The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has reminded employers and human resource managers to file their monthly Pay As You Earn (PAYE) returns by July 9. 2026.

In a notice shared on its official X account on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, the tax authority urged employers to submit their returns through the iTax platform before the deadline.

“Dear employer/ HR, this is to notify you that you should file your PAYE returns by the 9th of this month. Head over to http://itax.kra.go.ke right now and get it done,” the taxman stated.

Under Kenya’s tax laws, employers are required to deduct PAYE from employees’ salaries and remit the tax to KRA together with monthly returns within the prescribed timelines.

Failure to file returns or remit taxes on time attracts penalties and interest.

Finance Act changes

The reminder comes as the Finance Act, 2026 introduces several changes to tax administration, including new timelines for filing annual income tax returns.

The Act retains the monthly PAYE filing requirements but revises annual return deadlines for different categories of taxpayers. Under the new framework, salaried employees whose income is fully taxed through PAYE will be required to file annual returns by April 30.

Taxpayers filing nil returns, including inactive PIN holders, students and unemployed persons, will now be expected to submit their returns by January 31. The revised timelines will apply to returns for the 2026 year of income that will be filed in 2027.

Tax amnesty programme

The government has also rolled out a six-month tax amnesty programme that took effect on July 1, 2026. The programme allows taxpayers to apply for a waiver of penalties, interest and eligible fines on tax liabilities accumulated up to December 31, 2025.

Taxpayers who have already cleared their principal tax qualify for an automatic waiver of penalties and interest.

Those with outstanding principal tax are required to apply through the iTax system and settle the principal amount before December 31, 2026, to benefit from the amnesty. The Kenya Revenue Authority has advised taxpayers to use the programme to regularise their tax affairs before the deadline expires.

KRA has continued to encourage employers and taxpayers to comply with filing deadlines to avoid penalties and enforcement action.

The authority said employers should ensure their July PAYE returns are submitted through the iTax platform by July 9, while eligible taxpayers should also take advantage of the ongoing tax amnesty programme before it closes at the end of the year.