Kenya tax, payroll and business guides

Plain-English articles on Kenyan taxes, payroll and compliance.

• 24 Oct 2026 How to read a bill of lading and a packing listTwo documents decide whether your cargo clears smoothly. Here is what each one shows, the fields to check and the mismatches that cause delays and extra charges.
• 23 Oct 2026 Paying overseas suppliers safely: forex, fees and fraud checks for Kenyan importersHow to pay suppliers abroad through banks and other channels, the costs of exchange rates and transfer fees, how to protect against scams, and the records customs and KRA expect.
• 22 Oct 2026 Importing machinery and spare parts into Kenya: duty, VAT and tax allowancesHow machinery, equipment and spare parts are taxed on import, how to check for reduced duty or remission, and how to claim capital allowances after you install them.
• 21 Oct 2026 Why imports get delayed at the port in Kenya, and how to avoid itThe most common causes of clearing delays: documents, valuation queries, missing permits, payment errors and storage fees, with a prevention checklist.
• 20 Oct 2026 Importing for your own use versus for resale: what changesBringing in goods for yourself is treated differently from importing to sell. Here is how duty, VAT, permits, records and personal allowances differ in each case.
• 20 Oct 2026 Working out your profit on imported goods after all costsThe supplier's price is only the start. Duty, VAT, freight, clearing, storage and currency all reduce the margin. Here is how to cost an import properly and price it to make a profit.
• 20 Oct 2026 Import VAT in Kenya: how to claim it back on your VAT returnHow import VAT is calculated and paid at customs, what evidence you need to claim it as input VAT, the timing rules and common reasons claims are rejected.
• 20 Oct 2026 Tracking your shipment from order to delivery: a stage-by-stage checklistAn import passes through a dozen stages between the supplier's factory and your door. Here is a checklist for each stage, what can go wrong and who you should be talking to.
• 20 Oct 2026 How to vet an overseas supplier before you payMost import losses start with a payment to a supplier who never delivered or delivered the wrong goods. Here is a practical way to check a supplier and protect your money.
• 20 Oct 2026 Managing currency risk when you import or exportWhen you buy or sell in dollars, euros or pounds, the exchange rate can change your profit overnight. Here is how currency risk works and the practical ways to manage it.
• 19 Oct 2026 Importing electronics and phones into Kenya: standards, duty and costsWhat importers of phones, laptops and appliances need: type approval, KEBS conformity, duty and VAT, how to cost a shipment and how to avoid counterfeit stock.
• 18 Oct 2026 Prohibited and restricted imports into Kenya: what you cannot bring in or need a permit forWhich goods are banned, which need approval from an agency, and how to check before you order so your shipment is not seized or held.