Question 1

Can eTIMS work without internet?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A proper eTIMS setup keeps selling offline and queues each invoice, then files it with KRA automatically the moment the connection returns. You never stop issuing receipts because the network dropped.

Question 2

What happens if eTIMS is down?

Accepted Answer

If KRA eTIMS is unreachable, you keep trading. Good billing software stores each sale and submits it automatically once the service is back, so you do not lose sales or fall out of compliance during the outage.

Question 3

Do I need eTIMS if I am not VAT registered?

Accepted Answer

Yes. eTIMS is not only about VAT. KRA expects businesses to issue electronic invoices regardless of VAT status, and from 2024 expenses must be backed by an eTIMS invoice to be deductible. A non-VAT business still needs to issue compliant receipts.

Question 4

Is ETR still mandatory in Kenya?

Accepted Answer

The old standalone ETR machine is being replaced by eTIMS, which can run on a phone, tablet or POS. The requirement to issue an electronic tax receipt has not gone away. It has moved from a dedicated gadget to software.

Question 5

How long does eTIMS registration take?

Accepted Answer

eTIMS onboarding can often be completed in a day once your KRA PIN and details are in order. The exact time depends on which eTIMS option you choose and how quickly your invoicing software or provider sets you up.

Question 6

Can I use eTIMS on my phone?

Accepted Answer

Yes. eTIMS is built to run on a phone, so you can issue a compliant KRA invoice from an app without buying any special hardware. This is one of the main reasons it replaced the old ETR machine.

Question 7

Is there a penalty for not issuing an eTIMS invoice?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Failing to issue compliant electronic invoices exposes a business to KRA penalties, and just as costly, your buyers cannot claim expenses without an eTIMS invoice from you. The cheapest path is simply to issue one on every sale.

Question 8

What is the Pochi la Biashara limit?

Accepted Answer

Pochi la Biashara follows M-Pesa transaction and balance limits, which Safaricom sets and revises from time to time. It is designed for small sole traders to separate business takings from personal money, not for high daily volumes.

Question 9

Till number vs Paybill: which is cheaper for a small shop?

Accepted Answer

For a face-to-face shop, a Buy Goods Till is usually the simpler and cheaper fit because customers are not charged to pay and it is built for over-the-counter sales. Paybill suits bills, accounts and rent, where you need a reference number per customer.

Question 10

Can I use one till number for two shops?

Accepted Answer

You can, but you should not. Sharing one till across two shops mixes their takings, so you cannot see which branch made what, and reconciliation becomes guesswork. A POS that separates sales by branch fixes this even on one M-Pesa setup.

Question 11

How do I get an M-Pesa till statement?

Accepted Answer

You can request an M-Pesa business statement through the Safaricom business portal or by the official USSD and support channels. For day-to-day reconciliation, though, a POS that records every sale gives you a cleaner statement than M-Pesa alone.

Question 12

Does Pochi la Biashara charge the customer?

Accepted Answer

No. Customers paying you through Pochi la Biashara are not charged a fee to send the money. Standard M-Pesa business terms apply on your side, and Safaricom can revise them, so confirm the current details in the M-Pesa app.

Question 13

How much does a POS machine cost in Kenya?

Accepted Answer

POS prices in Kenya range from a few thousand shillings for a basic terminal to much more for full systems, but you do not always have to buy hardware. With Veira the terminal is free with a paid plan, so you pay a simple monthly subscription instead of a large upfront cost.

Question 14

Can I use my phone as a POS in Kenya?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A POS app turns a phone into a full till that takes M-Pesa, prints or sends a receipt, files KRA eTIMS and updates stock. For many small shops and service businesses, a phone is all the hardware you need to start.

Question 15

Can a POS work without internet in Kenya?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if it is built offline-first. A good POS keeps ringing up sales, taking payments and printing receipts during an outage, then syncs everything, including eTIMS invoices, the moment the connection returns.

Question 16

Do I need a POS for a small duka?

Accepted Answer

A small duka can run on a notebook, but a simple POS quickly pays for itself by stopping stock losses, matching M-Pesa to sales and handling eTIMS. Once a shop does more than a handful of sales a day, the notebook starts hiding money.

