What you actually pay for with eTIMS
A useful thing to clear up first is that eTIMS itself is a KRA system, and KRA does not charge you a fee to be on eTIMS. What costs money is the software you use to issue and transmit compliant invoices, and any hardware that software runs on. So eTIMS software pricing is really about the tool you choose, not a tax you pay to KRA.
Prices vary widely, from free apps with limited features to monthly subscriptions to enterprise integrations, and the headline monthly fee can be misleading. A low monthly price with an expensive terminal, paid add-ons or no offline capability can cost more, in money and in lost sales during outages, than an all-in plan. So the right comparison is total cost: software plus hardware plus any add-ons, against what you actually get. Veira, for instance, starts at KES 2,999 a month and includes the terminal on annual billing, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Comparing prices here is mostly a matter of forcing quotes into the same shape, because vendors structure them differently and sometimes deliberately. A monthly figure with hardware bought separately is not comparable to a monthly figure with a terminal included, and a per-transaction model is not comparable to either until you apply your own volume to it.
The number that makes the comparison honest is the total cost for the first twelve months with everything in it: software, hardware, installation, training, support, and any charge that scales with tills, branches or users. Ask for that in writing from each vendor, then compare the four numbers rather than the four pitches.
Want to see it running in your own business first?
Sign UpGetting the basics right once means compliance runs quietly in the background of your business.
How to compare eTIMS software cost
A practical path for a Kenyan business.
- 1
Separate the KRA system from the software
Remember eTIMS itself is KRA's system; what you pay for is the software and hardware you choose to use.
- 2
Add up the total cost
Compare software plus hardware plus any add-ons, not just the monthly fee, so a cheap headline does not hide a costly terminal.
- 3
Weigh what you get
Factor in offline capability, M-Pesa reconciliation, support and inventory, since missing features cost you elsewhere.
- 4
Check the risk-reversal
A money-back guarantee lets you evaluate on your own data, so you compare real value, not just price.
- 5
Get a first-year total in writing
Everything included. This is the only figure that makes differently structured quotes comparable.
- 6
Apply your own volume to per-transaction pricing
A percentage or per-sale fee grows with your success. Work it out at your actual volume, and again at the volume you are planning for.
Common mistakes to avoid
Comparing only the monthly fee
A low monthly price can hide an expensive terminal or paid add-ons. Compare total cost, not the headline.
Thinking eTIMS itself has a fee
KRA does not charge for eTIMS itself. You pay for the software and hardware you choose, so compare those.
Ignoring what is missing
A cheap tool without offline or M-Pesa reconciliation costs you in lost sales and manual work. Weigh features, not just price.
An owner compares total cost
An owner in Nakuru nearly chose the cheapest monthly eTIMS app until she added up the cost of the terminal it needed and the add-ons for features she wanted.
Comparing total cost, software plus hardware plus add-ons, against an all-in plan that included a terminal included on annual billing and offline working, the all-in option was better value.
She chose on total cost and what she actually got, not the headline monthly fee, and avoided paying more for less.
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, terminal included on annual billing and a 30-day money-back guarantee. See how Veira works, or book a free demo.
Frequently asked questions
How much does eTIMS software cost in Kenya?
Does KRA charge a fee for eTIMS?
Why compare total cost rather than the monthly price?
What does Veira cost?
Does Veira handle this for me?
Where do I confirm the current rules?
eTIMS software pricing 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. Reconcile recorded sales against transmitted invoices each month, and most of the compliance question answers itself.
Need help, or want to talk it through first? Chat with us on WhatsApp