A Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC) issued by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is an official document confirming that an individual or business has filed all required tax returns and settled all outstanding tax obligations.
Valid for 12 months from the date of issue, a TCC is completely free to obtain through the KRA iTax portal.
When Do You Need a TCC?
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Tenders & Public Procurement: Mandatory when bidding for government or institutional contracts.
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Employment Applications: Frequently requested by public sector employers and major corporate organizations before onboarding.
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Licensing & Permits: Required for processing or renewing trade licenses, liquor licenses, and import/export permits.
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Banking & Credit: Necessary for specific commercial loans or opening specialized business accounts.
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Work Permits: Required for expatriates renewing Kenyan work authorization.
Requirements for Issuance
Before submitting an application, confirm that the following criteria are met:
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Active iTax Profile: A registered KRA PIN with up-to-date contact details.
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Complete Filing Record: All relevant tax returns filed on or before due dates (Income Tax, PAYE, VAT, Turnover Tax, etc.).
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Zero Tax Balances: No unpaid tax liabilities, or an active, approved KRA payment plan with initial installments paid.
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eTIMS Integration: Businesses and individuals earning income other than employment income must be registered on and compliant with the Electronic Tax Invoice Management System (eTIMS).
How to Apply on iTax
The application process is fully automated on the KRA iTax platform:
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Navigate to the top menu, select Certificates, and click Apply for Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC).
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Select your reason for applying from the drop-down menu.
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Review your pre-filled details and click Submit.
If your tax account is fully compliant, the certificate generates instantly for download and is automatically sent to your registered email address. If there are outstanding liabilities, unfiled returns, or missing eTIMS records, the system will highlight the specific issues blocking approval.