Kenya: KRA says consolidators must declare importer PIN, ID and item values

Cargo consolidators, customs agents and importers must declare the details of every individual importer in a consolidated shipment, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) said in a public notice dated 28 October. The notice says the requirement took effect on 13 September and follows a directive issued by the president.

The notice, signed by the Commissioner for Micro and Small Taxpayers, lists six details: name, PIN, identity card number, telephone number, item description and value of items. It says all consolidators, customs agents and importers must comply and ensure that complete and accurate importer details are declared for all consolidated cargo imports. Consolidated cargo means goods of several traders shipped in one shared container.

KRA says it is working with cargo consolidators to facilitate the issuance of electronic tax invoices through its Electronic Tax Invoice Management System (eTIMS) to individual traders and importers. "This initiative will enable eligible VAT registered importers to claim input VAT on their imported goods," the notice says. It gives the aims as promoting fair competition, enhancing transparency and accountability, and strengthening compliance with applicable customs and tax laws.

Queries go to the KRA Contact Centre on 020 4 999 999 or 0711 099 999, or to [email protected].

The Kenyan news site Kenyans.co.ke reported on 2 September that President William Ruto, speaking at State House to micro, small and medium traders, ordered the minimum customs benchmark for general containerised consolidated cargo cut back from KSh 3.2 million to KSh 2 million. At the Central Bank of Kenya's rate of KSh 129.81 to the US dollar on 15 October, KSh 2 million is about US$15,400 and KSh 3.2 million about US$24,700.