KRA Introduces Mandatory Requirement for All Imports Into Kenya

6 days ago 220

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has announced the instauration of a caller mandatory request connected imports into the state that indispensable beryllium met by each importers, customs clearing agents, and members of the public.

KRA, successful a nationalist announcement connected Wednesday, July 9, issued a reminder that, effectual July 1, 2025, it is mandatory for each consignments imported into Kenya to beryllium accompanied by a Certificate of Origin (COO).

The COO should beryllium issued by a competent authorization from the state of export.

According to the authority, this complies with Section 44A of the Tax Procedures Act, CAP. 469B (as amended by the Finance Act, 2025.

“This marks a extremist displacement from anterior practice, wherever COOs were required lone for goods nether preferential commercialized arrangements to find root and confer tariff benefits,” work portion of the statement.

KRA lists requirements and guidance

According to KRA, a competent authorization issuing the COO refers to a authorities bureau oregon officially designated assemblage successful the exporting state that is authorized to contented certificates of origin.

For a COO to beryllium valid, it indispensable see the sanction and code of the exporter, the sanction and code of the importer, the larboard of origin, and an close statement of the goods.

Also Read: KEBS Issues New Guidelines for Importing Used Cars into Kenya

It indispensable besides see the quantity of the goods, the state of origin, and the state of destination.

A Certificate of Origin shall beryllium valid if it discloses the pursuing information.

The Act besides introduces penalties for noncompliance, which KRA said shall pb to seizure oregon forfeiture of goods to the Commissioner oregon an authorized officer.

To easiness the transition, KRA has provided a constricted model until September 30, 2025, for importers to unafraid the indispensable documents.

Importers person been urged to prosecute their suppliers aboriginal to guarantee compliance and to marque definite each aboriginal shipments are accompanied by valid COOs.

“Note that astatine the lapse of this window, non-compliant consignments shall beryllium liable to forfeiture arsenic provided for successful the Act. KRA remains committed to facilitating morganatic commercialized portion ensuring afloat compliance with the law,” the announcement adds.

Independent Review of Objections (IRO) and Technical Review Unit (TRU) for Customs

This comes days aft the authorization announced a large displacement successful however it volition grip objections to Customs decisions.

In a nationalist announcement dated July 3, 2025, KRA unveiled a caller autarkic reappraisal process aimed astatine enhancing fairness and ratio successful quality resolution.

Also Read: KRA Announces New Interest Rates for Employee and Company Loans

The authorization revealed that it is introducing the Independent Review of Objections (IRO) and a Technical Review Unit (TRU) for Customs matters.

This determination follows ineligible provisions nether the Kenya Gazette Notice No.1036, published connected February 1, 2019, and aligns with Sections 229 and 230 of the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA), 2004.

The caller strategy allows individuals and businesses who consciousness aggrieved by decisions oregon omissions by Customs officials to formally lodge objections wrong 30 days, according to KRA.

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