of any person is chargeable to tax, then,
subject to this Act, such income shall be assessed on, and the tax thereon charged
on, such person.
45. Income of a person assessed on him
(1) The income of a married woman living with her husband shall be deemed to
be the income of the husband for the purpose of ascertaining his total income, and
shall be assessed on, and the tax thereon charged on, the husband; but that part
of the total amount of tax charged on the husband as bears the same proportion
to the total amount as the amount of the income of the wife bears to the amount
of the total income of the husband may, if due and not paid, be collected from the
wife or, if she is dead, from her executors or administrators, notwithstanding that
no assessment has been made upon her; and the provisions of this Act relating
to the collection and recovery of tax shall apply to that part of the tax as if it were
tax the due date for the payment of which is a date thirty days after the date of
a notice served on the wife, or her executors or administrators, as the case may
be, requiring payment:
Provided that the income of a married woman shall not be deemed to be the
income of the husband where such married woman opts to file a separate return
from that of her husband.
(2) Where a married woman is not living with her husband, then each spouse
shall, for the purposes of this Act, be treated as if he or she were unmarried.
(3) For the purposes of this Act, a married woman shall be treated as living
with her husband unless—
(a) they are separated under an order of a court of competent jurisdiction
or under any written agreement of separation; or

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(b) they are separated in such circumstances that the separation is likely
to be permanent; or
(c) she is a resident person and her husband is a non-resident person.
[Act No. 4 of 1999, s. 38, Act No. 6 of 2005, s. 28.]

46. Income of incapacitated person

The income of an incapacitated person shall be assessed on, and the tax
thereon charged on, such person in the name of his trustee, guardian, curator,
committee or receiver appointed by a court, in the same manner and to the like
amount as such incapacitated person would have been assessed and charged if
he were not an incapacitated person.
47. Income of non-resident person
(1) The income of a non-resident person shall be assessed on, and the
tax thereon charged on, such person either in his name or in the name of his
trustee, guardian, curator or committee, or of any attorney, factor, agent, receiver
or manager.
(2) The master of any ship, or the captain of any aircraft, owned or chartered
by a non-resident person who is chargeable to tax under section 9 of this Act shall
(though not to the exclusion of any other agent) be deemed the agent of such non-
resident person for the purposes of this section.
(3) Nothing in this section shall render a non-resident person assessable or
chargeable in the name of a broker, general commission agent or other agent
where such broker, general commission agent or other agent is not the normal
agent of the non-resident person.
48. Income of deceased person, etc.
(1) The income accrued to, or received prior to, the date of the death of a
deceased person which would, but for his death, have been assessed and charged
to tax on him for a year of income shall, subject to section 79(1)(d) of this Act, be
assessed on, and the tax charged on, his executors or administrators for such year
of income.
(2) Any amount received by the executors or administrators of such deceased
person which would, but for his death, have been his income for any year of income
shall be deemed to be income of his executors or administrators and shall be
assessed on, and the tax charged on them for such year of income.
(3) Where any executors or administrators distribute the estate of a deceased
person before any change in the rate of tax at which they are liable in respect of
a year of income, they shall not be liable in respect of any increased tax resultant
from that change.
49. Liability of joint trustees
Where two or more persons are trustees, then any assessment made on the
trustees in that capacity may be made on any one or more of them but each
trustee shall be jointly and severally liable for the payment of tax charged in the
assessment.
50. Liability of person in whose name income of another person assessed
Any person in whose name the income of any other person is assessable under
this Act shall be responsible, in relation to the assessment of such income, for
doing all such things that are under this Act required to be done by a person whose

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income is chargeable to tax, and shall be responsible for the payment of tax so
charged on him to the extent of any assets of such other person which are in his
possession on, or may come into his possession after, the date of the service of
a notice of assessment on him.
51. Indemnification of representative
A person responsible under this Act for the payment of tax on behalf of another
person may retain out of any money coming to his hands on behalf of such other
person so much thereof as is sufficient to pay such tax, and such person is hereby
indemnified against any claim whatsoever for all payments so made by him.
51A. Repealed
Repealed by Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 11.
PART VIII – RETURNS AND NOTICES
52. Returns of income and notice of chargeability
(1) The Commissioner may, by notice in writing, require a person to furnish him
within a reasonable time, not being less than thirty days from the date of service
of the notice, with a return of income for any year of income containing a full and
true statement of the income of such person, including income deemed to be his
under this Act, liable to tax and of those particulars that may be required for the
purposes of this Act; and such return shall include a declaration signed by such
person, or by the person in whose name he is assessable, that such return is a
full and true statement:
Provided that in the case of a person carrying on a business has made a
provisional return of income, the return of income under this subsection may be
made within a period not exceeding nine months from the date to which he makes
up the accounts of such business.
(2) In the case of the executors or administrators of a deceased person, or of
the liquidator of a resident company, or of a bankrupt, or of a person whom the
Commissioner has reason to believe is about to leave Kenya, the Commissioner
may, by notice in writing, require him to furnish a return of income at any time
whether before or after the end of the year of income to which such return relates.
(3) Every person chargeable to tax for a year of income who—
(a) within four months after the end of such year of income; or
(b) being a person carrying on a business the accounting period for which
ends on some day other than 31st December in such year of income,
has not made a provisional return of income for that year of income
within four months of the end of such accounting period, has not been
required to make a return of income for such year of income under
subsection (1) shall, within fourteen days after the expiration of the
period of four months, give notice in writing to the Commissioner that
he is so chargeable:
Provided that an employee shall not be required to give notice—
(i) if he had no income chargeable to tax for such year of income other
than from emoluments; and
(ii) if the tax payable in respect of those emoluments has been recovered
by deduction under section 37 of this Act.

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(4) Where any business is carried on by two or more persons in partnership,

the Commissioner may, by notice in writing, require the precedent resident partner,
that is the partner who, of the resident partners—
(a) is first named in the agreement of partnership; or
(b) if there be no agreement, is specified by name or initials singly,
or with precedence to the other partners, in the usual name of the
partnership; or
(c) is first named in any statement required for the purposes of
registration of the business under any law of Kenya; or
(d) is the precedent resident active partner if the partner named with
precedence is not an active partner, to furnish him within a reasonable
time, not being less than thirty days from the date of service of such
notice, with a return of income of the partnership, ascertained under
this Act as if the partnership were a person liable to tax, for any year
of income prior to that in which the notice is served containing a full
and true statement of the income and of such particulars as may
be required for the purposes of this Act, including the names and
addresses of the partners together with the amount of the share of the
income to which each partner was entitled for such year of income.
52A. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 8 of 1996, s. 40.
52B. Final return with self-assessment
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act—
(a) every individual chargeable to tax under this Act shall for any year
of income commencing with the year of income 1992, furnish to the
Commissioner a return of income, including a self-assessment of his
tax from all sources of income, not later than the last day of the sixth
month following the end of his year of income; and
(b) every person, other than an individual chargeable to tax under the Act,
st
shall for any accounting period commencing on or after 1 January,
1992, furnish to the Commissioner a return of income, including a self-
assessment of his tax on such income, not later than the last day of
the sixth month following the end of the year of income.
(2) The return of income together with the declared self-assessment of tax
on the declared income, shall be prepared on such a form or forms as shall be
prescribed by the Commissioner.
(3) The declared self-assessment shall be calculated by reference to the
appropriate relief and rates of tax in force for the year of income.
(4) Every company liable to tax under this Act, shall also include with the self-
assessment and return of income an assessment and return of any compensating
tax due with respect to such tax year and the compensating tax so calculated shall
be payable at the due date for the self-assessment.
(5) The Commissioner may, where he considers appropriate, send to any
person to whom this section applies in respect of any year of income a form
or forms to enable that person to furnish the required return; and failure by the

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Commissioner to send the return form or forms shall not affect the obligation of that
person to furnish the required return by the date specified in this section.
[Act No. 8 of 1991, s. 64, Act No. 9 of 1992, s. 48, Act No. 4 of 1993, s. 46, Act No. 8
of 1997, s. 41, Act No. 7 of 2002, s. 44, Act No. 4 of 2012, s. 19, Act No. 57 of 2012, s. 18.]

53. Repealed
Repealed by Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 13.
54. Documents to be included in return of income
(1) Where any person who carries on any business makes a return of income
for any year of income, and accounts of his business for any accounting period
relating to such year of income have been prepared or examined by another person
in a professional capacity, then he shall furnish with such return of income—
(a) a copy of such accounts signed by himself and by such other person
together with a certificate signed by such other person—
(i) where such accounts were prepared by such other person,
specifying the nature of the books of accounts and documents
from which the accounts were so prepared; and
(ii) stating whether and subject to what reservations, if any, he
considers that such accounts present a true and fair view of the
gains or profits from such business for that accounting period;
(b) in the case of a company or partnership, a certificate specifying the
nature and amounts of all payments of whatever kind made, and the
nature of any benefit, advantage, or facility of whatever kind granted,
in the case of a company to the directors thereof and to employees
whose emoluments are at the rate of eighty thousand shillings a year
or more, or, in the case of a partnership, to the partners; and the
certificate shall be signed by a majority of the directors or partners (of
whom one shall be the partner who signed the return of income of the
partnership), as the case may be, or, if there are less than three such
directors or partners, by all such directors or partners:
Provided that, in the case of a company, other than a private company, or a
wholly owned subsidiary of such a company, the certificate referred to in paragraph
(b) of this subsection shall not be furnished unless the Commissioner in a particular
case so requires.
(2) The Commissioner may, by notice in writing, require any person who has
made a return of income and to whom subsection (1) of this section applies to
furnish him within a reasonable time, not being less than thirty days from the date
of service of such notice, with a certificate signed by the professional person who
prepared or examined the accounts a copy of which was sent with such return—
(a) stating whether to the best of his knowledge and belief the certificate
referred to in subsection (1)(b) is true and correct;
(b) where such accounts were prepared by such professional person,
recording the extent of his verification of the books of account and
documents produced to him;
(c) where such accounts were examined by such professional person,
specifying the nature of the books of account and documents
produced to him and the extent of his examination thereof.

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(3) Where any professional person refuses to give any certificate referred to
in subsection (1) or (2) of this section he shall furnish to the person who made
the return a statement in writing of his refusal and of the reasons therefor and the
person who made such return shall send such statement to the Commissioner.
(4) Where any person who carries on any business makes a return of income
for a year of income and accounts of his business for any accounting period relating
to such year of income have not been prepared or examined by another person
in a professional capacity, then he shall furnish with such return of income such
accounts of his business for the accounting period relating to that year of income
as are necessary to support the information contained in the return together with—
(a) a certificate signed by himself—
(i) specifying the nature of the books of account and documents
from which the accounts were prepared;
(ii) stating whether the accounts reflect all the transactions of his
business and present a true and fair view of the gains or profits
from such business for such period;
(b) in the case of a company or partnership, a certificate specifying the
nature and amounts of all payments of whatever kind made to, and the
nature of any benefit, advantage, or facility, of whatever kind, granted,
in the case of a company, to the directors thereof and to employees
whose emoluments are at the rate of forty thousand shillings a year
or more, or, in the case of a partnership, to the partners; and the
certificate shall be signed by a majority of the directors or partners
(of whom one shall be the partner who signed the return of income of
the partnership), as the case may be, or, if there are less than three
directors or partners, by all the directors or partners.
(4A) Deleted by Act No. 57 of 2012, s. 19.
(4B) Deleted by Act No. 57 of 2012, s. 19.
(5) For the purposes of this section—
"accounts" means a balance sheet or statement of assets and liabilities, and a
trading account, profit and loss account, receipts and payments accounts, or other
similar account however named;
"professional person", in the case of a company, means a holder of a
practicing certificate or a written authority to practice issued in accordance with the
provisions of the Accountants Act (Cap. 531).
[Act No. 13 of 1979, s. 5, Act No. 18 of 1979, Sch., Act No. 4 of 1993, s. 47, Act No. 6
of 2001, s. 51, Act No. 4 of 2004, s. 52, Act No. 8 of 2008, s. 36, Act No. 57 of 2012, s. 19.]

54A. Keeping of records of receipts, expenses, etc.

(1) A person carrying on a business shall keep records of all receipts and
expenses, goods purchased and sold and accounts, books, deeds, contracts and
vouchers which in the opinion of the Commissioner, are adequate for the purpose
of computing tax.
(1A) For the purposes of this section, the carrying on of business includes any
activity giving rise to income other than employment income.
(2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of subsection (1) shall be liable
to such penalty, not exceeding twenty thousand shillings, as the Commissioner
may deem fit to impose.
[Act No. 8 of 1996, s. 41, Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 14.]

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54B. Supply of information upon change in particulars

Every person carrying on a business shall notify the Commissioner of any
changes in the following particulars within thirty days of the occurrence of the
change—
(a) the place of business, trading name and contact address;
(b) in the case of —
(i) an incorporated person, of the persons with shareholding of ten
per cent or more of the issued share capital;
(ii) a nominee ownership, to disclose the beneficial owner of the
shareholding;
(iii) a trust, full identity and address details of trustees, settlors and
beneficiaries of the trust;
(iv) a partnership, the identity and address of all partners; or
(v) cessation or sale of business, all relevant information regarding
liquidation or details of new ownership.
[Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 15.]

55. Books and accounts

(1) Where a person appearing to be chargeable with tax fails or refuses to
keep the records, books or accounts which, in the opinion of the Commissioner
are adequate for the purpose of computing tax, the Commissioner may, by notice
in writing, require that person to keep such records, books, and accounts, and to
keep them in such language, specified in the notice.
(2) Every person carrying on a business shall preserve every book of account,
and every document which is essential to the explanation of any entry in any book
of account, relating to the business for a period of not less than ten years after the
year of income to which that book of account or document relates:
Provided that, subject to section 56, this section shall not require the
preservation of a document or book of account—
(i) in respect of which the Commissioner has notified that person in
writing that its preservation is not required; or
(ii) in the case of a company which has gone into liquidation and has
been finally dissolved or in the case of the cessation of a business
other than one carried on by a company, for more than three months
after the date on which the person having custody of the documents
or books of account relating to the company or business as the case
may be, informs the Commissioner that he proposes to destroy them.
For the purposes of this section the “record” means records of all receipts and
expenses, goods purchased and sold and accounts, books, deeds contract and
vouchers.
56. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
57. Return as to salaries, pensions, etc.
(1) The Commissioner may, by notice in writing, require any employer or
any other person making the payments herein referred to, to furnish him within

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reasonable time, not being less than thirty days from the date of service of such
notice, with a return containing—
(a) the names and addresses of all persons to whom or in respect of
whom payments and allowances were made by him in respect of their
employment, and the amounts of the payments and allowances made
to each of such persons;
(b) the names and addresses of all persons to whom he paid pensions
in respect of past employment with him or with any other person and
the amount of the pension paid to each of such persons:
Provided that the Commissioner may by notice in writing exclude from the return
any class of person or payment or allowance.
(2) For the purposes of this section, references in subsection (1) thereof—
(a) to payments and allowances made to persons in respect of their
employment include all payments, and all benefits, advantages and
facilities which are referred to in section 5(2)(a), (b), (c) and (e) of this
Act;
(b) to persons employed include, in relation to a company, a director of
that company.
(3) By notice published in two successive issues of the Gazette, the
Commissioner may require all employers, or any employer or class of employer,
to furnish him within a reasonable time, not being less than thirty days from the
date of publication of the second notice, with a written return containing the name
and address of the employer and the number of this employees from whose
emoluments tax is to be deducted in accordance with section 37 and with such
other information as the Commissioner may by that notice require.
58. Return as to fees, commissions, royalties, etc.
(1) The Commissioner may, by notice in writing, require a person carrying on
any business to furnish him within a reasonable time, not being less than thirty days
from the date of service of such notice, with a return of all payments made by such
person of any kind specified in the notice, being—
(a) payments made in the course of the business for services rendered,
or in anticipation of services to be rendered, by persons not employed
in such business; or
(b) payments for services rendered, or in anticipation of services to be
rendered, in connexion with the formation, acquisition, development,
or disposal of the business or a part of it, by persons not employed
in such business; or
(c) periodical or lump sum payments in respect of any royalty.
(2) A return made under this section shall give the names and addresses of all
persons to whom payments were made, the amounts of the payments and such
other particulars as may be specified in the notice.
(3) For the purposes of this section—
(a) references to payments for services include references to payments
in the nature of commission of any kind and references to payments
in respect of expenses incurred in connexion with the rendering of
services; and

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(b) references to the making of payments include references to the giving

of any form of valuable consideration,
and the requirement imposed by subsection (2) to state the amount of a
payment shall, in relation to any consideration given otherwise than in the form of
money, be construed as a requirement to give particulars of the consideration.
59. Occupier’s return of rent
The Commissioner may, by notice in writing, require any person who is the
occupier of premises to furnish him within a reasonable time, not being less than
thirty days from the date of service of such notice, with a return containing—
(a) the name and address of the owner or lessor of such premises; and
(b) a full and true statement of the rent or any other consideration payable
for the occupation thereof.
60. Return of lodgers and inmates
The Commissioner may, by notice in writing, require a person who provides
accommodation for any lodger or inmate to furnish him within a reasonable time,
not being less than thirty days from the date of service of such notice, with a
return containing the name of every lodger or inmate who is at the date of the
notice resident in his house, hotel or institution, and who has (except for temporary
absences) been so resident throughout the three months prior to such date of the
notice.
61. Return of income received on account of other persons
The Commissioner may, by notice in writing, at any time require any person who
is in receipt of income as the representative of, or on behalf of, any other person
who is chargeable to tax in respect thereof, or who would be so chargeable if he
were a resident person, to furnish him within a reasonable time, not being less than
thirty days from the date of service of such notice, with a return containing—
(a) a full and true statement of the income; and
(b) the name and address of the person to whom it belongs.
62. Return as to income exempt from tax
The Commissioner may, by notice in writing, require a person to furnish him
within a reasonable time, not being less than thirty days from the date of service of
such notice, with a return containing a full and true statement—
(a) of all the income of that person which is exempt from tax or which
such person claims to be so exempt;
(b) of all such particulars as the Commissioner may specify in such notice
in relation to such income and in relation to any assets from which
that income is derived.
63. Return in relation to settlements
The Commissioner may, by notice in writing, require the trustees of, or a party
to, a settlement referred to in section 25 or 26 of this Act to furnish him within a
reasonable time, not being less than thirty days from the date of service of such
notice, with a return containing such particulars as he may consider necessary for
the purposes of those sections.

