How to Register for a KRA PIN in Kenya (2026): Free, on iTax
Your KRA PIN is required for a job, a bank account, a business, land or a car — almost everything. Register it yourself on iTax in about ten minutes, free. The steps, the right taxpayer category, and how to recover a lost PIN.
A KRA PIN is the key to formal life in Kenya — you need it to get a job, open a bank account, register a business, buy land or a car, and more. The good news: you can register one yourself, on iTax, in about ten minutes, for free.
What you’ll need
- Your National ID (18+)
- A working email address and phone number
Step by step
- Open iTax and start a new PIN registration. Go to itax.kra.go.ke and choose New PIN Registration (e-Registration).
- Choose your taxpayer type. Select Individual for yourself; Non-Individual for a company, trust, club or other entity.
- Enter your identity. Choose Kenyan citizen and enter your National ID number and date of birth — your details are drawn from the national register.
- Fill in your details and income sources. Add your email and phone, and select your real income sources — employment, business and/or rental — as they apply to you.
- Set a password and submit. Answer the security question, submit, and download your PIN certificate. It is also emailed to you.
That’s it — keep the PIN certificate; you’ll be asked for it often.
Now that you have a PIN
A PIN comes with one duty: file a return every year — even a nil return when you had no income.
No income?
File KRA nil returns — free →
The three-minute iTax process, so your PIN stays compliant and penalty-free.
Earning?
KRA Tax Calculator →
PAYE, VAT, turnover and rental tax on current KRA rates.
Frequently asked
Is registering a KRA PIN free?
Yes — it is free on iTax. Cyber cafés charge for the convenience (or to retrieve a lost PIN), but the registration itself costs nothing.
What do I need?
Your National ID and a working email and phone number. Foreigners register with an Alien ID or passport and may have extra steps.
Which taxpayer category do I choose?
Individual for a person; Non-Individual for a company or other entity. Pick your real income sources honestly — employment, business or rental — because the wrong tax obligations cause problems (and blocked TCCs) later.
I already have a PIN, or I've lost mine — what now?
You cannot hold two PINs. Recover access on iTax with Forgot Password / Forgot PIN using your registered email; if that email is out of date, visit a KRA or Huduma desk with your ID.
Why won't my registration go through?
Almost always a name, ID-number or date-of-birth mismatch with the national register. The details must match your National ID exactly.
Do I need a PIN if I'm a student or unemployed?
You'll need one for a bank account, HELB, a job and some SIM registrations. Once you have a PIN you must file a return every year — a nil return if you had no income. See our nil-returns guide.
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