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eTIMS for shops in Kenya: what you need at the till

eTIMS is KRA’s Electronic Tax Invoice Management System. Businesses issue tax invoices through it, and each invoice is sent to KRA as the sale happens. This page explains who needs it, why it matters now, and what your POS should do.

Last reviewed November 2026. This is general information, not tax advice. Rules change, so confirm the current position with KRA or a tax adviser.

Who has to use eTIMS

KRA’s position is that every person carrying on business in Kenya should issue eTIMS invoices, whether or not they are VAT-registered, with limited exemptions. That covers sole proprietors, partnerships, companies and informal traders.

Why it matters in 2026

KRA now checks income tax returns against eTIMS invoice data, withholding tax data and customs records. From the 2026 year of income, the income and expenses you declare need valid electronic tax invoices behind them. If a supplier does not issue eTIMS invoices, you may lose the deduction on that expense.

Your options

  • eTIMS Lite is for small traders, through a web page or USSD.
  • eTIMS Client suits larger businesses with several branches.
  • System-to-system integration lets your POS or ERP create the invoice at the sale and send it to KRA. This is what most busy shops need.

Registration starts on the official portal, etims.kra.go.ke, with your KRA PIN. eTIMS is not iTax: iTax handles registration, returns and payments, while eTIMS records invoices as sales happen.

What a POS should do at the till

  • Hold each item with its KRA item code, unit of measure and tax rate.
  • Capture the buyer’s KRA PIN when it is needed.
  • Create the invoice with its QR code at the point of sale, not afterwards.
  • Keep a record of every invoice and handle VAT correctly.
  • Match the M-Pesa payment to the same sale.

How to check a vendor’s eTIMS claim

KRA publishes a list of approved third-party eTIMS integrators, with each firm’s product name and version. If a vendor says its POS is “eTIMS-ready”, ask for the product name and look for it on that list.

Omnistack and eTIMS

eTIMS support in Omnistack is in development. We will state our KRA approval status on this page once it is confirmed. Until then, onboard to eTIMS with KRA directly, and ask any vendor, including us, to show proof.

Comparing systems? Read how to choose a POS system in Kenya.

Common questions

Do I need eTIMS if I am not VAT-registered?

KRA’s position is that all persons carrying on business must use it, with limited exemptions. Check your own case with KRA.

Is eTIMS the same as iTax?

No. iTax is for registration, returns and payments. eTIMS is for sales invoices issued as each sale happens. Most businesses use both.

Can I use eTIMS without a POS?

Small traders can use eTIMS Lite. A POS becomes worthwhile when you have steady daily sales, several staff or more than one branch.

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