Question 17

How do I track stock in a small shop?

Accepted Answer

The simplest reliable way is a POS that subtracts each item as you sell it, so your stock count stays live without a manual tally. It then flags what to reorder and what is sitting as dead stock, which a notebook cannot do.

Question 18

How do I calculate VAT in Kenya?

Accepted Answer

Kenya VAT is 16 percent on most goods and services. To add VAT, multiply the price by 1.16. To remove VAT from a VAT-inclusive price, divide by 1.16. The free VAT calculator does both instantly.

Question 19

Do I charge VAT if I am not VAT registered?

Accepted Answer

No. If you are not registered for VAT, you do not charge VAT on your sales and you cannot claim VAT on purchases. You must register once your taxable turnover crosses the KRA threshold, after which charging VAT becomes mandatory.

Question 20

How is PAYE calculated in Kenya?

Accepted Answer

PAYE is charged on an employee gross pay using KRA graduated tax bands, after allowable reliefs and deductions such as SHIF and NSSF. The free PAYE calculator applies the current bands and reliefs so you get the right net pay without doing the maths by hand.

Question 21

What is ETR?

Accepted Answer

ETR stands for Electronic Tax Register, the system Kenya used to require VAT-registered businesses to use for issuing tax receipts. It has been superseded by eTIMS, a software-based system that does the same job from a phone or POS instead of a dedicated machine.

Question 22

What is an ETR receipt?

Accepted Answer

An ETR receipt is a tax-recognised document produced when a sale is recorded through an Electronic Tax Register. It shows your KRA PIN, the control unit details, the items sold, VAT where due, and a QR code that proves the receipt reached KRA.

Question 23

How do I generate an ETR receipt?

Accepted Answer

Use eTIMS software or a TIMS-compliant device. Enter the sale, the system signs it and assigns a control number, transmits it to KRA, and prints a receipt with a QR code. You can do this from a phone, tablet, POS app, or the web portal.

Question 24

What does ETR stand for?

Accepted Answer

ETR stands for Electronic Tax Register. It is Kenya's term for the system that records sales for tax compliance. The word covers the old hardware device, the receipt it produced, and the modern eTIMS software that replaced it.

Question 25

What is an ETR machine?

Accepted Answer

An ETR machine is the dedicated electronic device that VAT-registered Kenyan businesses once had to use to issue tax receipts. Modern eTIMS software makes the machines optional because the control unit can now be software instead of hardware.

Question 26

Is ETR the same as eTIMS?

Accepted Answer

ETR and eTIMS are not the same system, but they do the same job. ETR was the older hardware-based Electronic Tax Register. eTIMS is the current software-based Electronic Tax Invoice Management System that replaced it.

Question 27

Does the Veira terminal print receipts?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Veira terminal has a built-in thermal printer, so it prints a receipt on the spot for every sale. Each printed receipt doubles as a KRA-acknowledged eTIMS invoice, so you do not need a separate printer or ETR machine.

Question 28

Does the Veira terminal come eTIMS ready out of the box?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The terminal ships eTIMS ready, so once your account is live it issues compliant KRA invoices from the first sale. You do not buy or attach a separate ETR device.

Question 29

How long does the Veira terminal battery last?

Accepted Answer

The terminal runs on a removable 2600 mAh battery built to last a full trading day on a single charge. Because the battery is hot-swappable, a busy shop can keep a spare charged and switch it mid-shift without shutting down.

Question 30

Does the Veira terminal work without WiFi or internet?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The terminal has dual-band WiFi and a SIM slot for 2G, 3G and 4G, so it can connect over mobile data when there is no WiFi. It also has an offline mode that keeps selling when the connection drops entirely, then syncs once you are back online.

Question 31

Does the Veira terminal have a barcode scanner or card reader?

Accepted Answer

The terminal has NFC contactless built in, so it reads tap-to-pay cards and phones directly without a separate card machine. For barcode scanning, ask the Veira team which option fits your setup, as scanning can be handled in more than one way depending on your shop.

