How to Pay KRA Tax Using M-Pesa

Paying KRA no longer means a trip to the bank and a long queue. If you have M-Pesa, you can clear your tax bill from your phone in a few minutes. The one rule to remember: always generate a payment slip first, then pay to the Government paybill.

What You Need

• Your KRA PIN and iTax password (for domestic taxes such as income tax, PAYE, VAT, rental income and turnover tax).
• A Payment Registration Number (PRN), also called an e-slip number. This is the reference KRA uses to match your money to your tax.
• An M-Pesa account with enough money to cover the amount on the PRN.

Step 1: Generate a Payment Registration Number (PRN)

1. Log in to iTax with your KRA PIN and password.
2. Open the Payments menu and choose Payment Registration.
3. Select the tax you want to pay, the tax period and the amount, then submit.
4. Download or note the PRN shown on the payment slip.

Customs payments get their slip from KRA’s customs system (iCMS) instead of iTax, but you pay them the same way.

Step 2: Pay Using M-Pesa Paybill 222222

1. Open M-Pesa and choose Lipa na M-Pesa, then Pay Bill.
2. Enter business number 222222.
3. For the account number, enter your PRN (the number on the payment slip).
4. Enter the exact amount shown on the PRN.
5. Enter your M-Pesa PIN and send.

Or Pay Using USSD *222#

1. Dial *222#.
2. Select Pay KRA bill.
3. Enter your e-slip (PRN) number.
4. Select M-Pesa as the payment mode.
5. Enter your M-Pesa PIN and follow the prompts to finish.

KRA M-Service: *572#

KRA’s own USSD service, M-Service, is reached by dialling *572#. It works on any phone, including a basic “mulika mwizi”. According to KRA, the menu offers:

• PIN registration
• Filing returns
• Payments
• Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC) application
• Inquiries, such as validating tax compliance, checking an e-slip, verifying KRA staff and getting KRA contacts

Tips and Warnings

Since November 2023, KRA requires all mobile money tax payments to go through Government paybill 222222. Do not send tax money to any other number someone gives you.

Always generate the PRN before you pay and use it as the account number. A payment without a valid PRN may not be matched to your tax account.

Keep the M-Pesa confirmation message. After a day or two, log in to iTax and check that the payment reflects in your ledger.

Need help? KRA’s contact centre is on 020 4 999 999 or 0711 099 999, or email callcentre@kra.go.ke.

Related guides: How to file an employment income tax return and important KRA tax dates.

Sources and useful links

• KRA public notice: Tax Payment through PayBill Number 222222 (17 November 2023)
• KRA M-Service
• KRA iTax portal