News

VAT Assessment

Are Financial Service Providers Exempt from VAT?

Pesapal Limited v Commissioner of Domestic Taxes [2025] KEHC 12284 (KLR) Background KRA issued a VAT assessment against Pesapal for commissions earned from merchants, comprising a principal tax of Kshs. 76,836,162 and penalties/interest of Kshs. 33,982,992. Pesapal objected the VAT assessment, arguing its services were VAT-exempt financial services. The Tax Appeals Tribunal dismissed Pesapal’s appeal. […]
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Contract of Service Vs Contract for Service

The Kenyan law clearly distinguishes between an employee (contract of service) and an independent contractor (contract for service). Section 2 of the Income Tax Act, a “contract of service” implies an employer-employee relationship, while a “contract for service” denotes an independent contractor arrangement. A contract of service is one that creates rights and responsibilities between parties […]
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How KRA’s Delay Cost Them the Case – A Taxpayer’s Win!

Section 51(11) of the Tax Procedures Act (TPA) imposes mandatory timelines (60 days) for the Commissioner to issue an objection decision. These timelines are not procedural formalities but critical safeguards to ensure taxpayer rights and business certainty. Delays undermine commerce, as taxpayers cannot plan effectively without timely resolutions. Case study: Panari Centre Limited v Commissioner of Legal Services & […]
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Your information is now accessible worldwide

Image Credit | Tuko Effective January 2021, Kenya can share and receive all your information to/from other tax administrations. This was after Kenya deposited its instrument of ratification for the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters (the MAAC) with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on 22 July 2020. This […]
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