Question 32

What happens if the Veira terminal is damaged or stops working?

Accepted Answer

Contact Veira support straight away and the team will help you get trading again. Because the app also runs on a phone, tablet or in a browser, you can keep selling and filing eTIMS from another device while any hardware issue is sorted out.

Question 33

Is the Veira terminal free or does it cost extra?

Accepted Answer

The terminal is free with every Veira plan, not an extra purchase. You pay a simple monthly subscription, and the terminal is sent to you once your account is live, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Question 34

How do I charge the Veira terminal?

Accepted Answer

The terminal charges over a USB Type-C cable, the same connector most modern phones use. Because the battery is removable and hot-swappable, you can also keep a spare battery charged and swap it in when needed.

Question 35

Can I use the Veira terminal while it is charging?

Accepted Answer

The simplest way to trade non-stop is to use the hot-swappable battery: keep one battery in the terminal and a charged spare ready, then switch when the first runs low. If you want to confirm whether the terminal can be operated while plugged into the charger, the Veira team can advise for your exact unit.

Question 36

What charger does the Veira terminal use?

Accepted Answer

The terminal charges over a USB Type-C cable, the same connector used by most modern Android phones. That means replacements and spares are easy to find, and one common cable can power your counter.

Question 37

What AI powers the Veira app?

Accepted Answer

Veira uses Groq for instant, low-latency responses, and brings in OpenAI and Grok for deeper reasoning tasks. The terminal also runs on-device intelligence for things like faster checkout and fraud detection, so quick actions do not depend on the cloud.

Question 38

Is the Veira AI instant or is there a delay?

Accepted Answer

Everyday actions are designed to feel instant. Veira uses low-latency AI for quick interactions and on-device intelligence on the terminal, so checkout and simple questions respond immediately. Deeper analysis can take a moment longer because it uses more powerful reasoning models.

Question 39

What does the Veira AI do for deeper reasoning tasks?

Accepted Answer

For bigger questions, Veira uses OpenAI and Grok to reason over your sales, stock and payment data. This is what powers richer insights, such as spotting trends, summarising performance and answering questions that need more than a quick lookup.

Question 40

Does the Veira terminal have on-device or offline AI?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The terminal runs on-device intelligence for tasks like faster checkout and fraud detection, so those work without waiting on the cloud. Deeper, cloud-based analysis needs a connection, but the everyday smart features keep working even when the line is weak.

Question 41

Is my business data secure with Veira?

Accepted Answer

Your sales, stock and payment records are tied to your account and stored on secure, enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure. Payments are processed through Paystack, a licensed payment processor, so sensitive card handling sits with a regulated provider rather than on your counter.

Question 42

Where is Veira data hosted?

Accepted Answer

Veira runs on secure, enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure, with a global edge network that keeps the app fast in Kenya. Your records are tied to your account in the cloud rather than only on your device, so they stay available even if your hardware does not.

Question 43

Does Veira protect against fraud?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Veira uses fraud detection, including on-device intelligence on the terminal, to flag unusual activity at the till. It also tracks every sale against the cashier and shift, so suspicious patterns such as unexpected discounts or voids surface instead of staying hidden.

Question 44

Does Veira work on my phone, computer and the terminal?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Veira runs on iOS and Android phones, on a Windows desktop, in a web browser, and on the handheld terminal. It is one account across all of them, so you can sell on the terminal and check your dashboard on a phone or computer.

Question 45

Does Veira work the same on iOS, Android and Windows?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Veira is built to work across iOS, Android and Windows, as well as in a browser and on the terminal, all from one account. You get the same core selling, M-Pesa, eTIMS and reporting whichever device you use.

Question 46

Can I use Veira in a browser without installing anything?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Veira runs in a web browser, so you can sign in and use it without installing an app. This is handy for checking your dashboard from any computer or for getting started quickly before you set up the terminal.

Question 47

How does Veira process payments?

Accepted Answer

Veira processes payments through Paystack, a licensed payment processor, which handles card and other digital payments. M-Pesa, card and cash all flow through one interface at the till and reconcile automatically against the same eTIMS invoice.

