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Kenya tax, explained.
30 in-depth articles on PAYE, NSSF, SHIF, the Housing Levy, and every legal way to reduce your tax in Kenya.
Featured articles
How to Calculate Your PAYE Tax in Kenya
How to calculate PAYE tax in Kenya on the 2026 KRA bands. From gross pay to NSSF, SHIF and personal relief, here is each step with a worked example.
The Complete Guide to NSSF Contributions in Kenya for 2026
The 2026 NSSF rates in Kenya explained: Tier I and Tier II, the KES 108,000 upper limit and the new KES 6,480 monthly maximum, with worked examples.
7 Legal Ways Kenyan Employees Can Reduce Their PAYE
Seven legal ways Kenyan employees can reduce PAYE, from pension and NSSF contributions to mortgage and insurance relief. How each one lowers your tax.
The full library
How-to guides
3 articlesHow to Calculate Your PAYE Tax in Kenya
How to calculate PAYE tax in Kenya on the 2026 KRA bands. From gross pay to NSSF, SHIF and personal relief, here is each step with a worked example.
ReadHow Kenyan Employees Can Calculate Their Net Salary
A step-by-step guide to working out your net salary in Kenya, from gross pay through PAYE, NSSF, SHIF and the Housing Levy to your take-home figure.
ReadWorking Backwards from Net to Gross Salary in Kenya
Know your target take-home but not the gross? Work backwards from net to gross salary in Kenya using the 2026 PAYE, NSSF, SHIF and Housing Levy rates.
ReadStatutory deductions
3 articlesThe Complete Guide to NSSF Contributions in Kenya for 2026
The 2026 NSSF rates in Kenya explained: Tier I and Tier II, the KES 108,000 upper limit and the new KES 6,480 monthly maximum, with worked examples.
ReadUnderstanding SHIF Deductions in Kenya and What Replaced NHIF
SHIF replaced NHIF in Kenya. See the 2.75% deduction rate, who pays, the transition timeline and what the change means for your monthly payslip.
ReadEverything You Need to Know About Kenya's Housing Levy
A full guide to Kenya's Housing Levy: who pays, the 1.5% rate, how it is deducted from payroll and where the money goes. Updated for 2026.
ReadTax savings
5 articles7 Legal Ways Kenyan Employees Can Reduce Their PAYE
Seven legal ways Kenyan employees can reduce PAYE, from pension and NSSF contributions to mortgage and insurance relief. How each one lowers your tax.
ReadHow Insurance Relief Works for Kenyan Taxpayers
Kenya gives 15% insurance relief, up to KES 5,000 a month, on life, health and education cover. See who qualifies and how to claim it on your PAYE.
ReadClaiming Mortgage Interest Relief on Your Kenyan Tax Return
Claim up to KES 300,000 a year in mortgage interest relief in Kenya. Eligibility, qualifying loans, the documents you need and how to file on iTax.
ReadWhy Kenyan Employees Should Max Out Their Pension Contributions
Maxing out pension contributions in Kenya unlocks up to KES 240,000 in annual tax relief plus long-term growth. How the PAYE saving works, with examples.
ReadTax Benefits for Persons with Disability in Kenya
Tax benefits for persons with disability in Kenya: income exemptions, VAT-free medical and mobility aids, and how to apply for an exemption certificate.
ReadSalary breakdowns
5 articlesWhat a KES 50,000 Salary Actually Looks Like After Tax in Kenya
What a KES 50,000 salary in Kenya looks like after tax. The 2026 PAYE, NSSF, SHIF and Housing Levy deductions and the take-home pay you actually keep.
ReadTake-Home Pay on a KES 100,000 Salary in Kenya
Your take-home pay on a KES 100,000 salary in Kenya. A full 2026 breakdown of PAYE, NSSF, SHIF and Housing Levy and the net you keep each month.
ReadHow Much Tax Do You Pay on KES 150,000 in Kenya
How much tax you pay on KES 150,000 in Kenya. The PAYE on the 2026 KRA bands, plus NSSF and SHIF, and the net salary left after deductions.
ReadThe Real Cost of Earning KES 200,000 in Kenya
What earning KES 200,000 in Kenya really means after tax. The 2026 PAYE, NSSF, SHIF and Housing Levy deductions and your true monthly take-home pay.
ReadPAYE Rates for High Earners in Kenya Explained
Earning over KES 500,000 or 800,000 a month? See how Kenya's 32.5% and 35% PAYE bands apply in 2026, plus the reliefs high earners can use to cut tax.
ReadEmployment situations
6 articlesHow Kenyan Employers Tax Your Bonus and 13th Month Pay
How bonuses and 13th-month pay are taxed in Kenya. PAYE on lump sums under the 2026 bands, how it is computed, and the net amount you receive.
ReadFreelancing vs Employment in Kenya and Which Pays Less Tax
Freelancing or employment in Kenya, which pays less tax? Compare PAYE, Turnover Tax and the deductions available so you can weigh the two options.
ReadHow HELB Loan Repayments Are Deducted from Kenyan Salaries
How HELB loan repayments come off Kenyan salaries: employer registration, monthly deduction rates, income thresholds and how to avoid penalties.
ReadWhat Happens to Your PAYE When You Change Jobs in Kenya
Changing jobs in Kenya? How your PAYE, Form P9 and cumulative tax bands carry over, and how to avoid overpaying tax in the year you switch employers.
ReadWhat to Do If Your Kenyan Employer Is Deducting Wrong PAYE
Think your PAYE is wrong? How to check your payslip against the 2026 KRA bands, raise it with your employer, and reclaim overpaid tax through iTax.
ReadHow Kenyan Couples Can File Taxes Together or Separately
How Kenyan couples can file taxes jointly or separately. Eligibility, the rules under the Income Tax Act, and how each option affects your tax bill.
ReadFor employers
4 articlesThe True Cost of Hiring an Employee in Kenya
The true cost of hiring in Kenya goes well beyond salary. The NSSF, SHIF, Housing Levy and other on-costs that push payroll above gross pay.
ReadA Kenyan Employer's Guide to NSSF and Housing Levy Obligations
A Kenyan employer's guide to NSSF and Housing Levy duties: rates, thresholds, registration, monthly remittance and how to stay compliant in 2026.
ReadFiling PAYE Returns on iTax in Kenya Without Getting Penalised
How to file PAYE returns on iTax in Kenya without penalties. A prep checklist, the filing steps, and the monthly deadlines employers need to meet.
ReadTaxable Benefits in Kind That Kenyan Employers Must Declare
Which staff perks are taxed in Kenya. How company cars, housing and school fees are valued under 2026 KRA rules and what to declare on the P9.
ReadNews & updates
3 articlesWhat the Kenya Finance Bill 2025 Means for Your Salary
What the Kenya Finance Bill 2025 means for your salary: changes to the PAYE bands, the Housing Levy and SHIF, and how your take-home pay is affected.
ReadKey KRA Tax Deadlines Every Kenyan Should Know in 2026
Key KRA tax deadlines for 2026: monthly PAYE, VAT and statutory remittances plus annual return dates. A simple calendar to help you avoid penalties.
ReadHow the New NSSF Rates Affect Kenyan Workers
How the new NSSF rates affect Kenyan workers from February 2026: deductions up to KES 6,480 a month, the cost to your pay, and bigger future pensions.
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