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64. Return in relation to registered pension fund, etc.

The Commissioner may, by notice in writing, require the trustees of a registered
pension fund or pension scheme and an employer who contributes to any such
fund to furnish him within a reasonable time, not being less than thirty days from
the date of service of such notice, with a return containing—
(a) the name and place of residence of every person in receipt of any
payment made under the regulations of such fund or scheme;
(b) the amount and nature of any such payment;
(c) a copy of the accounts of any such fund or scheme up to the last date
prior to such notice to which such accounts have been made up; and
(d) such further information and particulars in connexion with any
such fund or scheme or the regulations relating thereto as the
Commissioner may require.
65. Return of annuity contract benefits
The Commissioner may, by notice in writing, at any time require any person
by whom benefits are payable under any annuity contract to furnish him within a
reasonable time, not being less than thirty days from the date of service of such
notice, with a return giving the full name and address of each person to whom any
annuity has been paid and the amount of the annuity so paid during any year of
income.
66. Return of resident company dividends
The Commissioner may, by notice in writing, at any time require any resident
company which pays a dividend to furnish him within a reasonable time, not being
less than thirty days from the date of service of such notice, with a return giving
the full name and address of each shareholder to whom such dividend was paid
and, in respect of each shareholder, full particulars of his shareholding at the date
of declaration of such dividend, the gross amount paid or payable to him, the tax
deducted thereupon and such other particulars that the Commissioner may require,
as notified generally by notice published in the Gazette or as specified by notice in
writing to any particular resident company.
67. Return as to interest paid or credited by banks, etc.
(1) The Commissioner may, by notice in writing, require any person carrying
on a business who, in the ordinary course of the operations thereof, receives or
retains money in such circumstances that interest becomes payable thereon, and
in particular, any person carrying on the business of banking, to furnish him within
a reasonable time, not being less than thirty days from the date of service of such
notice, with a return of all interest paid or credited by such person during a year
specified in such notice in the course of his business, or any part of his business as
may be so specified, on money received or retained in Kenya giving the names and
addresses of the persons to whom the interest was paid or credited and stating, in
each case, the amount of the interest:
Provided that the year specified in such notice shall not be a year ending more
than three years before the date of the service of the notice.
(2) Without prejudice to the powers conferred by subsection (1) of this section, a
separate notice may be served under that subsection as respects the transactions
carried on at any branch of a business that may be specified in such notice, and
any such separate notice shall, if served on the manager or other person in charge

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CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
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of such branch, be deemed to have been duly served on the person carrying on the
business, and where a separate notice is so served as respects the transactions
carried on at any branch, any notice subsequently served under subsection (1) on
the person carrying on the business shall not be deemed to extend to a transaction
to which such separate notice extends.
(3) This section shall, with any necessary adaptation, apply in relation to any
Kenya Post Office Savings Bank, and shall have effect notwithstanding anything
in any written law precluding the disclosure of the name of a depositor or of
information in relation to his deposit.
[Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9.]

68. Return as to dividends paid by building societies

(1) The Commissioner may, by notice in writing, require any building society to
furnish him within a reasonable time, not being less than thirty days from the date
of service of such notice, with a return of dividends paid or credited during a year
specified in the notice in respect of shares held—
(a) in the case of a foreign building society, by a person who is resident
in Kenya; and
(b) in the case of a resident building society, by any person,
Provided that and any such return shall give the names and addresses of the
persons to whom the dividends were paid or credited and shall state, in each case,
the amount of the dividends: the year specified in any such notice shall not be a
year ending more than three years before the date of the service of the notice.
(2) For the purposes of this section—
"foreign building society" means a building society registered under section
75 of the Building Societies Act (Cap. 489);
"resident building society" means a building society registered under section
6 of the said Act.
69. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
70. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
71. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
72. Repealed
Repealed by Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 12.
72A. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
72B. Penalty for the negligence of authorized tax agent
(1) Where the additional tax charged under sections 72 and 72A results from the
failure, omission, claim, statement or deduction which arises due to the negligence
or disregard of law by a person who is an authorised tax agent, such a person
shall be liable to a penalty equal to one half of such additional tax but in any case
not less than one thousand shillings and not exceeding fifty thousand shillings with

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[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
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respect to each such return, statement or other document as shall be the subject
of such additional tax.
[Act No. 8 of 1991, s. 65, Act No. 4 of 1993, s. 50.]

72C. Penalty on underpayment of instalment tax

(1) Subject to the Twelfth Schedule, a penalty of twenty per cent of the
difference between the amount of instalment tax payable in respect of a year of
income as specified in section 12, and the instalment tax actually paid multiplied
by one hundred and ten per cent shall be payable.
(2) Where the Commissioner is satisfied that the difference referred to in
subsection (1) was due to reasonable cause, he may remit the whole or part of the
penalty payable under this section, and where for a year of income the difference
arises wholly or partly from an estimate of tax to be charged made before any
change in any allowance, relief or rate of tax, the Commissioner may remit the
interest charged thereon to the extent to which it is attributable to such a change:
Provided that—
(a) the Commissioner may remit up to a maximum of one million five
hundred thousand shillings per person per annum of the penalty or
interest; and
(b) the Commissioner may remit any amount of penalty or interest in
excess of one million five hundred thousand shillings with the prior
written approval of the Minister; and
(c) the Commissioner shall make a quarterly report to the Minister of all
penalties and interest remitted during that quarter.
[Act No. 4 of 1993, s. 51, Act No. 8 of 1997, s.
44, Act No. 9 of 2000, s. 50, Act No. 4 of 2012, s. 20.]

72D. Repealed
Repealed by Act No. 23 of 2019, s. 13.
PART IX – ASSESSMENTS
73. Assessments
(1) Save as otherwise provided, the Commissioner shall assess every person
who has income chargeable to tax as expeditiously as possible after the expiry of
the time allowed to such person under this Act for the delivery of a return of income.
(2) Where a person has delivered a return of income, the Commissioner may—
(a) (i) accept the return and deem the amount that person has
declared as his self assessment in which case no further
notification need be given; or
(ii) where the return is in respect of a year of income prior to 1992,
accept that return and assess him on the basis thereof;
(b) if he has reasonable cause to believe that such return is not true and
correct, determine, according to the best of his judgment, the amount
of the income of that person and assess him accordingly.
(3) Where a person has not delivered a return of income for any year of income,
whether or not he has been required by the Commissioner so to do, and the
Commissioner considers that the person has income chargeable to tax for that
year, he may, according to the best of his judgment, determine the amount of the
income of that person and assess him accordingly; but such assessment shall not

95
CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
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affect any liability otherwise incurred by such person under this Act in consequence
of his failure to deliver the return.
[Act No. 8 of 1991, s. 66, Act No. 6 of 1994, s. 43.]

74. Repealed
Repealed by Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 17.
74A. Instalment assessment
(1) Without prejudice to his powers under section 73, Commissioner may
proceed to make an instalment assessment for tax under section 12 in respect of
any person after the expiry of the time allowed to that person under this Act for the
payment of instalment tax; and
(2) When a person has paid instalment tax under section 12 he shall thereupon
be deemed to have been assessed for the purpose of instalment tax under this
section on the basis of the amount of instalment tax paid; and
(3) Where a person has not paid instalment tax for a year of income and the
Commissioner considers that the person has or will have income chargeable to tax
for that year, he may, according to the best of his judgment, estimate the income
of that person and make an instalment assessment upon him accordingly.
[Act No. 10 of 1990, s. 54, Act No. 8 of 1996, s. 42, Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 18.]

74B. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
75. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
75A. Repealed
Repealed by Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 13.
75B. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
76. Assessment not to be made on certain employees
The Commissioner shall not assess an employee for any year of income—
(a) if such employee had no income chargeable to tax for such year of
income other than income consisting of emoluments; and
(b) if on the basis of such emoluments and the personal reliefs to which
such employee is entitled the tax payable by that employee in respect
of those emoluments has been recovered by deduction under section
37 of this Act, unless, prior to the expiry of seven years after that
year of income, such employee applies to the Commissioner to be
assessed, whether in connexion with a claim for repayment of tax
or otherwise, or the Commissioner considers an assessment to be
necessary or expedient so as to arrive at the correct amount of the
tax to be charged upon or to be payable by such employee for such
year of income.

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[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
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76A. Assessment not to be made on certain incomes

The Commissioner shall not assess any person for any year of income on that
portion of income which has been subject to withholding tax which is also a final tax.
[Act No. 8 of 1991, s. 67.]

77. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
78. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
79. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
80. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
81. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
PART X – OBJECTIONS, APPEALS AND RELIEF FOR MISTAKES
82. Repealed
Repealed by Act No. 40 of 2013, s. 42.
83. Repealed
Repealed by Act No. 40 of 2013, s. 42.
84. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
85. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
86. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
87. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
88. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
89. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
90. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
91. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.

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CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
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91A. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
PART XI – COLLECTION, RECOVERY AND REPAYMENT OF TAX
92. Time within which payment is to be made
(1) Save as otherwise provided by this Act and any rules made thereunder,
tax charged in any assessment shall be due and payable in accordance with this
section.
(2) The tax charged in an assessment other than a provisional assessment
shall be due and payable—
(a) in the case of an individual—
(i) where the date of service of an assessment made under section
st
73(2)(a) is before 31 August in the year following the year of
th
income in respect of which the tax is charged, on or before 30
September in that following year; and
(ii) in all other cases within thirty days from the date of the service
of the notice of such assessment;
(b) in the case of a person, other than an individual—
(i) where the date of service of an assessment made under section
st
73(2)(a) is before 31 May in the year following the year of
th
income in respect of which the tax is charged, on or before 30
June in that following year; and
(ii) in all other cases, within thirty days from the date of service of
the notice of the assessment.
(2A) Where an instalment assessment is made for any year of income on any
person under section 74A, the tax charged thereunder shall be due and payable on
or before the twentieth day of the months in the current year of income as specified
in the Twelfth Schedule:
Provided that where the instalment assessment is made under section 74A (3),
the tax shall be due and payable within thirty days of service of the notice of that
assessment.
(2B) Where the Commissioner makes an instalment assessment under section
74A (3), the amount payable in that assessment for the purpose of section 94 shall
be deemed to be tax remaining unpaid after the date on which interest under the
section may be charged.
(3) Deleted by Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 19.
(4) Deleted by Act No. 8 of 1989, s. 21.
(4A) Where a person has notified the Commissioner in writing as required by
section 53(3), the provisional tax shall be due and payable within thirty days after
the date of service by the Commissioner of the provisional assessment.
(5) In the case of a company which is being wound up, the due dates for
payment of tax on any income charged for the year of income in which the winding-
up commences and for the preceding year of income shall be deemed for the
purpose of priority of debts but for that purpose only, to be the date next before the
date of the winding-up order or the resolution, special resolution or extraordinary

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[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
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resolution, as the case may be, passed for the winding-up of the company, and
whether or not assessments have been made before that date.
(6) Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
(7) Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
(8) Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
[Act No. 2 of 1975, s. 5, Act No. 7 of 1976, s. 2, Act No. 13 of 1979, s. 5,
Act No. 8 of 1989, s. 21, Act No. 10 of 1990, s. 55, Act No. 4 of 1993, s. 54, Act
No. 7 of 2002, s. 47, Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 19, Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.]

92A. Due date for payment of tax under self-assessment

(1) Where any person is required to furnish a return under section 52B, the
tax chargeable thereunder shall be due and payable on the last day of the fourth
month following the end of the year of income or accounting period.
(2) Where the Commissioner makes an additional assessment under section
73(2)(b), the tax charged thereunder shall be deemed to have been due and
payable on the last day of the fourth month following the end of the year of income
or accounting period.
[Act No. 8 of 1991, s. 69, Act No. 4 of 1993, s. 54, Act No. 8
of 1997, s. 46, Act No. 5 of 1998, s. 38, Act No. 4 of 2004, s. 56.]

93. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
94. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
95. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
95A. Repealed
Repealed by Act No. 4 of 1993, s. 56.
96. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
96A. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
97. Deceased persons
Where a person dies, then to the extent to which—
(a) tax charged in an assessment made upon him has not been paid; or
(b) his executors are charged to tax in an assessment made under
section 48 of this Act,
the amount of tax unpaid or charged, as the case may be, in the assessment
as finally determined shall be a debt due and payable out of his estate.
98. Repealed
Repealed by Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 14.
99. Repealed
Repealed by Act No. 9 of 2000, s. 53.

99
CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
Income Tax

100. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
101. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
102. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
103. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
104. Collection of tax from ship owner, etc.
(1) In addition to any other powers of collection of tax provided in this Act, the
Commissioner may, in a case where tax recoverable in the manner provided by
section 101 of this Act has been charged on the income of a person who carries on
the business of shipowner, charterer or air transport operator, issue to the proper
officer of Customs by whom clearance may be granted a certificate containing the
name of that person and the amount of the tax due and payable and on receipt of
that certificate the proper officer of Customs shall refuse clearance from any port
or airport in Kenya to any ship or aircraft owned by that person until the tax has
been paid.
(2) No civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted or maintained against the
proper officer of Customs or any other authority in respect of a refusal of clearance
under this section, nor shall the fact that a ship or aircraft is detained under this
section affect the liability of the owner, charterer or agent to pay harbour or airport
dues and charges for the period of detention.
105. Repealed
Repealed by Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 15.
106. Repayment of tax in respect of income accumulated under trusts
(1) Where under a will or settlement, other than a settlement to which section
25 or 26 of this Act applies, income (in this section referred to as the trust income)
arising from a fund is accumulated for the benefit of a person contingently on
his attaining some specified age or marrying then, if that person proves to the
satisfaction of the Commissioner that the contingency has happened, he shall, on
making to him a claim for that purpose, be entitled to have repaid to him a sum
equal to the amount by which the total amount of tax borne by the trust income
during the period of accumulation exceeds the total amount of additional tax which
would have been borne by him during that period if the trust income and the income
from any other fund subject to the same trust for accumulation had been included
in his total income; but in calculating that sum a deduction shall be made in respect
of tax borne by the trust fund and already repaid to him.
(2) A claim for repayment under this section shall be made in writing to the
Commissioner within six years after the expiry of the year of income in which the
contingency happened.

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PART XII – OFFENCES AND PENALTIES

107. General penalty
A person guilty of an offence under this Act for which no other penalty is
specifically provided shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand
shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.
[Act No. 8 of 1996, s. 43.]

108. Repealed
Repealed by Act No. 15 of 2017, s. 14.
109. Failure to comply with notice, etc.
(1) Any person shall be guilty of an offence if he, without reasonable excuse—
(a) fails to furnish a return or give a certificate as required by section 35
(5) of this Act; or
(b) fails to furnish a full and true return in accordance with the
requirements of any notice served on him under this Act or fails to give
notice to the Commissioner as required by section 52 (3) of this Act; or
(c) fails to furnish within the required time to the Commissioner or to any
other person any document which under this Act, or under a notice
served on him under this Act, he is required so to furnish; or
(d) fails to keep records, books or accounts in accordance with the
requirements of a notice served on him under section 55(1) of this
Act, or fails to keep those records, books or accounts in the language
specified in the notice; or
(e) fails to preserve a record, document or book of account in
contravention of section 55 (2) of this Act; or
(f) fails to produce a document for the examination of the Commissioner
in accordance with the requirements of a notice served on him under
this Act; or
(g) destroys, damages or defaces any accounts or other documents in
contravention of a notice served on him under section 56 (1) of this
Act; or
(h) fails to attend at a time and place in accordance with the requirements
of a notice served on him under this Act; or
(i) fails to answer any question lawfully put to him, or to supply any
information lawfully required from him, under this Act; or
(j) fails to deduct and account, or fails to account for tax, as provided by
section 37 of this Act, or fails to supply prescribed certificates as is
required by that section; or
(k) when requested by the Commissioner, fails to furnish the identifying
number required under section 132, or fails to include in any return,
in a statement or in other documents the identifying number when
required to do so.
(2) No prosecution for an offence under this section shall be instituted at any
time subsequent to two years after the date of the commission of the offence or, in
the case of the contravention of paragraph (d), (e) or (g) of subsection (1) after the

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CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
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date on which the fact of the commission of that offence came to the knowledge
of the Commissioner.
[Act No. 7 of 1976, s. 2, Act No. 8 of 1991, s. 72.]

110. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
111. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
112. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
113. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
114. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
115. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
116. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
117. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
118. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
119. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
120. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
121. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
PART XIII – ADMINISTRATION
122. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
123. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
123A. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
123B. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.

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[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
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123C. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
124. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
125. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
126. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
PART XIV – MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
127. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
127A. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
127B. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
127C. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
127D. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
127E. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
128. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
129. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.
130. Rules
The Minister may make rules prescribing anything which is to be prescribed
under, and generally for carrying out the provisions of, this Act.
131. Exemption from stamp duty
All securities of whatsoever nature over property, movable or immovable, and
all transfers of such property in favour of or by the Commissioner shall be exempt
from stamp duty.
132. Deleted
Deleted by Act No. 29 of 2015, 2nd Sch.

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133. Repeals and transitional

(1) This Act shall have effect notwithstanding any Act of the Community and
shall not be construed as being repealed by any Act of the Community enacted
hereafter.
(2) Subject to subsection (4) of this section, the East African Income Tax
Management Act (E.A. Cap. 24) shall, notwithstanding anything contained in the
Treaty for East African Co-operation Act (Cap. 4), cease to have the force of law
in Kenya with effect from 1st January, 1974.
(3) Subject to subsection (4) of this section, the Income Tax (Allowances and
Rates) (No. 2) Act, 1971 (Act No. 29 of 1971), is repealed.
(4) Notwithstanding subsections (2) and (3) of this section, the East African
Income Tax Management Act and the Income Tax (Allowances and Rates) (No. 2)
Act, 1971, shall remain in force for all purposes in relation to the year of income
1973 and previous years of income and the Income Tax (Allowances and Rates)
(No. 2) Act, 1971, shall be read and construed as if, when enacted, the Second
Schedule thereto contained the following additional paragraph—
"3. The non-resident tax rates shall be the rates set out in paragraph 1 of the
Third Schedule to this Act and for the purposes of this paragraph such rates shall
th
be charged from 18 June, 1971."
(5) The transitional provisions contained in the Sixth Schedule shall have effect
notwithstanding anything contained in this Act.
(6) Notwithstanding the repeal of the Second Schedule, the provisions of
st
paragraph 24 E of the repealed Schedule shall continue to be in force until 31
December, 2023.
(7) Subject to the provisions of section 12 of this Act, any investment allowance
on any written down values as at the date of commencement of this Act, shall be
claimed on a straight-line basis.
[Act No. 2 of 1975, s. 5, Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch,
Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 17, Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 19.]

FIRST SCHEDULE
[ss. 13 and 14]

EXEMPTIONS
[Sections 13 and 14, Act No. 13 of 1975, s. 2, Act No. 7 of 1976, s. 2, Act No.
12 of 1977, s. 5, Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9, Act No. 6 of 1981, s. 5, Act No. 8 of 1983,
s. 17, Act No. 13 of 1984, s. 21, Act No. 18 of 1984, s. 5, Act No. 8 of 1985, s. 14,
Act No. 10 of 1986, s. 33, Act No. 10 of 1987, s. 36, Act No. 3 of 1988, s. 43, Act
No. 10 of 1988, s. 34, Act No. 10 of 1990, s. 59, Act No. 8 of 1991, s. 74, Act No.
13 of 1995, s. 87, Act No. 8 of 1996, s. 44, Act No. 8 of 1997, s. 49, Act No. 5 of
1998, s. 39, Act No. 6 of 2001, s. 53, Act No. 10 of 2006, s. 29, Act No. 9 of 2007,
s. 27, Act No. 8 of 2008, s. 38, Act No. 10 of 2010, s. 32, Act No. 57 of 2012, s. 23,
Act No. 38 of 2013, s. 22, Act No. 16 of 2014, Act No. 14 of 2015, Act No. 38 of
2016, Act No. 11 of 2017, Act No. 15 of 2017, Act No. 9 of 2018, Sch., Act No. 23
of 2019, s. 14, Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch. Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 8, Act No. 8 of 2021,
s. 18. Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 20.]

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[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
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Part I - INCOME ACCRUED IN, DERIVED FROM OR

RECEIVED IN KENYA WHICH IS EXEMPT FROM TAX
1. So much of the income of a person as is expressly exempted from income tax
by or under the provisions of any Act of Parliament for the time being in force, to
the extent provided by such Act.
2. The income of any person who, or organization which, is exempt from income
tax by or under any Act of Parliament for the time being in force, to the extent
provided by such Act.
3. Deleted by Act No. 57 of 2012, s. 23(a).
4. Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.
5. Deleted by Act No. 13 of 1984, s. 21.
6. The income, other than income from investments, of an amateur sporting
association, that is to say, an association—
(a) whose sole or main object is to foster and control any outdoor sport;
and
(b) whose members consist only of amateurs or affiliated associations
the members of which consist only of amateurs; and
(c) whose memorandum of association or by-laws have provisions
defining an amateur or a professional and providing that no person
may be or continue to be a member of such association if such person
is not an amateur.
7. Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.
8. The income of any county government.
[Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 20.]

9. Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.

10. Subject to section 26, the income of an institution, body of persons or
irrevocable trust, of a public character established solely for the purposes of the
relief of the poverty or distress of the public, or for the advancement of religion or
education—
(a) established in Kenya; or
(b) whose regional headquarters is situated in Kenya,
in so far as the Commissioner is satisfied that the income is to be expended
either in Kenya or in circumstances in which the expenditure of that income is for
the purposes which result in the benefit of the residents of Kenya:
Provided that any such income which consists of gains or profits from a business
shall not be exempt from tax unless such gains or profits are applied solely to such
purposes and either—
(i) such business is carried on in the course of the actual execution of
such purposes;
(ii) the work in connexion with such business is mainly carried on by
beneficiaries under such purposes; or
(iii) such gains or profits consist of rents (including premiums or any
similar consideration in the nature of rent) received from the leasing

105
CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
Income Tax

or letting of land and any chattels leased or let therewith; and provided
further that an exemption under this paragraph—
(A) shall be valid for a period of five years but may be revoked by the
Commissioner for any just cause; and
(B) shall, where an applicant has complied with all the requirements of this
paragraph, be issued within sixty days of the lodging of the application.
[Act No. 13 of 1975, Act No. 6 of 2001, s. 53, Act No. 57 of 2012, s. 23(b).]

11. The income of any person from any management or professional fee, royalty
or interest when the Minister certifies that it is required to be paid free of tax by
the terms of an agreement to which the Government is a party either as principal
or guarantor and that it is in the public interest that such income shall be exempt
from tax.
12. The income of any registered pension scheme.
13. The income of any registered trust scheme.
14. The income of any registered pension fund.
15. The income of a registered provident fund.
16. The income from the investment of an annuity fund, as defined in section 19
of this Act, of an insurance company.
17. Pensions or gratuities granted in respect of wounds or disabilities caused in
war and suffered by the recipients of such pensions or gratuities.
18. Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.
19. Deleted by Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9.
20. Deleted by Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9.
21. Deleted by Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9.
22. That part of the income of any officer of the Government or of the Community
accrued in or derived from Kenya which consists of foreign allowances paid to such
officer from public funds in respect of his office:
Provided that, where any person to whom such an allowance is paid is granted
a deduction under section 15 of this Act in respect of any expenditure incurred in
relation to an activity for which the allowance is paid, then the exemption conferred
by this paragraph shall not apply to so much of such allowance as is equal to the
amount of such deduction.
23. The income of the East African Development Bank and of Corporations
established under Article 71 of the Treaty for East African Co-operation together
with the income of subsidiary companies wholly owned by that Bank or by any of
the said Corporations.
24. Deleted by Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9.
25. Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.
26. The emoluments—
(a) deleted by Act No. 38 of 2013, s. 22;
(b) of any person in the public service of the Government of that country
in respect of his office under that Government where such person is

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[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
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resident in Kenya solely for the purpose of performing the duties of

his office,
where such emoluments are payable from the public funds of such country and
are subject to income tax in such country.
27. The emoluments payable out of foreign sources in respect of duties performed
in Kenya in connexion with a technical assistance or other agreement for
developmental services or purpose to which the Government or the community is
a party to any non-resident person or to a person who is resident solely for the
purposes of performing those duties, in any case where the agreement provides
for the exemption of such emoluments.
28. Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.
29. Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.
30. Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.
31. Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.
32. Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.
33. Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.
34. Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.
35. Interest on a savings account held with the Kenya Post Office Savings Bank.
36. Such part of the income of an individual, chargeable to tax under section 3(2)
(f) as consists of a gain derived from the transfer of—
(a) deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.;
(b) deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.;
(c) a private residence if the individual owner has occupied the residence
continuously for the three-year period immediately prior to the transfer
concerned:
Provided that—
(i) in determining whether or not a person has occupied a
residence continuously for three years, any period during which
he was temporarily absent from the residence shall be ignored;
(ii) references to a private residence include the immediately
surrounding land utilized exclusively for personal purposes
as an adjunct to the residence and not for the production of
income, but does not include any part of the residence and land
utilized for business purposes;
(iii) no individual may claim or be taken to have used more than one
residence as his residence at the same time for the purposes
of this Act;
(iv) no individuals may claim or be taken to have used more than
one residence as their residence for the purposes of this Act at
any time when they were husband and wife living together;
(v) no individual shall claim or be taken to have used a residence
as a residence at any time when he was a dependant of either
or both of his parents;

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CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
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(vi) where a residence is used in part for business purposes, or is

transferred in a single transaction together with land and other
property used for the production of income, the taxable value of
such property used for residential purposes shall be separately
determined from that used for business purposes or for the
production of income;
(d) property (being land) transferred by an individual where—
(i) the transfer value is not more than three million shillings; or
(ii) agricultural property having an area of less than fifty acres
where such property is situated outside a municipality, gazetted
township or an area that is declared by the Minister, by notice
in the Gazette, to be an urban area for the purposes of this Act;
(e) deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.;
(f) property (including investment shares) which is transferred or sold for
the purpose of administering the estate of a deceased person where
the transfer or sale is completed within two years of the death of the
deceased or within such extended time as the Commissioner may
allow in writing:
Provided that where there is a court case regarding such estate the
period of transfer or sale under this paragraph shall be two years from
the date of the finalization of such court case.
(g) property, including investment shares, which is transferred or sold for
the purpose of transferring the title or the proceeds into a registered
family trust.
[Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 16(a), Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch, Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 18.]

37. Deleted by Act No. 57 of 2012, s. 23(c).

38. Deleted by Act No. 10 of 1987, s. 36.
39. Deleted by Act No. 10 of 1987, s. 36.
40. Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.
41. Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.
42. The income of a non-resident person who carries on the business of aircraft
owner, charterer or air transport operator, from such business where the country in
which such non-resident person is resident extends a similar exemption to aircraft
owners, charterers or air transport operators who are not resident in such country
but who are resident in Kenya.
43. The income of a registered individual retirement fund.
44. Deleted by Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 8.
[Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 8]

45. Income of the National Social Security Fund provided that the Fund complies
with such conditions as may be prescribed.
45A. The income of the National Hospital Insurance Fund established under the
National Hospital Insurance Fund Act, 1998 consisting of —
(a) all contributions and other payments into and out of the Fund; and

108
[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
Income Tax

(b) monies invested under section 34 of the Act.

[Act No. 11 of 2017, Sch.]

46. Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.

47. Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.
48. Gains arising from trade in securities listed on any securities exchange
operating in Kenya by any dealer licensed under the Capital Markets Authority Act
(Cap. 485A):
Provided that such securities have been held for a period not exceeding twenty-
four months from the date of acquisition.
49. Interest income accrued in or derived from Kenya under financial arrangements
made or guaranteed by the Export-Import Bank of the United States, an agency of
the United States of America.
(1) Investment income of a pooled fund or other kind of investment consisting of
retirement schemes, provided that all the constituent schemes of the pooled fund
are registered by the Commissioner.
(2) For the purposes of this paragraph, "pooled fund" has the meaning
assigned to it under the Retirement Benefit Act, 1997 (No. 3 of 1997).
[Act No. 10 of 2006, s. 29.]

51. Interest income accruing from all listed bonds, notes or other similar securities
used to raise funds for infrastructure and other social services, provided that such
bonds, notes or securities shall have a maturity of at least three years.
[Act No. 10 of 2006, s. 29, Act No. 10 of 2010, s. 32.]

52. Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.

53. Monthly pension granted to a person who is sixty-five years of age or more.
[Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 16, Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 8.]

54. Interest income on bonds issued by the East African Development Bank.
[Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 16.]

55. Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.

56. Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.
57. The income of the National Housing Development Fund.
[Act No. 23 of 2019, s. 14.]

57. The income or principal sum of a registered family trust.

[Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 18.]

58. Income earned by an individual who is registered under the Ajira Digital
st
Program for three years beginning 1 January, 2020;
Provided that —
(a) the individual shall qualify for the exemption upon payment of
registration fee of ten thousand shillings per annum; and
(b) the Cabinet Secretary shall, in consultation with the Cabinet
Secretary for the ministry responsible for information communication

109
CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
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technology, issue regulations for the better carrying out of this

provision.
[Act No. 23 of 2019, s. 14.]

58. Any capital gains relating to the transfer of title of immovable property to a
family trust.
[Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 18.]

59. The amount withdrawn from the National Housing Development Fund to
purchase a house by a contributor who is a first-time home-owner.
60. Interest income accruing from all listed bonds, notes or other similar securities
used to raise funds for infrastructure, projects and assets defined under Green
Bonds Standards and Guidelines, and other social services:
Provided that such bonds, notes or securities shall have a maturity of at least
three years.
61. Deemed interest in respect of an interest free loan advanced to a company
undertaking the manufacture of human vaccines.
62. Payments made to non-resident service providers not having a permanent
establishment in Kenya in respect of services provided to a company undertaking
the manufacture of human vaccines.
63. Compensating tax accruing to a company undertaking the manufacture of
human vaccines.
64. Dividends paid by a company undertaking the manufacture of human vaccines
to any non-resident person.
65. Income of a company undertaking the manufacture of human vaccines.
66. Dividends paid by Special Economic Zone enterprises, developers and
operators licensed under the Special Economic Zones Act (No. 16 of 2015).
67. Dividends paid by Special Economic Zone enterprises, developers and
operators to any non-resident person.
[Act No. 2 of 2020, s. 20, Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 20.]

Part II - SECURITIES, THE INTEREST ON WHICH IS EXEMPT FROM TAX

Repealed by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.

