By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Kenya, July 10, 2026 - The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is set to phase out its long-standing Excel-based income tax return filing system and replace it with a fully web-based platform in 2027, marking one of the biggest changes to Kenya's tax administration since the launch of the iTax system.
The digital overhaul is aimed at simplifying tax compliance, reducing filing errors and supporting the new tax return timelines introduced under the Finance Act, 2026, which abolished the traditional June 30 annual filing deadline in favour of staggered submission dates for different categories of taxpayers.
Instead of downloading Excel spreadsheets, completing them offline and uploading them to iTax, taxpayers will be able to prepare and submit their returns directly through an internet browser. The new system is expected to automate much of the filing process while allowing KRA to validate taxpayer information in real time.
The planned migration represents a significant shift from a filing model that has been in use for years but has frequently attracted criticism from taxpayers over technical errors, file incompatibility issues and the complexity of preparing returns.
According to KRA, the new web-based platform is designed to improve efficiency, eliminate the need for manual Excel uploads and make it easier for taxpayers to comply with their obligations under the revised tax framework.
The reforms come shortly after the implementation of the Finance Act, 2026, which introduced sweeping changes to Kenya's income tax administration.
Under the new law, taxpayers whose income is fully taxed through Pay As You Earn (PAYE) will now file annual returns by April 30 of the following year, while individuals required to file nil returns, including inactive PIN holders, students and unemployed persons, will have until January 31. Business taxpayers will continue to file based on their respective accounting periods.
The revised deadlines will first apply to returns for the 2026 year of income, which will be submitted in 2027.
The transition to a browser-based platform is also expected to strengthen KRA's broader digital transformation strategy.
In recent years, the authority has increasingly integrated its systems with third-party data sources, including banks, employers, government agencies and the Electronic Tax Invoice Management System (eTIMS), enabling it to cross-check taxpayer declarations more efficiently and identify inconsistencies automatically.
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The web-based filing system is expected to enhance these capabilities by allowing real-time validation of information before returns are submitted, reducing errors that often arise from manual data entry.
Tax professionals say the move will significantly improve the taxpayer experience by eliminating the need to install Excel templates or troubleshoot upload errors, particularly during peak filing periods when the iTax system experiences heavy traffic.
The reforms are also expected to reduce processing time for returns while giving KRA greater visibility over compliance patterns and improving the efficiency of tax administration.
The planned upgrade builds on KRA's ongoing digitisation programme, which has already seen the rollout of eTIMS, simplified PAYE filing systems, digital payment platforms and enhanced online taxpayer services.
The authority is currently implementing a six-month tax amnesty programme running until December 31, 2026, allowing taxpayers to obtain waivers on penalties and interest for eligible tax liabilities incurred up to the end of 2025 after settling the principal tax owed. Officials have urged taxpayers to use the amnesty period to regularise their tax affairs before the new filing regime takes full effect.
For millions of Kenyan taxpayers, the shift signals the end of an era in which annual tax filing largely revolved around downloading and uploading Excel spreadsheets. If implemented as planned, the browser-based platform is expected to make filing faster, more intuitive and better aligned with KRA's growing use of digital data to improve tax compliance and revenue collection.