The Kenya Revenue Authority has rolled out a new automated licensing system for vehicles transporting transit goods and cargo under customs control, marking another major step in the agency’s push to digitise revenue and customs operations.

In a statement shared on its X account on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, KRA announced that all licences for vehicles conveying Transit Goods (C28) and vehicles transporting other goods under Customs Control (C40) will now be processed electronically starting July 1, 2026.

The tax authority said the new system will process applications through the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS) integrated with the Integrated Customs Management System (ICMS), eliminating manual processing and streamlining clearance procedures for transporters operating within the regional trade corridor.

“KRA has automated licensing for vehicles conveying Transit Goods (C28) and goods under Customs Control (C40) effective 1st July 2026,” the authority stated.

New online application process

Under the new framework, applicants will be required to register through the RECTS platform and submit key compliance documents, including vehicle logbooks, valid insurance certificates, COMESA Yellow Cards for foreign-registered vehicles, and photographs of trucks and trailers showing visible registration numbers.

KRA said successful applicants will receive automated licences directly through their registered email addresses once payment of the required fees is completed.

“The successful applicants will receive the automated licence on their registered email after payment of the requisite fees. The automated licence can be verified using the provided QR Code,” KRA stated.

Push towards digital tax administration

The latest automation comes just days after KRA intensified its broader digital compliance push ahead of the June 30 tax filing deadline.

Last week, the authority warned Kenyans that there would be no extension for filing 2025 Income Tax Returns, maintaining that all taxpayers were required to submit returns before midnight on June 30.

“Taxpayers must submit on or before 30th June 2026, in accordance with the law,” KRA said in an earlier statement.

Support centres remain available

KRA noted that first-time applicants without RECTS profiles can seek registration support at the Cargo Monitoring Unit located at Times Tower or visit Rapid Response Units stationed in towns including Voi, Naivasha, Nakuru, Eldoret, Bungoma and Kisumu.

The authority said manual licences issued before July 1 will remain valid until December 31, 2026, as Kenya continues shifting more government services to fully digital systems.