SECOND SCHEDULE
[ss. 4, 5 and 15]

INVESTMENT ALLOWANCE
[[[Act No. 2 of 1975, s. 5, Act No. 13 of 1975, s. 2, Act No. 7 of 1976, s. 2, L.N.
123/1976, Sch., L.N. 189/1977, Sch., Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9, Act No. 13 of 1979,
s. 5, Act No. 6 of 1981, s. 5, Act No. 14 of 1982, s. 21, Act No. 18 of 1984, s. 6, Act
No. 8 of 1985, s. 15, Act No. 10 of 1986, s. 34, Act No. 10 of 1987, s. 37, Act No.
10 of 1988, s. 35, Act No. 8 of 1989, s. 22, Act No. 8 of 1991, s. 75, Act No. 4 of
1993, s. 58, Act No. 6 of 1994, s. 46, Act No. 13 of 1995, s. 88, Act No. 8 of 1996,
s. 45, Act No. 4 of 1999, s. 40, Act No. 9 of 2000, s. 54, Act No. 6 of 2001, s. 54,
Act No. 15 of 2003, s. 40, Act No. 4 of 2004, s. 60, Act No. 6 of 2005, s. 35, Act

110
[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
Income Tax

No. 10 of 2006, s. 30, Act No. 9 of 2007, s. 28, Act No. 8 of 2008, s. 39, Act No.
8 of 2009, s. 29, Act No. 10 of 2010, s. 33, Act No. 57 of 2012, s. 24, Act No. 16
of 2014, s. 21, Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 17, Act No. 11 of 2017, Act No. 15 of 2017,
ss. 16 & 17, Act No. 1 of 2020, s. 11, Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch, Act No. 8 of 2021,
s. 19, Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 21.]]
1. Deduction of investment allowance
(1) Where a person incurs capital expenditure in respect of an item listed in the
first column of the table, an investment allowance may be deducted in computing
the gains or profits of that person at the corresponding rate specified in the second
column, for each year of income—
Capital expenditure incurred Rate of Investment Allowance
(a) Buildings
(i) Hotel building 50% in the first year of use
(ii) Building used for manufacture 50% in the first year of use
(iii) Hospital buildings 50% in the first year of use
(iv) Petroleum or gas storage facilities 50% in the first year of use
(v) Residual value to item (a)(i) to (a)(iv) 25% per year, in equal instalments
(vi) Educational buildings including 10% per year, in equal instalments
student hostels
(vii) Commercial building 10% per year, in equal instalments
(b) Machinery
(i) Machinery used for manufacture 50% in the first year of use
(ii) Hospital equipment 50% in the first year of use
(iii) Ships or aircrafts 50% in the first year of use
(iv) Residual value items (b)(i) to (b)(iii) 25% per year, in equal instalments
(v) Motor vehicles and heavy earth 25% per year, in equal instalments
moving equipment
(vi) Computer and peripheral computer 25% per year, in equal instalments
hardware and software, calculators,
copiers and duplicating machines
(vii) Furniture and fittings 10% per year, in equal instalments
(viii) Telecommunications equipment 10% per year, in equal instalments
(ix) Filming equipment by a local film 25% per year, in equal instalments
producer licensed by the Cabinet
Secretary responsible for filming
(x) Machinery used to undertake 50% in the first year of use and 25% per
operations under a prospecting right year, in equal instalments
(xi) Machinery used to undertake 50% in the first year of use and 25% per
exploration operations year, in equal instalments
(xii) Other machinery 10% per year, in equal instalments
(c) Purchase or an acquisition of an 10% per year, in equal instalments
indefeasible right to use fibre optic cable
by a telecommunication operator
(d) Farmworks 50% in the first year of use and 25% per
year, in equal instalments
Provided that—
(a) in the case of change of user of a building, the deduction shall be
restricted to the residual value or unclaimed amount at the applicable
rate;

111
CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
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(b) in respect of a hotel, educational or hospital building, the building shall

be licensed by the competent authority; and
(c) "building used for manufacture" includes any structure or civil
works deemed to be part of a building where the structure or civil
works relates or contributes to the use of the building;
(d) "commercial building" includes—
(i) a building used as an office, shop, showroom, godown,
storehouse, or warehouse used for storage of raw materials for
manufacture of finished or semi-finished goods; or
(ii) civil works relating to water or electric power undertaking, but
does not include an undertaking not carried on by way of trade;
(e) "machinery used for manufacture" means machinery used directly
in the process of manufacture, and includes machinery used for the
following ancillary purposes —
(i) generation, transformation and distribution of electricity;
(ii) clean-up and disposal of effluents and other waste products;
(iii) reduction of environmental damage;
(iv) water supply or disposal;
(v) maintenance of the machinery; or
(vi) scientific research and development;
(f) "manufacture" means the making, including packaging, of goods
from raw or semi-finished goods, or the generation of electrical
energy, or the transformation and distribution of electricity, but does
not include design, storage, transport, administration or any other
ancillary activity;
(g) civil works include-
(i) roads and parking areas;
(ii) railway lines and related structures;
(iii) water, industrial effluent and sewerage works;
(iv) communications and electrical posts and pylons and other
electrical supply works; and
(v) security walls and fencing.
(h) "Farm works" means farmhouses, labour quarter, any other
immovable building necessary for the proper operation of the farm,
fences, dips, drains, water and electricity supply works and other
worksnecessary for the proper operation of the farm.
(1A) Notwithstanding paragraph 1, the investment deduction shall be one
hundred per cent where-
(a) the cumulative investment value in the preceding three years outside
Nairobi City County and Mombasa County is at least two billion
shillings:
Provided that where the cumulative value of investment for the
preceding three years of income was two billion shillings on or
th
before the 25 April, 2020, and the applicable rate of investment
deduction was one hundred and fifty per cent, that rate shall continue

112
[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
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th
to apply for the investment made on or before the 25 April, 2020
or the investment deduction shall be one hundred and fifty per cent
where the cumulative investment value for the preceding four years
from the date that this provision comes into force or the cumulative
investment for the succeeding three years outside Nairobi City County
or Mombasa County is at least two billion shillings;
(b) the investment value outside Nairobi City County and Mombasa
County in that year of income is at least two hundred and fifty million
shillings; or
(c) the person has incurred investment in a special economic zone.
2. Calculation of written down or residual value
The written down or residual value of each item referred to in paragraph 1 shall
be calculated separately, and shall be the balance of capital expenditure taking into
account the sale of the item after deducting investment allowance.
3. Treatment of excess or deficit of realised amounts
Where the amount realised from the sale of an item referred to in paragraph 1
exceeds the written down or residual value, the excess shall be treated as a trading
receipt or, conversely, a trading loss for the year of income.
4. Balancing charge or deduction on cessation of business
(1) Where an investment allowance has been deducted under paragraph 1
in computing the gains or profits of a person and that person ceases to carry on
business for the purposes of which the item was used and the item ceases to be
owned by him, a balancing charge or balancing deduction shall be made or allowed
for the year of income in which he ceased to carry on business.
(2) Where the person referred to in subparagraph (1) is a partnership, the
person shall be deemed to have ceased to carry on business only when all the
partners cease to carry on that business.
(3) Where the items are sold by a liquidator of a company, the balancing charge
or balancing deduction shall be made or allowed in the year of income in which
the winding up commenced.
(4) Where on cessation of a business, a balancing charge or balancing
deduction is to be made or allowed under this paragraph and —
(a) the consideration received exceeds the residual value at the time of
cessation, the balancing charge shall be the excess amount or, where
the residual value is nil, the consideration received; or
(b) a consideration is not received by the person who owns the items,
or the residual value at the time of the cessation exceeds the
consideration received, the balancing deduction shall be the residual
value at the time of cessation, or the excess thereof over the
consideration received.
5. Determination of market value of items used in a business
Where an item is brought into use for a business without being purchased or
ceases permanently to be used without being sold, it shall be deemed to have
been purchased or sold, and the cost or amount realized shall be deemed to be
the market value.

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CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
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6. Restriction on capital expenditure on motor vehicles

(1) Where capital expenditure exceeding three million shillings is incurred on
a motor vehicle, other than a commercial vehicle, that capital expenditure shall be
restricted to three million shillings.
(2) Where the motor vehicle referred to in subparagraph (1) is sold, the sale
price shall be deemed to be the proportion of the proceeds of sale, having regard
to the original purchase price and three million shillings.
7. Limitation on capital expenditure on buildings
Capital expenditure incurred on the construction of a building does not include
capital expenditure on the acquisition of, or of rights in or over, land.
8. Ascertainment of capital expenditure on buildings
(1) Where a building is used partly for purposes other than the purposes
specified in paragraph 1, the capital expenditure on which the deduction in respect
of the building is calculated shall be the expenditure attributable to that portion
of the building which is used for those purposes, but where the expenditure
attributable exceeds ninety per cent of the total expenditure incurred on the
construction of the building the whole building shall be treated as used for the
specified purposes.
(2) Where an existing building is extended by further construction, the extension
shall be treated as a separate building.
(3) Where capital expenditure is incurred on the construction of a building and
before that building is used it is sold, the seller shall not be allowed a deduction.
(4) Where a person purchases the building referred to in subparagraph (3), that
person shall be deemed to have incurred capital expenditure on its construction
equal to the capital expenditure actually incurred on its construction or to the
amount paid by him, whichever is lesser.
(5) Where the building referred to in subparagraph (3) is sold more than once
before it is used, subparagraph (4) shall apply but only in relation to the last sale.
(6) Where a building referred to in subparagraph (3) is sold by a person carrying
on a business of construction for sale, the qualifying capital expenditure shall be
the price paid on the sale.
9. Expenditure incurred for a person
Any expenditure incurred on behalf of a person by another person, shall not
qualify for deduction under this Schedule.

THIRD SCHEDULE
[ss. 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35]

RATES OF PERSONAL RELIEF AND TAX

[Act No. 2 of 1975, s. 5, Act No. 13 of 1975, s. 2, Act No. 7 of 1976, s. 2, Act No. 12 of 1977,
s. 5, Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9, Act No. 10 of 1980, s. 5, Act No. 12 of 1980, s. 3, Act No. 6 of 1981,
s. 5, Act No. 14 of 1982, s. 22, Act No. 13 of 1984, s. 22, Act No. 18 of 1984, s. 7, Act No. 8 of
1985, s. 16, Act No. 10 of 1987, s. 38, Act No. 10 of 1988, s. 36, Act No. 8 of 1989, s. 23, Act
No. 10 of 1990, s. 60, Act No. 21 of 1990, Sch., Act No. 8 of 1991, s. 76, Act 9 of 1992, s. 57,
Act 4 of 1993, s. 59, Act 6 of 1994, s. 47, Act No. 13 of 1995, s. 89, Act No. 8 of 1996, s. 46, Act
No. 8 of 1997, s. 50, Act No. 5 of 1998, s. 40, Act No. 4 of 1999, s. 41, Act No. 9 of 2000, s. 55,
Act No. 6 of 2001, s. 55, Act No. 7 of 2002, s. 48, Act No. 15 of 2003, s. 41, Act No. 4 of 2004,

114
[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
Income Tax

s. 61, Act No. 6 of 2005, s. 36, Act No. 10 of 2006, s. 31, Act No. 9 of 2007, s. 29, Act No. 8 of
2008, s. 40, Act No. 8 of 2009, s. 30, Act No. 10 of 2010, s. 34, Act No. 4 of 2012, s. 22, Act
No. 57 of 2012, s. 25, Act No. 38 of 2013, s. 23, Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 22, Act No. 14 of 2015,
s. 18, Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 17, Act No. 11 of 2017, Sch, Act No. 15 of 2017, s. 18, Act No. 9
of 2018, Sch., Act No. 10 of 2018, s. 11, Act No. 23 of 2019, s. 15, Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch, Act
No. 8 of 2020, s. 9, Act No. 22 of 2020, Sch., Act No. 8 of 2021, Sch, Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 22.]

RATES OF PERSONAL RELIEF AND TAX

HEAD A – RESIDENT PERSONAL RELIEF
1. Personal Relief
The amount of the personal relief shall be twenty-eight thousand eight hundred
shillings:
Provided that for the year of income 1995, all the income over £19,500 shall be
charged additional tax at the rate of one-half shilling in each twenty shillings.
[Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 17(a), Act No. 15 of 2017, s. 18(a), Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.]

2. Insurance Relief
The amount of insurance relief shall be fifteen per cent of the amount of
premiums paid but shall not exceed sixty thousand shillings per annum.
3. Affordable housing relief
The amount of affordable housing relief shall be 15% of the employee's
contribution but shall not exceed Ksh. 108,000 per annum.
[Act No. 9 of 2018, Sch., Act No. 23 of 2019, s. 15.]

HEAD B – RATES OF TAX

[Act No. 11 of 2017, Sch., Act No. 15 of 2017, s. 18(b)
(i), Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch., Act No. 22 of 2020, Sch.]

1. The individual rates of tax shall be -

Rate in each shilling
On the first K Sh.288,000 10%
On the next K Sh.100,000 25%
On all income over K Sh.388,000 30%
1A. The wife's employment, wife's professional and wife’s self-employment
income rates of tax shall be:
Rate in each shilling
On the first K Sh. 288,000 10%
On the next K Sh. 100,000 25%
On all income over KSh.388,000 30%
[Act No. 11 of 2017, Sch., Act No. 15 of 2017, s. 18(b)
(i), Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch., Act No. 22 of 2020, Sch.]

2. The corporate rate of tax shall be –

(a) in the case of a resident company –
Rate in each twenty shillings
(i) for the year of income 1974 and each 9.00
subsequent year of income up to and
including the year of income 1990
(ii) for the year of income 1990 8.50
(iii)for the year of income 1991 8.00

115
CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
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(iv)for the year of income 1992 and each7.50

subsequent year of income
(v) for the year of income 1993 upto and 7.00
including the year of income 1997
(vi)for the year of income 1998 up to 6.50
and including the year of income 1999
(vii) for the year of income 2000 and 6.00
each subsequent year of income
(viii) for the year of income 2020 and 5.00
each subsequent year of income
(ix) for the year of income 2021 and 6.00
each subsequent year of income.
Provided that this provision shall apply
to the income earned from the 1st
January, 2021.
Provided that for a resident company with an accounting period ending between
st th
the 1 July, 1994 and the 30 June, 1995 the corporation rate of tax shall be
increased by one-half shilling in each twenty shillings
(b) In the case of a non-resident company having a permanent establishment in
Kenya—
Rate in each twenty shillings
(i) for the year of income 1974 and each 10.50
subsequent year of income up to and including
the year of income 1989
(ii) for the year of income 1990 10.00
(iii)for the year of income 1991 9.50
(iv)for the year of income 1992 and each 9.00
subsequent year of income
(v) for the year of income 1993 up to and 8.50
including the year of income 1997
(vi)for the year of income 1998 up to and 8.00
including 1999
(vii) for the year of income 2000 and each 7.50
subsequent year of income
Provided that for a non-resident company having a permanent establishment in
st th
Kenya with an accounting period ending between the 1 July, 1994 and the 30
June, 1995, the corporation rate of tax shall be increased by one-half shilling in
each twenty shillings—
(c) deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.;
(d) deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.;
(e) deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.;
(f) an export processing zone enterprise which does not engage in any commercial
activities shall be exempted from paying any corporation tax for a period of ten
years commencing with the year in which production, sales or receipts relating to
the activities for which that enterprise has been licensed as an export processing
zone enterprise commence; but the corporation rate of tax will be twenty-five per
cent for the period of ten years commencing immediately thereafter:

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Provided that for purposes of this subparagraph, "commercial activities"

includes trading in, breaking bulk, grading, repacking or relabelling of goods and
industrial raw materials.
(g) (i) deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.;
(ii) a gain on transfer of securities traded on any securities exchange
licensed by the Capital Markets Authority is not chargeable to tax
under section 3(2)(f);
(h) in the case of a special economic zone enterprise, whether the enterprise sells
its products to markets within or outside Kenya developer and operator, ten percent
for the first ten years from date of first operation and thereafter fifteen per cent for
another ten years;
(i) in the case of a company that constructed at least four hundred residential units
annually, fifteen per cent for that year of income, subject to approval by the Cabinet
Secretary responsible for housing,
provided that where a company is engaged in multiple activities which include
the ones specified in subparagraph (i), the rate of fifteen per cent shall be applied
proportionately to the extent of the turnover arising from the housing activity
(j) in the case of company whose business is local assembling of motor vehicles,
fifteen per cent for the first five years from the year of commencement of its
operations:
Provided that the rate of fifteen per cent shall be extended for a further period
of five years if the company achieves a local content equivalent to fifty per cent of
the ex-factory value of the motor vehicles;
(k) deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.;
(l) deleted by Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.;
(m) in respect of a company engaged in business under a special operating
framework arrangement with the Government, the rate of tax specified in the
Agreement shall continue to apply for the unexpired period as provided under the
Agreement;
(n) in respect of a company operating a carbon market exchange or emission
trading system that is certified by the Nairobi International Financial Centre
Authority, fifteen per cent for the first ten years from the year of commencement
of its operations;
(o) in respect of a company operating a shipping business in Kenya, fifteen per
cent for the first ten years from the year of commencement of its operations.
[Act No. 14 of 2015, 18(a), Act No. 11 of 2017, Sch., Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 17,
Act No. 15 of 2017, s. 18(ii)(a)(b), Act No. 10 of 2018, s. 11(a), Act No. 13 of 2019,
s. 15, Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch, Act No. 22 of 2020, Sch, Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 22(a).]

3. The non-resident tax rates shall be—

(a) in respect of management or professional fees or training fees,
consultancy, agency or contractual fee, twenty per cent of the gross
sum payable:
Provided that —

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(i) the rate applicable to any payments made by Special Economic Zone
Enterprise, Developer or Operator to a non-resident person shall be
5% of the gross amount payable;
(ii) the rate applicable to the citizen of the East African Community
Partner States in respect of consultancy fee shall be fifteen per cent
of the gross sum payable;
(b) in respect of a royalty or natural resource income, twenty per cent of
the gross amount payable;
Provided that the rate applicable to any royalty paid by any Special Economic
Zone Enterprise, Developer or Operator to a non-resident person shall be 5% of
the gross amount payable;
(c) (i) in respect of a rent premium or similar consideration for the use or
occupation of immovable property, thirty per cent of the gross amount
payable;
(ii) in respect of a rent, premium or similar consideration for the
use of property other than immovable property, fifteen per cent
of the gross amount payable;
(d) in respect of a dividend, fifteen per cent of the amount payable:
Provided that the rate applicable to citizens of the East African Community
Partner States in respect of dividend shall be five per cent of the gross sum payable;
(e) (i) in respect of interest and deemed interest arising from a
Government bearer bond of at least two years duration and interest,
discount or original issue discount, fifteen per cent of the gross sum
payable;
(ia) in respect of interest and deemed interest arising from a bearer bond
issued outside Kenya of at least two years duration and interest, discount or
original issue discount, seven and a half per cent of the gross sum payable;
(ii) in respect of interest, arising from bearer instrument other than a
Government bearer bond of at least two years duration, twenty-five per cent
of the gross amount payable;
(iii) in respect of interest paid by any Special Economic Zone Enterprise,
Developer or Operator to a non-resident persons, 5% of the gross amount
payable.
(f) in respect of a pension or retirement annuity, five per cent of the gross
amount payable;
(g) in respect of an appearance at, or performance in, any place (whether
public or private) for the purpose of entertaining, instructing, taking
part in any sporting event or otherwise diverting an audience, twenty
per cent of the gross amount payable;
(h) in respect of an activity by way of supporting, assisting or arranging
any appearance or performance mentioned in subparagraph (g) of
this paragraph, twenty per cent of the gross amount payable;
(i) in respect of winnings, twenty percent;
(ia) in respect of interest and deemed interest arising from a bearer bond
issued outside Kenya of at least two years duration and interest,
discount or original issue discount, seven and a half per cent of the
gross sum payable;

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(j) deleted by Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 22(a)(v);

(k) in respect of gains or profits from the business of a ship-owner which
is chargeable to tax under section 9(1) of the Act, two and a half per
cent of the gross amount received;
(l) in respect of gains and profits from the business of transmitting
messages by cable or radio communication, optical fibre, television
broadcasting, Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT), internet and
satellite or any other similar method of communication which is
chargeable to tax under section 9(2), five per cent of the gross amount
received;
(m) deleted by Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 17 (e)(i);
(n) in the case of a special economic zones enterprise, developer and
operator in respect of payments other than dividends made to non-
residents at the rate of ten percent;
(o) deleted by Act No. 23 of 2019, s. 15(ii);
(p) an insurance or reinsurance premium, five per cent of the gross
amount payable;
(q) in the case of sales promotion, marketing, advertising services, and
transportation of goods (excluding air and shipping transport services
twenty percent of the gross amount;
Provided that with regard to transportation of goods, the rate shall not
be applicable to East African Community citizens;
(r) in the case of gains from financial derivatives, fifteen per cent of such
gains.
[Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 22(a), Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 18(b), Act No. 38 of 2016, s.
17(e)(i), Act No. 15 of 2017, s. 18(c)(i)(ii)(iii), Act No. 9 of 2018, Sch, Act No. 10 of 2018,
s. 11(b), Act No. 123 of 2019, s. 15, Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch., Act No. 22 of 2022, s. 22.]

4. Deleted by Act No. 6 of 1994, s. 47.

5. The resident withholding tax rates shall be—
(a) in respect of a dividend, fifteen per cent of the amount payable;
(b) in respect of interest, discount or original issue discount arising from—
(i) bearer instrument other than a Government bearer bond of at
least two years duration, twenty-five per cent;
(ii) Government Bearer Bond of at least two years duration and
other sources, fifteen per cent;
(iii) bearer bonds with a maturity of ten years and above, ten per
cent of the gross amount payable, of the gross amount payable;
(c) in respect of a commission or fee, paid or credited by an insurance
company to any person for the provision, whether directly or indirectly,
of an insurance cover to any person or group of persons, five per cent
of the gross amount payable to all others;
(d) (i) in respect of a payment of a pension or any withdrawal made after
the expiry of fifteen years from the date of joining the fund, or on the
attainment of the age of fifty years, or upon earlier retirement on the
grounds of ill-health or infirmity of body and mind, from a registered
pension fund, registered provident fund, the National Social Security
Fund or a registered individual retirement fund, in excess of the tax

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free amounts specified under section 8(4) and 8(5) in any one year
and, provided that tax has not been deducted under section 37—
Rate in each shilling
On the first Shs. 400,000 10%
On the next Shs. 400,000 15%
On the next Shs. 400,000 20%
On the next Shs. 400,000 25%
On all income above KSh. 1,600,000 of 30%
the amounts in excess of the tax-free
amount.
Provided that the tax so deducted shall be final;
(ii) in respect of a withdrawal before the expiry of fifteen years from a
registered pension fund, registered provident fund, the National Social
Security Fund or a registered individual retirement fund in excess of
the tax free amounts specified under [section 8(4) and 8(5)]section
8(4) and 8(5) in any one year—
Rate in each shilling
On the first K Shs.288,000 10%
On the next K Shs.100,000 25%
On all income over K Shs.388,000 30%
(iii) in respect of surplus funds withdrawn by or refunded to an employer
in respect of registered pension or registered provident funds, thirty
per cent of the gross sum payable;
(e) in respect of a qualifying dividend, five per cent of the amount payable;
(f) (i) in respect of management or professional fee or training fee, other
than contractual fee, the aggregate value of which is twenty-four
thousand shillings in a month or more, five per cent of the gross
amount payable;
(ii) in respect of contractual fee the aggregate value of which is twenty-
four thousand shillings in a month or more, three per cent of the gross
amount payable;
(g) in respect of a royalty or natural resource income, five per cent of the
gross amount payable;
(h) in respect of qualifying interest—
(i) ten per cent of the gross amount payable in the case of housing bonds;
and
(ii) twenty per cent of the gross amount payable in the case of bearer
instrument; and
(iii) fifteen per cent of the gross amount payable in any other case;
(i) in respect of winnings, twenty percent;
Provided that the tax paid under this subparagraph is final.
(j) deleted by Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 17 (e)(ii);
(ja) in respect of a rent, premium or similar consideration for the use or
occupation of immovable property, ten percent of the gross amount
payable;

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(jb) in respect to the disbursement of deemed income to beneficiaries

under section 11(3)(c) the rate of twenty five percent.
(k) deleted by Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 18(c)(iii).
[Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 18(c), Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 17 (d) & (e)
(ii), Act No. 15 of 2017, s. 18 (c)(iv), Act No. 9 of 2018, Sch, Act No.
2 of 2020, Sch, Act No. 22 of 2020, Sch., Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 20.]

6. Deleted by No. 16 of 2014, s. 22(c).

7. The rate of presumptive income tax in respect of agricultural produce under
subsection (1) of section 17A shall be two per cent of the gross amount of payment
or the gross value of export.
8. The rate of advance tax under section 12A shall be—
(a) for vans, pick-ups, trucks, prime movers, trailers and lorries: one
thousand five hundred shillings per ton of load capacity per year or
two thousand four hundred shillings per year, whichever is the higher;
Provided that advance tax shall not be imposed on tractors or trailers used for
agricultural purposes;
(b) for saloons, station-wagons, mini-buses, buses and coaches: sixty
shillings per passenger capacity per month or two thousand four
hundred shillings per year, whichever is the higher;
(c) deleted by Act No. 10 of 2010, s. 34.
9. The rate of turnover tax shall be one percent of the gross receipts of the business
of a taxable person under section 12C.
[Act No. 10 of 2018, s. 11(c), Act No. 23 of 2019, s. 15, Act No. 2 of 2020, Sch.]

10. The rate of tax in respect of residential rental income shall be ten percent of
the gross rental receipts of a taxable resident person under section 6A
[Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 18(d).]

11. The rate of tax in respect of minimum tax under section 12D shall be one per
cent of the gross turnover.
[Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 9.]

12. The rate of tax in respect of digital service tax under section 12E shall be one
point five per cent of the gross transaction value.
[Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 9.]

FOURTH SCHEDULE
[ss. 15 and 35]

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
[Act No. 6 of 1981, s. 5, Act No. 8 of 1983, s. 18, Act No. 8 of
1985, s. 17, Act No. 9 of 1989, Second Sch., Act No. 8 of 2008, s. 41.]

A bank or financial institution or mortgage finance company licensed and the

Banking Act (Cap. 488).
An insurance company licensed under the Insurance Act (Cap. 487)

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The Kenya Reinsurance Corporation established by the Reinsurance

Corporation Act.
A building society registered under the Building Societies Act (Cap. 489).
The National Housing Corporation established under the Housing Act (Cap.
117).
A co-operative society registered under the Co-operative Societies Act (Cap.
490).
The Kenya Post Office Savings Bank established by the Kenya Post Office
Savings Bank Act (Cap. 493B).
The Agricultural Finance Corporation established by the Agricultural Finance
Corporation Act (Cap. 323).
A person licensed under Part VII of the Hire-purchase Act (Cap. 507).

FIFTH SCHEDULE
[s. 2]

SCHEDULED PROFESSIONS AND SCHEDULED QUALIFICATIONS

[Act No. 7 of 1976, s. 2, Act No. 13 of 1984, s. 23,
Act No. 10 of 1988, s. 37, Act No. 4 of 1993, s. 60.]

Profession Qualifications
1. Medical Any person who is registered as a
medical practitioner under the Medical
Practitioners and Dentists Act (Cap.
253).
2. Dental Any person who is registered as a
dentist under the Medical Practitioners
and Dentists Act (Cap. 253).
Surveyors-
(a) Land surveyor Any person licensed as a surveyor
under the Survey Act. (Cap. 299)
(b) Surveyor Any person who is a fellow or
professional associate of the Royal
Institution of Chartered Surveyors
5. Architects or Quantity Surveyors Any person who is registered as an
architect or a quantity surveyor under
the Architects and Quantity Surveyors
Act(Cap. 525)
6. Veterinary Surgeons Any person who is registered or
licensed as a veterinary surgeon under
the Veterinary Surgeons Act (Cap.366).
7. Engineers Any person who is registered under the
Engineers Registration Act (Cap. 530).
8. Accountants Any person who is registered as an
accountant under the Accountants Act
(Cap. 531).

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9 Certified Public Secretaries A person who is registered under the

Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya
Act Act (Cap. 534).

SIXTH SCHEDULE
[s. 133]

TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
[Act No. 2 of 1975, s. 5.]

1. In and for the purposes of the application of the Management Act under
subsection (4) of section 133 of this Act—
(a) references in the Management Act to the Authority shall be read as
references to the Minister;
(b) references in the Management Act to the Commissioner-General and
to other officers shall be read as references to the Commissioner and
equivalent officers appointed under this Act;
(c) the local committees and the tribunal appointed for Kenya under the
Management Act shall continue in being for the purpose of such
application;
(d) any rules made under the Management Act shall, to the extent that
they refer to Kenya, continue to have full force and effect.
st
2. Legal proceedings commenced prior to 1 January, 1974, under the
Management Act shall not be abated by reason only of the operation of subsection
(2) of section 133 of this Act, and where the Commissioner-General was a party to
any such proceedings the Commissioner shall be substituted as a party in place
of the Commissioner-General.
3. (1) Subject to this Schedule, the continuity of the operation of the Law relating to
income tax shall not be affected by the substitution of this Act for the Management
Act and accordingly—
(a) so much of any enactment or document as refers, whether expressly
or by implication, to or to things done or to be done under or for
the purposes of any provision of this Act shall, if and so far as the
nature of the subject matter of the enactment or document permits,
be construed as including in relation to the times, years or periods,
circumstances or purposes in relation to which the corresponding
provision in the Management Act has or had effect, reference to, or,
as the case may be, to things done or to be done under or for the
purposes of, that corresponding provision;
(b) so much of an enactment or document as refers, whether expressly
or by implication, to or to things done or to be done under or for
the purposes of, any provision of the Management Act shall, if and
so far as the nature of the subject matter of the enactment or
document permits, be construed as including in relation to the times,
years or periods, circumstances or purposes in relation to which the
corresponding provision of this Act has effect, a reference to, or, as
the case may be, to things done or deemed to be done or to be done
under or for the purposes of, that corresponding provision.

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(2) References in this paragraph to things done or to be done under a provision

include in particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the references,
references to charges to tax, deductions, personal allowances reliefs, repayments,
assessments, notices, or returns made, granted, served or furnished, or to be
made, granted, served or furnished, under that provision.
4. Where the ascertainment of the total income of any person for the year of income
1973 results in a deficit, the total income of such person for the year of income
1974 shall be computed as if section 13(4) of the Management Act continued to
apply to that year of income.
5. Where any farmer has elected under section 16 of the Management Act not to
take into account the values of livestock and produce at the beginning and end of
each such year of income for the purposes of ascertaining his income therefrom
for each such year of income, then such election shall be deemed to be an election
made in accordance with section 17 of this Act.
6. Where, immediately prior to the commencement of this Act, there is for the
purpose of the Second Schedule to the Management Act in relation to a person
a residue of expenditure or expenditure still unallowed, then such residue of
expenditure or expenditure still unallowed, as the case may be, shall, in relation to
such person, be the residue of expenditure or expenditure still unallowed, as the
case may be, on the commencement of this Act for the purposes of the Second
Schedule to this Act.
7. Where under this Act—
(a) a sum is deemed to be income of, or in respect of, a year of income
prior to the commencement of this Act; or
(b) deleted by Act No. 2 of 1975, s. 5.
(c) the Commissioner may divide any amount into portions and any
portion is taken into account in computing the gains or profits or
in ascertaining total income for any year of income prior to the
commencement of this Act, then an assessment in relation thereto for
such year of income may be made as if such sum or portion, as the
case may be, had been income charged to tax under the Management
Act.
8. Where under the Management Act the income of a beneficiary under any trust
or settlement has been charged to tax for a year of income on the basis of the
amount receivable under that trust or settlement in such year of income, nothing
in this Act shall operate to charge such beneficiary on income received after the
commencement of this Act which has been charged on him under the Management
Act.
9. Any arrangements specified in notices issued under section 55 of the
Management Act shall continue to have effect as if they had been made under
section 41 of this Act.
10. Local committees and the members thereof appointed for areas under section
97 of the Management Act shall continue to act according to the terms of the notices
making such appointments as if such local committees and the members thereof
had been established and appointed by notices under section 82 of this Act.
11. Where, after the commencement of this Act, a payment is made in respect
of the refund or return of contributions made or premiums paid, prior to the

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commencement of this Act, under an approved pension scheme, approved pension

fund, approved annuity contract, approved trust scheme or approved provident
fund mentioned in subsections (1), (2), (3) and (4) of section 8 of the Management
Act, such payment shall in the manner and to the extent provided in those
subsections, and in section 3(c), of the Management Act, be deemed to be income
charged to tax under section 3(2)(e) of this Act:
Provided that—
(i) references in section 8(2) to "any year of income" shall be construed
as meaning any year of income prior to the commencement of this
Act; and
(ii) references in section 8(2) to "the year of income" and "the relevant
year of income" shall be construed as references to the year ending
st
31 December, 1974; and
(iii) in section 8(2) the proviso thereto shall be read and construed as if
the following words were deleted, namely—
(a) which expired earlier than the year of income (hereinafter referred to
as the relevant year of income) prior to the year of income—
(i) in which it was received; or
(ii) in the case of a policy, in which the policy was assigned or transferred;
or
(iii) in which the employee left the service of the employer; or
(iv) in which the person died, whichever is the earlier; and
(b) in excess of one year of the period—
(iv) section 8(3) and (4) shall apply only in respect of contributions made,
or in case of paragraph (a) of subsection (4) thereof in respect of a
pension right accrued, prior to the commencement of this Act.

SEVENTH SCHEDULE
SPECIAL PROVISIONS ON COMMUNITY EMPLOYEES (Deleted)
Deleted by Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9.

EIGHTH SCHEDULE
[ss. 3 and 15]

ACCRUAL AND COMPUTATION OF GAINS FROM PROPERTY OTHER

THAN INVESTMENT SHARES TRANSFERRED BY INDIVIDUALS
[ Act No. 13 of 1975, s. 2, Act No. 7 of 1976, s. 2, Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9, Act No. 6
of 1981, s. 5, Act No. 14 of 1982, s. 23, Act No. 8 of 1985, s. 18, Act No. 16 of 2014, Act
No. 14 of 2015, Act No. 38 of 2016, Act No. 23 of 2019, s. 16, Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 10.]

Part I
1. Interpretation
(1) In this Part of the Schedule, except where the context otherwise requires—

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CAP. 470 [Rev. 2023]
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"adjusted cost" has the meaning assigned thereto in paragraph 8 of this

Schedule;
"company" includes—
(a) a members’ club deemed under section 21(1) to be carrying on a
business;
(b) a trade association that elects under section 21(2) to be deemed to
carry on a business;
"consideration" means consideration in money or money’s worth;
"individual" includes more than one individual or an unincorporated
association or body of individuals including trustees and partners;
"land" includes—
(a) buildings on land and anything attached to land or permanently
fastened to anything attached to land (whether on or below the
surface);
(b) standing timber, trees, crops and other vegetation growing on land;
and
(c) land covered by water;
"marketable security" includes a security of such a description as to be
capable of being sold and stock as defined in section 2 of the Stamp Duty Act
(Cap. 480);
"property"—
(a) in the case of a company has the meaning assigned thereto in the
Interpretation and General Provisions Act (Cap. 2), and includes
property acquired or held for investment purposes but does not
include a road vehicle;
(b) in the case of an individual means—
(i) land situated in Kenya and any right or interest in or over that
land; and
(ii) a marketable security situated in Kenya, other than an
investment share as defined in Part II of this Schedule;
"transfer" has the meaning assigned thereto in paragraph 6 of this Schedule;
"transfer value" has the meaning assigned thereto in paragraph 7 of this
Schedule.
(2) For the purposes of this schedule—
(a) a reference to a transfer of property includes a reference to a part transfer
of property; and
(b) there is a part transfer of property where, on a person making a transfer,
any description of property derived from the transferred property remains
undisposed of.
(3) For the purposes of this Schedule two persons are "related persons" if—
(a) either person participates directly or indirectly in the management,
control or capital of the business of the other; or
(b) any third person participates directly or indirectly in the management,
control or capital of the business of both.
(4) For the purposes of subparagraph (3) of this paragraph a reference to
"person" includes—

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[Rev. 2023] CAP. 470
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(a) in the case of an individual, a reference to a relative (as defined in

section 26(5) of that person; and
(b) a reference to a company.
(5) For the purposes of this Schedule—
(a) shares or securities being marketable securities issued by a municipal
or a Government authority, or by a body created by such an authority,
are situated in the country of that authority; and
(b) subject to paragraph (a) of this paragraph, shares or securities (being
marketable securities) are situated where they are registered and, if
registered in more than one register, where the principal register is
situated.
2. Taxation of gains
Subject to this Schedule, income in respect of which tax is chargeable under
section 3(2)(f) is the whole of a gain which accrues to a company or an individual
st
on or after 1 January, 2015 on the transfer of property situated in Kenya, whether
st
or not the property was acquired before 1 January, 2015.
[Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 23(a).]

3. Income not chargeable

(1) Income is not chargeable to tax under section 3(2)(f) of this Act where, and
to the extent that, it is chargeable to tax under any other provision of this Act.
(2) The gain accruing to a company on any transfer of machinery classified
in paragraph 1(b) of the Second Schedule is not chargeable to tax under section
3(2)(f).
(3) The gain which is exempted from tax under paragraph 36 of the First
Schedule is not chargeable to tax under section 3(2)(f).
[Act No. 16 of 2014 s. 23(b), Act No. 8 of 2014, s. 10, Act No. 8 of 2020, s. 10.]

4. Computation of gains
(1) The gain which accrues to a person on the transfer of any property is the
amount by which the transfer value of the property exceeds the adjusted cost of
the property.
(2) Where, in computing the gain accruing to a person on the transfer of any
property, it is found that the adjusted cost of the property exceeds the transfer value
of the property, the amount of the excess is the loss realized by the person on the
transfer of the property.
(3) Any gain or loss realized by a person on the transfer of property shall be
deemed to be realized by the person at the time of the transfer, whether or not the
consideration is payable by instalments but a payment by way of interest on any
part of the consideration not immediately payable shall not be treated as part of
the transfer value of the property.
(4) Debts incurred on the transfer of property which the Commissioner
considers to have become bad shall be deemed to be a loss for the purposes of
section 15(3)(f) and those provisions shall apply accordingly.
(5) Section 15(2)(e) does not apply in relation to a loss realized by a person
on the transfer of property.

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5. Dealings by nominees, trustees and liquidators, and for the enforcement

of securities
(1) In relation to any property held by a person as nominee for another person
or as trustee for a person absolutely entitled as against the trustee (or for two or
more persons who are so entitled in possession, whether as joint tenants or tenants
in common), or as liquidator for any company, this Schedule shall apply as if the
property were vested in, and the acts of the nominee, trustee or liquidator in relation
to the property were the acts of the person or persons for whom the person is
nominee, trustee or liquidator (transfers between the person or persons and the
nominee, trustee or liquidator being disregarded accordingly).
(2) Where a person entitled to property by way of security or to the benefit
of a charge or encumbrance on property, deals with the property for the purpose
of enforcing or giving effect to the security, charge or encumbrance, his dealings
with it shall be treated as if they were done through him as nominee by the person
entitled to the property subject to the security, charge or encumbrance, and this
subparagraph shall apply to the dealings of any person appointed to enforce or
give effect to the security, charge or encumbrance as receiver and manager as it
applies to the dealings of the person so entitled.
6. Meaning of transfer
(1) Subject to this Schedule there is a transfer of property for the purposes of
this Schedule—
(a) where property is sold, exchanged, conveyed or otherwise disposed
of in any manner whatever (including by way of gift), whether or not
for consideration; or
(b) on the occasion of the loss, destruction or extinction of property
whether or not a sum by way of compensation or otherwise, or under
a policy of insurance, is received in respect of the loss, destruction or
extinction of the property unless such sum is utilized to reinstate the
property in essentially the same form and in the same place within
one year of the loss, destruction or extinction of the property or within
a longer period of time approved by the Commissioner; or
(c) on the abandonment, surrender, cancellation or forfeiture of, or
the expiration of substantially all rights to, property, including the
surrender of shares or debentures on the dissolution of a company.
(2) There is no transfer of property for the purposes of this Schedule—
(a) in the case of the transfer of property for the purpose only of securing
a debt or a loan, or on any transfer by a creditor for the purpose only
of returning property used as security for a debt or a loan;
(b) in the case of the issuance by a company of its own shares or
debentures;
(c) by the vesting in the personal representative of a deceased person
by operation of law of the property of that deceased person;
(d) by the transfer by a personal representative of any property to a
person as legatee in the course of the administration of the estate
of a deceased person. For this purpose "legatee" includes a person
taking under a devise or other testamentary disposition or on an
intestacy or partial intestacy whether he takes beneficially or as a
trustee;

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(e) by the vesting in the liquidator by an order of a court of the property

of a company under section 240 of the Companies Act (Cap. 486);
(f) by the vesting in the official receiver or other trustee in bankruptcy
of the property of a bankrupt under section 57 of the Bankruptcy Act
(Cap. 53);
(g) by the transfer by a trustee of property, which is shown to the
satisfaction of the Commissioner to be subject to a trust, to a
beneficiary on his becoming absolutely entitled thereto;
(h) by the transfer of assets—
(i) between spouses;
(ii) between former spouses as part of a divorce settlement or a
bona fide separation agreement;
(iii) to immediate family;
(iv) to immediate family as part of a divorce or bona fide separation
agreement; or
(v) to a company where spouses or a spouse and immediate family
hold 100% shareholding;
(i) deleted by Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 19(a)(ii).
(3) For the purposes of this paragraph, "immediate family" means children of
the spouses or former spouses.
[Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 23(c), Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 19, Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 18.]

7. Transfer value
(1) Subject to this Schedule, the transfer value of property shall be computed
by reference to such of the following amounts (if any) as are appropriate having
regard to the manner of the transfer, namely—
(a) the amount of or the value of the consideration for the transfer of the
property;
(b) sums received in return for the abandonment, forfeiture or surrender
of the property;
(c) sums received as consideration for the use of exploitation of the
property;
(d) sums received by way of compensation for damage or injury to the
property or for the loss of the property;
(e) sums received under a policy of insurance in respect of damage or
injury to, or the loss or destruction of, the property;
(f) any amount by which the liability of a person to another person
entitled to property by way of security or to the benefit of a charge or
encumbrance is reduced as a result of dealings with the property for
the purposes of enforcing or giving effect to the security, charge or
encumbrance, together with any amount received by the person out
of the proceeds of such dealings.
(2) Subject to this Schedule, for the purpose of computing the transfer value
of any property there shall be deducted the incidental costs to the transferor of
making the transfer.

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(3) In any case where no amount is ascertainable under this Schedule as the
transfer value of any property the transfer value of the property shall be the market
value as determined by the Commissioner.
[Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 23(d).]

8. Adjusted cost
(1) Subject to this Schedule, the adjusted cost of any property is—
(a) the amount of or value of the consideration for the acquisition or
construction of the property;
(b) the amount of expenditure wholly and exclusively incurred on the
property at any time after its acquisition by or on behalf of the
transferor for the purpose of enhancing or preserving the value of the
property at the time of the transfer;
(c) the amount of expenditure wholly and exclusively incurred at any time
after the acquisition of the property by the transferor establishing,
preserving or defending the title to, or a right over, the property; and
(d) the incidental costs to the transferor of acquiring the property.
(2) For the purpose of computing the adjusted cost of any property, an amount
computed shall be reduced by such amounts as have been allowed as deductions
under section 15(2).
(3) Where a company issues to any of its shareholders shares—
(a) that do not constitute a dividend under section 7 (1)(d) or (e), the cost
of the shares—
(i) shall be the sum paid for the shares; or
(ii) if no sum is paid for the shares, shall be deemed to be nil, and
the shareholder shall allocate, in the manner prescribed, the
cost of his existing shares between such old shares and such
new shares; or
(b) that constitute, wholly or partly, a dividend under either of those
paragraphs, the amount which constitutes a dividend shall be treated
as part of the cost of the shares, and the shareholder shall allocate, in
the manner prescribed, the cost of the existing shares between such
old shares and such new shares.
(4) Where there is a part transfer of property the adjusted cost of the property
shall be allocated to the part transferred in accordance with a method approved
by the Commissioner.
(5) The Commissioner may make rules for the purposes of subparagraph (3)
prescribing the manner of allocation to be prescribed under that subparagraph.
8A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the deduction of costs of
property shall not apply in the case of securities listed on any securities exchange
approved under the Capital Markets Act (Cap. 485A).
[Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 19(b).]

9. Market value
(1) Where property is acquired or transferred—
(a) otherwise than by way of a bargain made at arms length;
(b) by way of a gift in whole or in part;

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(c) for a consideration that cannot be valued; or

(d) as the result of a transaction between persons who are related then,
for the purposes of—
(i) paragraph 7 of this Schedule, the amount of the consideration
for the transfer of the property shall be deemed to be equal to
the market value of the property at the time of the transfer; and
(ii) paragraph 8 of this Schedule, the amount of the consideration
for the acquisition of the property shall be deemed to be equal
to the market value of the property at the time of the acquisition
or to the amount of the consideration used in computing
stamp duty payable on the transfer by which the property was
acquired, whichever is the lesser.
(2) Property is acquired or transferred by way of a bargain at arms length only
if the consideration is determined as between an independent willing buyer and an
independent willing seller.
(3) The Commissioner may determine the market value of any property, and
a reference in this paragraph to the market value of property is a reference to the
price which the property would fetch if sold in the open market as so determined.
10. Incidental costs
For the purposes of paragraphs 7(2) and 8(1)(d) of this Schedule, the incidental
costs of the acquisition or transfer of property shall consist of expenditure wholly
and exclusively incurred by the person acquiring the property or the transferor for
the purposes of the acquisition or transfer, as the case may be, of the property
being—
(a) fees, commission or remuneration paid for the professional services
of any surveyor, valuer, accountant, agent or legal adviser;
(b) costs of transfer (including stamp duty);
(c) in the case of an acquisition, the cost of acquisition (including
mortgage costs) and the cost of advertising to find a seller, and costs
reasonably incurred for the purposes of this Schedule in making any
valuation or in ascertaining market value;
(d) in the case of a transfer, the cost of advertising to find a buyer and
costs reasonably incurred for the purposes of this Schedule in making
any valuation or in ascertaining market value; and
(e) any other costs which the Commissioner may allow as being just and
reasonable.
11. Amounts not allowable in computing transfer value or adjusted cost
No amount shall be allowed—
(a) under paragraph 7(2) of this Schedule as part of the incidental costs
of making a transfer; or
(b) under paragraph 8 of this Schedule as part of the adjusted cost of
any property, if that amount has been or is otherwise allowed as
a deduction in computing gains or profits chargeable to tax under
section 3(2)(a) of this Act.

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11A. The due date for tax payable in respect of property transferred under this Part
shall be on or before the date of application for transfer of the property is made at
the relevant Lands Office.
[Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 19(g).]

12. Transfer or acquisition of property with other property

Where property is transferred or acquired together with other property in
pursuance of one bargain, then, notwithstanding that separate prices are, or
purport to be, agreed for separate items of that property, the Commissioner may
determine what part of the adjusted cost or the transfer value is reasonably
attributable to each of the properties involved, which determination shall be binding
on both the transferor and the transferee of the property.
(2) Deleted by Act No. 8 of 1978, s. 9(w).
13. Exemption
No gain or loss shall be included in the computation of income under section
3(2)(f) in the case of a transfer of property that is necessitated by a transaction
involving the incorporation, recapitalization, acquisition, amalgamation, separation,
dissolution or similar restructuring of a corporate entity, where such transfer is—
(a) a legal or regulatory requirement;
(b) as a result of a directive or compulsory acquisition by the government;
(c) an internal restructuring within a group which does not involve transfer
of property to a third party; or
(d) in the public interest and approved by the Cabinet Secretary.
[Act No. 23 of 2019, s. 16.]

Part II - ACCRUAL AND COMPUTATION

OF GAINS FROM INVESTMENT SHARES
14. Interpretation
In this Part of this Schedule —
"consideration" means consideration in money or money’s worth;
"investment shares" means shares of companies, municipal or Government
authorities or a body created by such authorities, as are listed and traded on the
Nairobi Stock Exchange;
[Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 19(c).]

15. Computation of gains

The gain subject to tax under this Part is the gross consideration payable and
shall be subject to the withholding tax rate under paragraph (3) and (5) of the Third
Schedule.
[Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 19(d).]

16. Deleted by Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 19(e).

16A. Deleted by Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 19(e).
17. Deleted by Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 19(e).
18. Collecting of tax

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A stockbroker who conducts the transfer of investment shares on behalf of

a transferor shall collect and remit tax to the Commissioner in accordance with
section 35(5).
Provided that this paragraph shall also apply to shares transferred under Part
I of this Schedule.
[Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 19(f).]

19. Remittance of tax

The remittance of money by a stockbroker under paragraph 18 of this Schedule
shall be a full and final discharge to the stockbroker as against all persons from
liability in respect of such money.
20. Failure to collect and remit
A stockbroker who fails to collect and remit as required under paragraph 18
of this Schedule, the amount of income tax out of the proceeds (over which he
has control) accruing as a result of the transfer of investment shares is jointly and
severally liable with the transferor of the shares for payment of the tax.
21. Exemption
(1) Where the transferor of investment shares is an unincorporated association
or body of individuals of a public character which has been exempted from income
tax under paragraph 10 of the First Schedule no deduction of income tax shall be
made under this Part of this Schedule.
(2) Gains from a transfer of investment shares for or in connexion with a pension
fund, trust scheme, or provident fund registered with the Commissioner shall not
be subject to deduction of income tax under this Part of this Schedule.
Part III - REDUCTION OF CHARGEABLE GAINS IN RESPECT
ST
OF PROPERTY ACQUIRED BEFORE 1 JANUARY,
ST
1975, AND TRANSFERRED BEFORE 1 JANUARY, 1985
Deleted by Act No. 16 of 2014, s. 23(e).

NINTH SCHEDULE
[s. 23]

TAXATION OF EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES

[Act No. 18 of 1984, s. 8, Act No. 10 of 2010, s. 35,
Act No. 16 of 2014, Act No. 14 of 2015, Act No. 8 of 2021.]

Part I - INTERPRETATION
1. Interpretation
(1) In this Schedule, unless the context otherwise requires—
"consideration", in relation to the disposal of an interest in a person, a mining
or petroleum right, or mining or petroleum information, means the total amount
received or receivable for the disposal, including the fair market value of any
amount in kind determined at the time of the disposal;

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"contract area" means the area that is the subject of a petroleum agreement
and, if any part of that area is relinquished pursuant to the agreement, contract
area means the contract area that was originally granted;
"contractor" means a person with whom the Government has concluded a
petroleum agreement and includes any successor or assignee of the person;
"cost", in relation to an interest in a person, a mining or petroleum right,
or mining or petroleum information, means the total consideration given for the
acquisition of the interest, right, or information, including the fair market value of
any amount given in kind determined at the time the amount is given;
"de-commissioning plan" means a plan for the decommissioning,
abandonment, relocating or removal and, if applicable, redeployment of wells,
flowlines, pipelines, facilities, infrastructure and assets related to upstream
petroleum operations;
"development expenditure" means capital expenditure incurred by a
contractor when undertaking operations authorised under a development plan,
other than social infrastructure or expenditure to which Part II of the Second
Schedule applies, and includes expenditure whenever incurred in acquiring—
(a) an interest in a petroleum agreement other than an interest referred
to in paragraph (a) of the definition of "exploration expenditure"; or
(b) petroleum information other than information referred to in paragraph
(b) of the definition of "exploration expenditure";
"development plan" means a development plan prepared and adopted under
a petroleum agreement;
"disposal" in—
(a) relation to an interest in a person, a mining or petroleum right, or
mining or petroleum information, means any change in the ownership
of the interest, right, or information, including by way of sale, transfer,
assignment, or exchange;
(b) the case of an interest in a person, includes the cancellation or
redemption of the interest;
"exploration expenditure" means expenditure incurred by a contractor in
undertaking exploration operations authorised under a petroleum agreement, other
than social infrastructure expenditure or expenditure to which Part II of the Second
Schedule applies, and includes expenditure incurred in acquiring —
(a) an interest in a petroleum agreement from the Government or under
a farm-out agreement; or
(b) petroleum information relating to exploration operations from the
Government or under a farm-out agreement;
"exploration operations" means work authorised under a petroleum
agreement in the search for petroleum prior to the approval of a development plan
and includes—
(a) geological, geophysical, and geochemical surveys and analyses;
(b) aerial mapping;
(c) investigations of subsurface geology;
(d) stratigraphic tests;

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(e) the drilling of wells to test a geological feature that has not already
been determined to contain producible petroleum sufficient for
commercial production;
(f) any other work that is necessarily connected with activities described
in paragraphs (a) to (e);
"extraction expenditure" means capital expenditure incurred by a licensee
when undertaking operations authorised under an extraction right, other than social
infrastructure expenditure or expenditure to which Part II of the Second Schedule
applies, and includes expenditure whenever incurred in acquiring —
(a) an interest in a mining right other than an interest referred to in
paragraph (a) of the definition of "prospecting expenditure"; or
(b) mining information other than information referred to in paragraph (b)
of the definition of "prospecting expenditure";
(c) a right to extract minerals issued or granted under the Mining Act
(Cap. 306); or
(d) a right to extract geothermal resources issued or granted under the
Geothermal Resources Act (Cap. 314A);
"farm-out agreement" means an agreement to which paragraph 13 applies;
"interest in a person" includes a share or other membership interest in a
company, an interest in a partnership or trust, or any other ownership interest in
a person;
"licence area" means the area that is the subject of a mining right;
"licensee" means a person who has been issued with, or granted, a mining
right;
"minerals" has the meaning assigned to it in the Mining Act (Cap. 306);
"mining information" means information relating to mining operations;
"mining operations" means authorised operations undertaken under a mining
right;
"mining right" means a prospecting or extraction right;
"person" includes an individual, company, partnership, trust, government, or
similar body or association;
"petroleum agreement" has the meaning assigned to it in the Petroleum
(Exploration and Production) Act (Cap. 308);
"Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act" means the Petroleum
(Exploration and Production) Act (Cap. 308), or any successor legislation dealing
with the exploration, development, production, and transportation of petroleum;
"petroleum information" means information relating to petroleum operations;
"petroleum operations" means authorized operations undertaken under a
petroleum agreement;
"prospecting expenditure" means expenditure incurred in undertaking
operations authorised under a prospecting right, other than social infrastructure
expenditure or expenditure to which Part II of the Second Schedule applies, and
includes expenditure incurred in acquiring —
(a) an interest in a prospecting right from the Government or under a
farm-out agreement; or

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(b) prospecting information from the Government or under a farm-out

agreement;
"prospecting information" means mining information relating to the search
for minerals under a prospecting right;
"prospecting right" means any of the following—
(a) a right to prospect for minerals issued or granted under the Mining
Act (Cap. 306);
(b) an authority or right to search for geothermal resources issued or
granted under the Geothermal Resources Act (Cap. 314A);
"social infrastructure expenditure" means capital expenditure incurred by a
licensee or contractor on the construction of a public school, hospital, road, or any
similar social infrastructure;
"subcontractor" means a person supplying services other than a person
supplying services as an employee to —
(a) a licensee in respect of mining operations undertaken by the licensee;
or
(b) a contractor in respect of petroleum operations undertaken by the
contractor;
"underlying ownership", in relation to a person, means an interest in the
person held directly, or indirectly through an interposed person or persons, by an
individual or by a person not ultimately owned by the individuals.
(2) Unless the context otherwise requires, any term that is not defined in this
Act but is defined in the Mining Act, Geothermal Resources Act or Petroleum
(Exploration and Production) Act, has the meaning assigned in the Mining Act,
Geothermal Resources Act or Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, as the
case may be.
(3) Where more than one person has signed a petroleum agreement, each
person shall be considered as a contractor for the purposes of this Schedule.
(4) In case of a deduction on social infrastructure expenditure, section 15(2)
(x) shall apply.
[Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 20(a).]

Part II - MINING OPERATIONS

2. Taxation of licenses
(1) A licensee is subject to tax in accordance with this Act but subject to the
modifications in this Schedule.
(2) Where there is any inconsistency between this Schedule and any other
provision of this Act regarding the taxation of a licensee, this Schedule shall prevail.
(3) The corporate rate specified under paragraph 2 of Head B of the Third
Schedule shall be the rate of income tax applicable to a licensee that is a company.
3. Limitation of deductions relating to mining operations
(1) Subject to subparagraph (5), a deduction for expenditure to the extent
incurred by a licensee when undertaking mining operations in a licence area during
a year of income shall only be allowed against the income derived by the licensee
from the mining operations in the licence area during that year.

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(2) It a licensee suffers a loss in respect of mining operations in a licence area

for a year of income, the amount of the loss shall be carried forward and allowed
as a deduction against the income of the licensee derived from mining operations
in the licence area in the next following year of income of the licensee.
(3) The amount of a loss for a year of income that is not deducted under
subparagraph (2) shall be carried forward by the licensee to the next following year
of income and be deductible in that year in accordance with subparagraph (2), and
so on until the loss is fully deducted or the mining operations in the licence area
cease.
(4) If a licensee has carried forward a loss for a licence area under
subparagraph (2) for more than one year of income, the loss of the earliest year of
income shall be allowed as a deduction first.
(5) If —
(a) a licensee has ceased mining operations under a mining right in a
licence area; and
(b) the licensee suffers a loss in relation to the mining operations under
the mining right in the licence area for a year of income that has not
been deducted under subparagraph (2),
the licensee may elect, by notice in writing to the Commissioner, to treat the
loss as a loss under subparagraph (2) in relation to another licence area in which
the licensee undertakes mining operations if the area covered by the second-
mentioned licence area falls wholly within the area covered by the first-mentioned
licence area.
(6) If—
(a) a licensee has ceased mining operations under a mining right in a
licence area during a year of income and has a loss in relation to the
mining operations under the mining right in the licence area for that
year; and
(b) subparagraph (5) does not apply to the licensee in respect of the
ceased mining operations,
the licensee may elect, by notice in writing to the Commissioner, to treat the
loss as a loss in relation to the mining operations undertaken by the licensee in the
licence area in the previous year of income.
(7) The amount of a loss for a year of income that is not deducted under
subparagraph (6) may be carried back for not more than three years of income
from the year in which the loss arose.
(8) A licensee has a loss in relation to mining operations in a licence area for a
year of income if the total deductions of a licensee in respect of mining operations
undertaken by the licensee in the licence area during the year exceed the total
amount of income derived from such operations in the area for the year.
4. Prospecting expenditure
(1) A licensee shall be allowed a deduction for prospecting expenditure in the
year of income in which the licensee incurred the expenditure.
(2) Subject to paragraph 13, if a licensee —
(a) disposes of an interest in a mining right or information the cost of which
was deducted as prospecting expenditure under subparagraph (1); or

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(b) otherwise recovers or recoups an amount deducted as prospecting

expenditure under subparagraph (1),
the consideration for the disposal, or the amount recovered or recouped, is
income of the licensee charged to tax under section 3(2)(a)(i) in the year of income
in which the interest is disposed of or the amount is otherwise recovered or
recouped.
(3) The rate of depreciation for machinery first used to undertake operations
under a prospecting right shall be the rate specified in paragraph 1(b)(x) of the
Second Schedule.
[Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 21(a).]

5. Extraction expenditure
(1) Subject to subparagraphs (2) and (3), a licensee shall be allowed a
deduction for extraction expenditure in the year of income in which the licensee
incurred the expenditure and in the following years of income until the expenditure
has been fully deducted and the deduction for each year of income is twenty per
cent of the amount of the expenditure.
(2) If a licensee incurs extraction expenditure before the commencement
of commercial production, subparagraph (1) shall apply on the basis that the
expenditure was incurred at the commencement of commercial production.
(3) The amount of the deduction allowed under subparagraph (1) for the year of
income in which the commencement of commercial production occurs is computed
according to the following formula—
A x B/C
where: —
A is the amount of the expenditure
B is the number of days in the period beginning on the date of commencement
of commercial production and ending on the last day of the year of income in which
commercial production commenced; and
C is the number of days in the year of income in which commercial production
commenced.
(4) The total deductions allowed to a licensee under this paragraph for
extraction expenditure for the current year of income and all previous years of
income shall not exceed the amount of the expenditure.
(5) Subject to paragraph 13, if a licensee disposes of an interest in a mining
right or information the cost of which was deducted as extraction expenditure under
subparagraph (1) during a year of income, no deduction shall be allowed for the
extraction expenditure for that year and—
(a) if the consideration for the disposal exceeds the written down value
of the interest or information at the time of disposal, the amount of the
excess is income of the licensee charged to tax under section 3(2)(a)
(i) in the year of income in which the disposal occurred; or
(b) if the written down value of the interest or information at the time of
disposal exceeds the consideration for the disposal, the licensee shall
be allowed a deduction for the amount of the excess in the year of
income in which the disposal occurred.
(6) Except where subparagraph (5) applies, if a licensee recovers or recoups an
amount deducted as extraction expenditure under subparagraph (1), the amount

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recovered or recouped shall be income of the licensee charged to tax under section
3(2)(a)(i) in the year of income in which the amount is recovered or recouped.
(7) In this paragraph—
"commencement of commercial production" means the first period of thirty
consecutive days during which the average level of production on the twenty five
highest production days in the thirty-day period reaches such production level as
may be determined by the Cabinet Secretary responsible for mining; and
"written down value", in relation to an interest in a mining right or information
of a licensee, means the cost of the right or information reduced by the deductions
allowed to the licensee in respect of the right or information under this paragraph.
6. Rehabilitation expenditure
(1) A contribution made by a licensee to a rehabilitation fund in accordance with
an approved rehabilitation plan relating the licensee's mining operations shall be
allowed as a deduction for the year of income in which the contribution was made.
(2) An expenditure incurred by a licensee in carrying out work required by an
approved rehabilitation plan in respect of the licensee's mining operations shall be
allowed as a deduction for the year of income in which the expenditure is incurred:
Provided that the work is not paid for, directly or indirectly, from money
made available out of the licensee's rehabilitation fund for the licensee's mining
operations.
(3) An amount accumulated in or withdrawn from a rehabilitation fund to meet
expenditure incurred under an approved plan and interest income and investment
income in respect of a rehabilitation fund shall be exempt from tax.
(4) Subject to subparagraph (5), an amount withdrawn from a rehabilitation
fund and returned to the licensee shall be considered as income of the licensee
and shall be charged to tax under section 3(2)(a)(i) in the year of income in which
the amount was returned to the licensee.
(5) Any surplus in a rehabilitation fund of a licensee at the time of completion of
rehabilitation shall be considered as income of the licensee and shall be charged
to tax under section 3(2)(a)(i) in the year of income in which rehabilitation is
completed.
(6) In this paragraph —
"approved rehabilitation plan" means a plan for the rehabilitation of a mine
site approved by the Cabinet Secretary responsible for mining; and
"rehabilitation fund" means a fund or account required to be established
under a mining right to provide for the future payment of remedial work to the licence
area covered by the mining right and is managed jointly by the Cabinet Secretary
responsible for mining and the licensee.
[Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 20(b).]

Part III - PETROLEUM OPERATIONS

7. Taxation of contractors
(1) A contractor is subject to tax in accordance with this Act but subject to the
modifications in this Schedule.
(2) If there is any inconsistency between this Schedule and any other provision
the Act, in relation to the taxation of a contractor, this Schedule shall prevail.
(3) The rate of income tax applicable to a contractor is —

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(a) in the case of a resident company, thirty per cent; or

(b) in the case of a non-resident company, thirty seven and a half per
cent.
8. Limitation of deductions relating to petroleum operations
(1) A deduction for expenditure to the extent incurred by a contractor in
undertaking petroleum operations in a contract area during a year of income shall
be allowed only against the income derived by the contractor from the petroleum
operations in the contract area during the year.
(2) If a contractor suffers a loss in respect of petroleum operations in a contract
area for a year of income, the amount of the loss shall be carried forward and
allowed as a deduction against the income of the contractor derived from petroleum
operations in the contract area in the next following year of income of the contractor.
(3) The amount of a loss for a year of income that is not deducted under
subparagraph (2) shall be carried forward by the contractor to the next following
year of income and be deductible in that year in accordance with subparagraph
(2), and so on until the loss is fully deducted or the petroleum operations in the
contact area cease.
(4) It a contractor suffers a loss carried forward for a contract area under
subparagraph (2) for more than one year of income, the loss of the earliest year of
income shall be allowed as a deduction first.
(5) If a contractor has ceased petroleum operations under a petroleum
agreement in a contract area during a year of income and the contractor has a
loss in relation to the petroleum operations under the petroleum agreement in the
contract area for that year the contractor may elect, by notice in writing to the
Commissioner, to treat the loss as a loss in relation to the petroleum operations
undertaken by the contractor in the contract area in the previous year of income.
(6) The amount of a loss for a year of income that is not deducted under
subparagraph (5) may be carried back for not more than three years of income
from the year in which the loss arose.
(7) A contractor suffers a loss in relation to petroleum operations in a contract
area for a year of income if the total deductions of a contractor in respect of
petroleum operations undertaken by the contractor in the contract area during the
year exceed the total amount of income derived from such operations in the area
for the year.
9. Exploration expenditure
(1) A contractor shall be allowed a deduction for exploration expenditure in the
year of income in which the contractor incurred the expenditure.
(2) Subject to paragraph 13, if a contractor —
(a) disposes of an interest in a petroleum agreement or information
the cost of which was deducted as exploration expenditure under
subparagraph (1); or
(b) otherwise recovers or recoups an amount deducted as exploration
expenditure under subparagraph (1), the consideration for the
disposal, or the amount recovered or recouped, shall be considered
as income of the contractor and be charged to tax under section 3(2)
(a)(i) in the year of income in which the interest is disposed of or the
amount is otherwise recovered or recouped.

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(3) The rate of depreciation for machinery first used to undertake exploration
operations shall be the rate specified in paragraph 1 (b)(xi) of the Second Schedule.
[Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 21(b).]

10. Development expenditure

(1) Subject to subparagraphs (2) and (3), a contractor shall be allowed
a deduction for development expenditure in the year of income in which the
contractor incurred the expenditure and in following years of income until the
expenditure has been fully deducted and the deduction for each year of income
shall be twenty per cent of the amount of the expenditure.
(2) It a contractor incurs development expenditure before the commencement
of commercial production, subparagraph (1) shall apply on the basis that the
expenditure was incurred at the time of commencement of commercial production.
(3) The amount of the deduction allowed under subparagraph (1) for the year
of income in which commencement of commercial production occurs shall be
computed according to the following formula:
A x B/C
where —
A is the amount of the expenditure;
B is the number of days in the period beginning on the date of commencement
of commercial production and ending on the last day of the year of income in which
commercial production commenced; and
C is the number of days in the year of income in which commercial production
commenced.
(4) The total deductions allowed to a contractor under this paragraph for
development expenditure for the current year of income and all previous years of
income shall not exceed the amount of the expenditure.
(5) Subject to paragraph 15, if a contractor disposes of an interest in
a petroleum agreement or information the cost of which was deducted as
development expenditure under subparagraph (1) during a year of income, no
deduction shall be allowed for the development expenditure for that year and —
(a) the consideration for the disposal exceeds the written down value of
the interest or information at the time of disposal, the amount of the
excess shall be considered income of the contractor charged to tax
under section 3(2)(a)(i) in the year of income in which the disposal
occurred; or
(b) the written down value of the interest or information at the time of
disposal exceeds the consideration for the disposal, the contractor
shall be allowed a deduction for the amount of the excess in the year
of income in which the disposal occurred.
(6) Except where subparagraph (5) applies, if a contractor recovers or recoups
an amount deducted as development expenditure under subparagraph (1), the
amount recovered or recouped shall be considered income of the contractor
charged to tax under section 3(2)(a)(i) in the year of income in which the amount
is recovered or recouped.
(7) In this paragraph —
"commencement of commercial production" means the first day of
commercial production as determined under the petroleum agreement; and

