Why eTIMS signature error happens
eTIMS signature error is not random. It comes from one of a few specific causes, and once you know which one you are looking at, the fix is straightforward. Here is how the problem usually shows up first:
- An invoice will not get a control number or QR code
- A signature or control unit error on submission
- It affects every invoice until resolved
Match what you are seeing to the closest description above, then work through the fixes below in order, starting with the most common.
eTIMS signature error is rarely random; match the symptom to the cause and the fix is usually minutes away.
How to fix eTIMS signature error
Work through these in order. Most businesses resolve it at step one or two, without contacting KRA.
- 1
Confirm the control unit is connected
The control unit (OSCU or VSCU) signs the invoice. If it is offline, nothing can be signed. Confirm it is connected and online, then resubmit.
- 2
Check the control unit is registered
An unregistered device or control unit cannot sign. Confirm the unit was onboarded to your account; if not, complete the registration.
- 3
Fix the device date and time
A wrong device clock breaks signing, because the timestamp must be valid. Set the device to automatic date and time and the correct time zone, then try again.
- 4
Restart and resubmit
If the connection, registration and clock are all correct, restart the control unit or app and resubmit the invoice. A restart clears many temporary signing faults.
What not to do
Do not hand over an unsigned invoice
An invoice without a control unit signature is not compliant. Resolve the signing first, then issue.
Do not keep resubmitting without changing anything
If the cause is the connection, registration or clock, fix that first; resubmitting alone will keep failing.
A worked example
A till started throwing a signature error on every sale one morning, and nothing would print a control number.
The device clock had drifted to the wrong time after a battery issue, which broke signing. Setting the date and time to automatic fixed it, and invoices signed normally again.
A signature error usually comes down to the control unit being offline or unregistered, or a wrong clock. Check those three and it resolves.
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 keeps this from happening
Veira handles eTIMS natively at the point of sale, so the conditions that cause eTIMS signature error are managed for you. It validates the invoice before it is sent, records sales offline when the network drops and transmits them to KRA when the connection returns, and keeps your KRA details in order so the common causes never arise.
When something does need attention, Veira flags it in plain language with the next step, and local support is on hand rather than a queue. See how Veira works and book a free demo. It runs from KES 2,999 a month with a free terminal.
Frequently asked questions
What is an eTIMS signature error?
Why does eTIMS fail to sign my invoice?
How does the device clock affect signing?
Is an unsigned invoice valid?
What should I do if signing keeps failing?
eTIMS signature error is almost always one of a few known causes, each with a quick fix, so do not panic if you hit it during a sale. Work through the steps above, and if you would rather not deal with eTIMS errors at all, Veira handles compliance natively so most never happen. See how Veira works and book a free demo. Always confirm current KRA processes at kra.go.ke, as rules can change.