To apply for a KRA tax refund online, log in to iTax at itax.kra.go.ke, open Refund, select Income Tax, confirm your details, enter your bank account, fill the claim, upload supporting documents, and submit.
Filing a return that shows an overpayment does not automatically pay you. KRA says you must lodge a separate refund claim on iTax. