What the numbers on an eTIMS invoice mean
A compliant eTIMS invoice usually shows more than one identifier, which can be confusing. There is your own invoice or receipt number, which you use to track the sale internally, and there is the control number issued by KRA when the invoice is registered through the control unit. The control number is the one that ties the invoice to KRA's records.
The control number, together with the digital signature and the QR code, is the proof that an invoice is a genuine, recorded eTIMS invoice rather than just a printed receipt. A customer who needs to rely on the invoice, or KRA, can use these to verify it. So when someone asks for the eTIMS invoice number, they usually mean the control number that proves it was recorded. Confirm any verification steps with KRA.
Getting the basics right once means compliance runs quietly in the background of your business.
How to read and use the numbers
A practical path for a Kenyan business.
- 1
Tell the two numbers apart
Your own invoice number tracks the sale internally; the KRA control number ties it to KRA's records. Both can appear on the invoice.
- 2
Treat the control number as the proof
The control number, with the signature and QR code, is what shows the invoice was registered with KRA.
- 3
Use it for verification
A customer or KRA can use the control number and QR code to verify the invoice is genuine and recorded.
- 4
Keep the full invoice on record
Retain the complete invoice with its control number so it can be relied on and verified later.
Common mistakes to avoid
Confusing your number with the control number
Your invoice number is internal; the control number is KRA's proof. Do not treat them as interchangeable.
Treating a receipt without a control number as compliant
Without the KRA control number, signature and QR code, a receipt is not a recorded eTIMS invoice.
Not keeping the full invoice
The control number only helps if you keep the full invoice. Retain it so it can be verified later.
A customer checks an invoice
A business customer in Nairobi received a receipt and wanted to confirm it was a genuine eTIMS invoice before claiming the cost.
They looked for the KRA control number, signature and QR code, which showed the invoice had been registered with KRA, distinct from the shop's own receipt number.
With the control number present, the customer could rely on the invoice and verify it, confident it was a recorded eTIMS document.
Trading without eTIMS-compliant tax invoices risks KRA penalties, blocked VAT input claims for your customers, and receipts a business buyer cannot expense.
Veira signs every sale to KRA eTIMS automatically, so each receipt is compliant the moment it prints, with no separate device to reconcile.
How Veira makes this simple
Veira is built for Kenyan businesses. It issues compliant KRA eTIMS invoices automatically on every sale, applies the right tax treatment per item, captures the buyer KRA PIN, keeps your records reconciled and ready for filing, and reconciles M-Pesa and Pochi payments to each sale.
It runs on a free handheld terminal or the phone you already own, keeps working offline, and runs from KES 2,999 a month with a free terminal and a 30-day money-back guarantee. See how Veira works, or book a free demo.
Frequently asked questions
What is an eTIMS invoice number?
What is the difference between my invoice number and the control number?
How do I verify an eTIMS invoice number?
Is a receipt without a control number valid?
Does Veira handle this for me?
Where do I confirm the current rules?
eTIMS invoice number is straightforward once you know the essentials, and with a compliant system like Veira the day-to-day part is handled for you. See how Veira works, or book a free demo. Always confirm current KRA rules and rates at kra.go.ke, as they can change.