How eTIMS relates to iTax
A common question is whether you can register for eTIMS without iTax. The honest answer is that eTIMS is part of KRA's tax system and is tied to your KRA registration and PIN, and for most taxpayers that is accessed through iTax. So rather than being a way around iTax, eTIMS onboarding generally assumes you have an active KRA PIN and can access your KRA account.
If the real issue is that you cannot access iTax, perhaps a forgotten password, a locked account or out-of-date details, the solution is to restore that access with KRA, not to look for a bypass. Sorting out your KRA account access is usually the prerequisite, after which eTIMS onboarding follows. Because the exact relationship and onboarding steps change as KRA develops the system, confirm the current requirements directly with KRA.
Getting the basics right once means compliance runs quietly in the background of your business.
What to do about iTax and eTIMS
A practical path for a Kenyan business.
- 1
Confirm your KRA PIN is active
eTIMS is tied to your KRA registration, so start by confirming your PIN is active and your details are correct.
- 2
Restore iTax access if needed
If you cannot access iTax, restore that access with KRA, for example resetting a password or updating details.
- 3
Then proceed with eTIMS onboarding
With your KRA account access sorted, follow the current eTIMS onboarding process.
- 4
Confirm the current requirements
Because the relationship and steps change, confirm the current eTIMS and iTax requirements with KRA.
Common mistakes to avoid
Looking for a way to bypass iTax
eTIMS is tied to your KRA registration. Restore your KRA account access rather than seeking a bypass.
Ignoring an inactive PIN or account
An inactive PIN or locked account blocks onboarding. Sort it out with KRA first.
Assuming the rules from an old guide
The relationship between eTIMS and iTax can change. Confirm the current requirements with KRA.
An owner restores access first
An owner in Nakuru wanted to start eTIMS but could not log into iTax, and looked for a way to register without it.
Realising eTIMS is tied to KRA registration, she instead restored her iTax access with KRA by resetting her credentials and updating her details.
With her KRA account access working, eTIMS onboarding followed straightforwardly, rather than her hunting for a bypass that did not exist.
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
Can I register for eTIMS without iTax?
What if I cannot access my iTax account?
Why is eTIMS linked to iTax?
Do the eTIMS and iTax requirements change?
Does Veira handle this for me?
Where do I confirm the current rules?
eTIMS registration without iTax 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.