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"written down value", in relation to an interest in a petroleum agreement or

information of a contractor, means the acquisition cost of the interest or information
reduced by the deductions allowed to the contractor in respect of the interest or
information under this paragraph.
11. Decommissioning expenditure
(1) A contractor shall be allowed a deduction for the amount that the contractor
transfers to an escrow account during a year of income as required under an
approved decommissioning plan for a contract area made under a petroleum
agreement to finance expenditure expected to be incurred by the contractor in the
abandonment and decommissioning of petroleum operations undertaken under the
petroleum agreement.
(2) Subject to subparagraph (3), a contractor shall be allowed a deduction for
expenditure incurred by the contractor under an approved decommissioning plan
in the abandonment and decommissioning of petroleum operations in a contract
area.
(3) A deduction shall not be allowed under subparagraph (2) for expenditure
incurred in the abandonment and decommissioning of petroleum operations in a
contract area if the expenditure is paid for, directly or indirectly from money made
available out of the escrow account established under the decommissioning plan
for the contract area to finance such expenditure.
(4) An amount accumulated in an escrow account, or an amount withdrawn
from an escrow account to meet expenditure incurred under an approved
decommissioning plan for a contract area, shall be exempt from tax.
(5) An amount withdrawn from the escrow account and returned to the
contractor shall be considered income of the contractor charged to tax under
section 3(2)(a)(i) in the year of income in which the amount was returned to the
contractor.
(6) Any surplus in an escrow account established under an approved
decommissioning plan for a contract area by a contractor at the time of completion
of decommissioning of the contract area to which the account relates is included
in the income of the contractor for the year of income in which decommissioning
is completed.
(7) In this section —
"approved decommissioning plan" has the meaning assigned to it under the
Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act (Cap. 308).
12. Paid-on-behalf
(1) This paragraph shall apply where the portion of profit oil and gas that
the Government is entitled to take and receive under a petroleum agreement is
inclusive of taxes payable by the contractor under this Act.
(2) For the avoidance of doubt, where this paragraph applies, the portion of
profit oil and gas that the Government is entitled to take and receive under a
petroleum agreement with a contractor shall be inclusive only of the taxes payable
by the contractor under this Act directly in relation to the petroleum operations
undertaken by the contractor and shall exclude—
(a) the tax payable on any gain made by the contractor or any other
person on a disposal, directly or indirectly, of an interest in the
petroleum agreement; or

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(b) any tax that the contractor is liable under the Act to deduct from a
payment made by the contractor.
Part IV - COMMON RULES APPLICABLE
TO MINING AND PETROLEUM OPERATION
13. Farm-outs
(1) This paragraph shall apply where —
(a) a licensee or contractor has entered into an agreement (referred
to as a "farm-out agreement") with a person (referred to as the
"transferee") for the transfer of an interest in a mining right or
petroleum agreement; and
(b) the consideration given by the transferee for the interest wholly
or partly includes the transferee undertaking some or all of the
work commitments of the licensee or contractor under the right or
agreement.
(2) It this paragraph applies, and the transfer of the interest occurs at the time
the farm-out agreement is entered into, the consideration received by the licensee
or contractor for the interest shall not include the value of any work undertaken by
the transferee on behalf of the licensee or contractor.
(3) If this paragraph applies and the transfer of the interest is deferred until
the transferee completes some or all of the work commitments of the licensee or
contractor under the mining right or petroleum agreement —
(a) any amount in money payable under the farm-out agreement before
the transfer of the interest shall be included in the income of the
contractor charged to tax under section 3(2)(a)(i) in the year of income
in which the amount is payable; and
(b) the value of any work undertaken by the transferee on behalf of the
licensee or contractor shall be excluded in —
(i) the consideration received by the licensee or contractor for the
transfer of the interest; or
(ii) the income of the contractor charged to tax under this Act.
(4) If an interest referred to in subparagraph (3) is subsequently transferred,
the consideration received by the licensee or contractor shall not include any
amount included in the income of the licensee or contractor charged to tax under
subparagraph (3)(a).
14. Indirect transfers of interest
(1) A licensee or a contractor shall immediately notify the Commissioner, in
writing, if there is a ten per cent or more change in the underlying ownership of a
licensee or contractor.
(2) If the person disposing of the interest to which the notice under
subparagraph (1) relates is a non-resident person, the licensee or contractor shall
be liable, as agent of the non-resident person, for any tax payable under this Act
by the non-resident person in respect of the disposal.
15. Taxation of subcontractors
(1) Subject to subparagraph (3), a non-resident subcontractor who derives a
fee for the provision of services (referred to in this paragraph as a "services fee")
to a licensee or contractor in respect of mining or petroleum operations shall be

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liable to pay non-resident withholding tax at the rate specified in subparagraph (2)
on the gross amount of the services fee.
(2) The rate of withholding tax under subparagraph (1) is —
(a) for a service fee paid by a contractor, ten per cent; or
(b) for a service fee paid by a licensee, ten per cent.
(3) Subparagraph (1) shall not apply if the subcontractor provides the services
giving rise to the fee through a permanent established in Kenya.
(4) A services fee to which subparagraph (3) applies shall be deemed to be
income that accrued in or was derived from Kenya for the purposes of section 3
and be assessed to the subcontractor under section 44.
(5) A licensee or contractor paying a services fee to a non-resident
subcontractor that is subject to non-resident withholding tax under subparagraph
(1) shall deduct tax from the gross amount paid at the rate specified in
subparagraph (2).
(6) A licensee or contractor to whom subparagraph (5) applies shall deduct the
withholding tax at the earlier of —
(a) the time the licensee or contractor credits the services fee to the
account of the non-resident subcontractor; or
(b) the time the fee is actually paid.
(7) Section 35(5) and (6) shall apply to non-resident withholding tax that a
licensee or contractor is required to deduct under subparagraph (5) on the basis
that the tax is tax deducted under section 35(1).
(8) Non-resident withholding tax imposed under subparagraph (1) shall be a
final tax on the services fee and shall not be included in the calculation of the total
income of the subcontractor.
(9) In this section, "non-resident subcontractor" means a subcontractor that
is not a resident and includes a subcontractor that is a foreign government or
foreign government body.
[Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 20(c), Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 21 (c).]

16. Deduction of withholding tax by contractor

The rate of withholding tax to be deducted by a contractor under section 35(1)
is —
(a) in the case of dividends, ten per cent of the gross amount of the
dividend payable;
(b) in the case of interest, fifteen per cent of the gross amount of the
interest payable;
(c) in the case of royalties or a natural resource income twenty per cent of
the gross amount of the royalty payable or natural resource income; or
(d) in the case of management, training or professional fees, ten per cent
of the gross amount of the management, training or professional fees
payable.
[Act No. 14 of 2015, s. 20(d), Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 21(d).]

17. Source of income

An amount that is by virtue of this Schedule charged to tax under section 3(2)
(a)(i) shall be deemed to be income that accrued in or was derived from Kenya.

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18. Deductibility of interest

The provisions of Section 16(2)(j) shall apply to a contractor or a licensee.
[Act No. 8 of 2021, s. 21(e).]

19. Hedging transactions

(1) Subject to subparagraph (2), hedging transactions entered into by a licensee
or contractor shall be treated as a specified source of income for the purposes of
section 15 (7).
(2) Subparagraph (1) does not apply to an approved hedging transaction
entered into by a licensee or contractor that has an annual turnover of less than
ten million shillings as required to obtain project finance and approved by the
Commissioner.
(3) In this paragraph, "hedging transaction" means a transaction entered into
by a licensee or contractor to manage commodity price risk.

TENTH SCHEDULE
[s. 17A]

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE AND AUTHORISED AGENTS

[Act No. 8 of 1989, s. 24, Act No. 6 of 1994, s. 48, Act No. 13
of 1995, s. 90, Act No. 5 of 1998, s. 41, Act No. 4 of 1999, s. 42.]

Produce Authorized Agents

Maize (grain) Kenya Seed Company Limited.
National Cereals and Produce Board.
Millers.
Wheat (grain) Kenya Seed Company Limited
Kenya Grain Growers Co-operative
Union.
National Cereals and Produce Board.
Millers.
Barley (grain) Kenya Breweries Limited.
Rice (Paddy) National Irrigation Board.
Cut Sugar-cane Miwani Sugar Mills Limited.
Chemelil Sugar Co. Limited.
Mumias Sugar Co. Limited.
Associated Sugar Co. Limited.
South Nyanza Sugar Co. Limited.
Muhoroni Sugar-cane Farmers Co-
operative Union Limited.
Pyrethrum Flower (Wet and dry) Pyrethrum
Board of Kenya
Tobacco Leaf B.A.T. (Kenya) Limited.
Mastermind Tobacco (K) Limited.
Tea Leaf Kenya Tea Development Authority.
James Finlays P.L.C.
Brooke Bond Kenya Limited.
Eastern Produce Africa Limited.
George Williamson Kenya Limited.
Sasini Tea and Coffee Limited.

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Pannel Bellhouse Mwangi & Co.

(Kaisugu Ltd).
Kosagat Tea Estate.
Theta Group Limited. (Kibwari Tea
Estate Limited)
Mitchell Cons & Co. (E.A.) Limited.
(Nandi Tea Estates Limited).
Estates Services Limited. (Siret Tea Co.
Limited).
Kariarana Estates Limited.
Livingstone Registrars Limited.
(Ngorongo Tea Factory Limited).
African Highlands Produce Company
Coffee Coffee Board of Kenya
Raw Cashewnuts Kenya Cashewnuts Limited
National Cereals & Produce Board
Pigs Farmers Choice Limited.
Uplands Bacon Factory Limited
Raw Cotton Mwea Ginnery.
Kibos Ginnery.
Hola Ginnery.
Makueni Ginnery.
Meru Ginnery.
Salawa Ginnery.
Malindi Ginnery.
Homa Bay Ginnery.
Kendu Bay Ginnery.
Nambale Ginnery.
Samia Ginnery.
Malakisi Ginnery.
Ndere Ginnery.
Lamu Ginnery.
Kitui Ginnery
Hides and skins Kamiti Tanners Limited.
Aziz Din Nabi Bux.
New Market Leather Factory Limited.
Bulleys Tanneries Limited.
Nakuru Tanners Limited.
Nakuru Chrome Tanning Co. Limited.
Bata Shoe Co. Limited.
Sagana Tanneries Limited.
Alpharama Limited.
Barbar Tannery Limited.
Othor Tanneries.
Furs and Wool Limited.
Kitale Tanneries Limited.
Garissa Tanners Limited.
Leather Industries of Kenya Limited.
East African Leather Factory Limited.
Lake Tanners Limited.

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Deras Limited.

ELEVENTH SCHEDULE
[s. 4B]

TAXATION OF EXPORT PROCESSING ZONE ENTERPRISES

[Act No. 10 of 1990, s. 61, Act No. 8 of 1991, s. 77, Act No. 6 of 1994, s. 49,
Act No. 7 of 2002, s. 48A, Act No. 15 of 2003, s. 42, Act No. 9 of 2007, s. 30.]

1. In this Schedule, unless the context otherwise requires, "export processing

zone enterprise" has the same meaning as that ascribed to it in the Export
Processing Zones Act, 1990.
2. An export processing zone enterprise shall maintain its business accounts in a
convertible foreign currency of its choice provided that the Commissioner’s consent
of that choice has been requested and obtained.
3. During the period in which an export processing zone enterprise is exempt from
corporation tax according to paragraph 2(f) of the Third Schedule—
(a) the enterprise shall be deemed to be a non-resident subject to a
non-resident rate of withholding tax on payments made to such an
enterprise and, where such payments are made by a person who is
not an export processing zone enterprise, the tax shall be a final tax;
and
(b) payments by an export processing zone enterprise to any person
other than a resident person shall be deemed to be exempted from
tax.
4. Notwithstanding that an export processing zone enterprise will be exempted
from paying any corporation tax for the period specified in subparagraph 2(f) of
the Third Schedule, the enterprise will nonetheless be required to comply with Part
VIII of the Act and will submit an annual return of income under section 52 or a
return of income, together with a self-assessment of tax under section 52B and
business accounts under section 54 as is the case with all liable enterprises, and in
the event of failure to submit a return or late submission of a return, the enterprise
will be liable to a penalty of two thousand shillings per day for as long as the failure
continues.
5. The penalty imposed under paragraph (4) shall, for the purposes of the
provisions of the Act relating to the deduction and recovery of the tax, be deemed
to be tax.
6. The employees and directors, other than non-residents, of an export processing
zone enterprise shall be liable to personal income tax and the export processing
zone enterprise employing them will be required to comply with rules and
regulations concerning the deduction of tax from their employment income.
7. Where an export processing zone enterprise contracts out manufacturing
services to a related resident company that is not an export processing zone
enterprise, all income derived from the sale by the export processing zone
enterprise of the goods produced shall be treated as the income of the related
resident company, unless the Commissioner is satisfied that, the services provided
to the export processing zone were paid for at a fair market price.

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8. Where the related resident company that is not an export processing zone
enterprise provides services other than manufacturing services to an export
processing zone enterprise, the related resident company shall not deduct the cost
of providing such services unless the Commissioner is satisfied that the services
were provided at a fair market price.
9. For purposes of this Schedule, two companies are related when one company
owns whether directly or indirectly twelve and one-half per cent or more of the
voting shares of the other company.

TWELFTH SCHEDULE
[s. 12]

PROVISIONS RELATING TO INSTALMENT TAX

[Section 12, Act No. 10 of 1990, s. 62, Act No. 8 of 1991, s. 78, Act No. 4 of 1993,
s. 61, Act No. 13 of 1995, s. 91, Act No. 8 of 1996, s. 47, Act No. 7 of 2002, s. 49.]
1(a) Except as specified under paragraph (b), instalment tax payable by all persons
under section 12 shall be reduced under the provisions of section 12(4) and be
payable on the due dates as required under section 92 in the proportions specified
as follows—
Proportions of the amount calculated under section 12
payable on or before the twentieth day of the following
months in the accounting period of the current year of
income
For persons Fourth
Sixth Ninth Month Twelfth Month
with accounting Month
Month
periods
commencing on
or after
1st January 1990 15%
1st January 1991 30%
1st January 1992 45%
1st January 1993 60% 20%
1st January 1994 15% 60% 25%
1st January 1995 30& 45% 25%
1st January 1996 25%25% 25% 25%
(b) Where a person can satisfy the Commissioner that more than two
thirds of his income is derived from agricultural, pastoral, horticultural
or similar activities, the instalment tax payable by such persons under
section 12 will be reduced under the provisions of section 12(4) and
be payable on the due dates as required under section 92 in the
proportions specified as follows—
Proportions of the amount calculated under section 12 payable
on or before the twentieth day of the following months in the
current year of income
For persons Sixth Ninth Month Twelfth Month
with accounting Month
periods

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commencing on
or after
1st January 1990 15%
1st January 1991 30%
1st January 1992 45%
1st January 1993 60% 20%
1st January 1994 75% 25%
1st January 1995 75% 25%
2. Where the instalment tax payable is calculated by reference to subsection 2(b)
of section 12 and—
(a) the company’s immediate preceding year consists of less than three
hundred and sixty five days, the tax payable for the preceding year will
be deemed to be an amount that would have been assessed had the
company’s immediate preceding year been made up of three hundred
and sixty five days by multiply in the ratio that three hundred and sixty
five days is of the number of days in that year of income;
(b) the company that is making payment was formed as a result of
amalgamation of two or more companies, the tax assessed and
payable for the immediately preceding year will be deemed to be
the aggregate of the tax that would have been payable by all the
predecessor companies;
(c) the company that is making payment has had transferred to it during
winding up in the year preceding the year of income all or substantially
all the property from any of the companies which it controls by means
of the holding of shares or possession of voting power, the company’s
tax payable in the preceding year will be deemed to be the aggregate
of its own tax payable together with that of the company that it controls;
(d) the company making payment has had transferred to it by a related
company in the preceding year of income all or substantially all of its
property the company’s tax payable in the preceding year of income
will be deemed to be the sum total of the tax payable by both the
transferor and the transferee companies;
(e) the company making payment has commenced its business in that
year of income, the company’s preceding year of income will be
deemed to be NIL;
(f) "tax assessed and payable for the preceding year" shall be taken to
mean the amount payable immediately before the due date for the
instalment tax and shall disregard any subsequent amendments and
adjustments;
(g) where under this Act, a person has been permitted to make up the
accounts of his business for a period greater than twelve months, the
person shall calculate the instalment tax payable for such period in
accordance with section 12 of this Act, and then multiply the result
by the ratio of the number of days in the current year of income to
365 days.
3. The payment of instalment tax payable under section 12 shall be accompanied
by the following information—
(a) a declaration of the choice of method adopted by the person in
computing the instalment tax payable;

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(b) where the tax is computed on the basis of an estimate of the current
year of income, the total income of the person making the payment for
that year of income including income deemed to be his under this Act
which is chargeable to tax based on all information available to him at
the date upon which the payment is made and which he believes to be
true, and the tax chargeable on that income calculated by reference to
the appropriate reliefs and rates of tax in force at the date of the return;
(c) where the tax is computed on the basis of the preceding year
assessment, the amount of tax assessed for the preceding year;
(d) a declaration by the person making the return or by the person in
whose name he is assessable that the instalment payment of a full
and true estimate to the best his knowledge and belief.

THIRTEENTH SCHEDULE
TRANSACTIONS FOR WHICH PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION
NUMBER (PIN) WILL BE REQUIRED (Repealed)
Repealed by Act No. 38 of 2016, s. 19.

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