16/01/2026
Is Rent Income also subject to eTims?The answer is...
Yes — rent is now effectively subject to eTIMS requirements in Kenya under the new tax compliance regime. Here’s what’s new and what it means:
📌 1. Rent Income & eTIMS
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has made it clear that individuals earning rental income must be onboarded onto eTIMS and issue electronic tax invoices — including for rent — if they want to remain compliant, especially when applying for a Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC).
📌 2. Why Rent Falls Under eTIMS
According to KRA, all persons engaged in business must issue eTIMS electronic tax invoices for transactions related to business income — and this now explicitly includes Monthly Rental Income (MRI).
📌 3. Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC) Requirement
If you earn rental income (e.g., from letting out property), KRA has stated that to be issued a TCC, you must use eTIMS to generate invoices for that rental income.
📌 4. Tax Return Validation (Effective Jan 2026)
From 1 January 2026, KRA will validate income and expenses declared in tax returns against eTIMS-generated data. This means:
Rental income you declare on your return must link to eTIMS invoices in KRA’s system.
Expenses you want to claim (if allowed) also need eTIMS invoices.
📌 5. Exemptions
There are limited exceptions under the Tax Procedures Act and related regulations, but rental income is not generally exempt from eTIMS if you are required to invoice and report it as business income.
💡 Key Takeaway
Yes — rent (as business/rental income) is now covered by eTIMS requirements. If you are collecting rent professionally or regularly (beyond informal personal arrangements), you’ll need to:
Register for eTIMS with your KRA PIN.
Issue eTIMS electronic tax invoices for rent collected.
Ensure those invoices are reflected in your KRA data — especially if you want tax compliance status or to file returns correctly.