The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has announced a new simplified process for filing annual income tax returns via its iTax platform, targeting salaried employees across Kenya. The update eliminates the need for Excel sheets and auto-populates salary and tax details from employer submissions. Workers now only need to confirm any additional reliefs and expenses.
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) announced this measure on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, urging employed Kenyans to use the new 'Simplified Return' feature, designed specifically for individuals whose only source of income is employment. In the past, salaried workers used complicated Excel sheets to file their income tax returns, spending more time in the process. However, in the latest update, the use of the Excel sheet has been removed.
"Employed Kenyans, listen up! Filing taxes just got easier. No more wrestling with Excel sheets, use Simplified Returns on iTax! It's quick, simple, and totally hassle-free," KRA noted.
In this case, the system automatically populates salary and tax details based on employer submissions, with the taxpayer only required to confirm whether they have additional reliefs and expenses. According to KRA, if someone is paying a mortgage or has an insurance policy that qualifies for tax relief, they can select 'Yes' and enter the required details. If they do not have any of these, they simply select 'No' and proceed.
KRA noted that the Simplified Return option on the iTax platform comes with pre-filled details, including Personal Identification Number (PIN), employment income, and all already deducted taxes.
Step-by-Step Process
Visit the KRA website kra.go.ke and use your national identification number to log in to the iTax platform.
- Head to the Returns tab and then select Simplified Returns.
- Click the Income Tax Return (ITR) for employment income only.
- Select the period of filing and click Next. A document containing pre-filled details will be populated.
This means employees no longer have to manually input most of their information, significantly reducing errors and saving time. The simplified process mainly targets employees who earn income from only one employer and do not have other sources, such as business income or rental earnings.
KRA Introduces Phased Income Tax Returns Filing
Meanwhile, the latest update comes just two weeks after KRA announced the introduction of phased filing of the annual income tax returns for the 2026 cycle. In a statement on February 5, KRA announced the introduction of a phased filing approach, aimed at making tax filing easier, faster, and more personalised for millions of taxpayers.
KRA revealed that the changes are designed to end the last-minute rush that it claimed often overwhelms taxpayers and the iTax system every year. Under the new approach, taxpayers will be grouped based on income complexity instead of everyone filing at the same time. KRA said it will send SMS and email notifications to guide taxpayers on when and how to file.