Why eTIMS transmission failed happens
eTIMS transmission failed 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:
- A "transmission failed" or "could not reach server" message after issuing an invoice
- Invoices sitting in a pending or unsent state
- It tends to happen in areas with weak mobile data or during a power or network outage
Match what you are seeing to the closest description above, then work through the fixes below in order, starting with the most common.
eTIMS transmission failed is rarely random; match the symptom to the cause and the fix is usually minutes away.
How to fix eTIMS transmission failed
Work through these in order. Most businesses resolve it at step one or two, without contacting KRA.
- 1
Check your internet connection first
This is the cause in the large majority of cases. Confirm mobile data or Wi-Fi is working by opening any website. If the connection is weak, move to better coverage or switch networks, then resend the pending invoice.
- 2
Resend pending invoices once you are back online
A failed transmission does not lose the sale. The invoice is held locally. When the connection returns, use the resend or sync option so the held invoices reach KRA and get their confirmation.
- 3
Check whether the KRA servers are busy
Occasionally transmission fails because KRA systems are under heavy load, not because of you. If your internet is fine, wait a short while and resend. The invoice stays valid in the meantime.
- 4
Use an offline-capable system if outages are common
If your area loses network often, a system that records sales offline and syncs automatically removes the problem entirely, so you never stop selling and nothing is left unsent.
What not to do
Do not re-create the invoice from scratch
Issuing a fresh invoice for the same sale creates a duplicate. Resend the existing pending invoice instead.
Do not stop selling because the line dropped
A compliant system lets you keep trading offline and sync later. Turning customers away is unnecessary.
A worked example
A hardware shop in Nyeri hit transmission failed errors every afternoon when the local network got congested. The owner thought each failed sale was unrecorded and was bracing for a problem with KRA.
In fact every invoice was saved on the device. Each evening when the connection steadied, they all synced to KRA in one batch and returned their confirmations. Nothing was lost.
The owner then switched to recording sales offline by default, so the afternoon congestion stopped interrupting checkout altogether.
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 transmission failed 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 does eTIMS transmission failed mean?
Is my sale lost if transmission fails?
Can I keep selling if eTIMS cannot transmit?
Why do transmissions fail at the same time each day?
Should I contact KRA when transmission fails?
eTIMS transmission failed 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.