Question 48

Does Veira accept Apple Pay?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Through its payment processor Paystack, Veira can accept Apple Pay alongside cards, so customers who pay that way are covered. Everything still reconciles against the same sale and eTIMS invoice as your other payment methods.

Question 49

Does Veira accept M-Pesa?

Accepted Answer

Yes. M-Pesa is central to how Veira works. Payments through M-Pesa Buy Goods and Pochi la Biashara are matched to each sale automatically, so you are not reconciling your M-Pesa messages against your till by hand.

Question 50

Does Veira accept card payments?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The terminal has NFC contactless built in, so it takes tap-to-pay cards directly, and card payments are processed through Paystack. Card sits alongside M-Pesa and cash in one interface and reconciles against the same eTIMS invoice.

Question 51

Does Veira charge a fee on payments?

Accepted Answer

Card and digital payments are handled by Paystack, the licensed processor, and standard processing terms apply to those transactions. For the exact, current rates that apply to your account, check with the Veira team so you have the right figures before you start.

Question 52

How fast does Veira settle payments?

Accepted Answer

M-Pesa payments land in your connected M-Pesa account as customers pay. Settlement timing for card and other digital payments depends on the processor, Paystack, so confirm the current payout schedule with the Veira team for your account.

Question 53

Is my customers payment information safe with Veira?

Accepted Answer

Card payments are processed by Paystack, a licensed payment processor, so the sensitive part of a card transaction is handled by a regulated provider rather than sitting on your counter. For specifics on how payment data is handled, the Veira team can talk you through it.

Question 54

Does Veira send a daily sales summary?

Accepted Answer

Yes. As the owner, you get a daily sales summary sent to you on WhatsApp, so you see how the shop did without opening the app. It arrives automatically, so there is nothing to request or run each day.

Question 55

How do I receive Veira reports?

Accepted Answer

Owners get a daily sales summary on WhatsApp, and accountants get monthly and annual summaries by email. You can also open the app or dashboard at any time to see live numbers, so reports come to you and are always available on demand.

Question 56

Does Veira send reports to my accountant?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Accountants receive monthly and annual summaries by email, so the books are kept up to date without you exporting and forwarding figures yourself. Owners separately get a daily sales summary on WhatsApp.

Question 57

How often does Veira send reports?

Accepted Answer

Owners get a sales summary every day on WhatsApp. Accountants get summaries monthly and annually by email. Live numbers are available any time in the app or dashboard, so you are never waiting on a report to know where you stand.

Question 58

Does Veira provide an annual summary?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Veira sends an annual summary by email, aimed at your accountant, alongside the monthly summaries. It pulls together the year from the same sales data that files your eTIMS invoices, so it ties back to your KRA records.

Question 59

Can I change who receives Veira reports?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can set who receives your summaries, for example sending the daily sales summary to the owner and the monthly and annual summaries to your accountant. To update a recipient, the Veira team can adjust it for your account.

Question 60

Are Veira reports automatic or do I have to request them?

Accepted Answer

They are automatic. The daily sales summary to the owner and the monthly and annual summaries to your accountant are all sent on schedule, with nothing to run. You can still open the live dashboard any time you want to check something yourself.

Question 61

Does Veira track inventory automatically?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Veira subtracts each item from stock as you sell it, so your counts stay live without a manual tally. It flags what is running low and what is sitting as dead stock, which a notebook cannot do.

Question 62

Can I see real-time sales with Veira?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Sales appear on your dashboard as they happen, so you can see the day building in real time from the counter, your phone or a computer. You do not wait until closing to know how the shop is doing.

Question 63

What sales reports does Veira give?

Accepted Answer

Veira reports your sales by product, cashier, shift and branch, so you can see what sold, who sold it and when. Owners also get a daily summary on WhatsApp and accountants get monthly and annual summaries by email.

Question 64

Can Veira show my profit and margins?

Accepted Answer

Yes. When you record what items cost you, Veira can show your margin on each product and on the shop overall, not just your sales total. That turns a busy day into a clear picture of what you actually made.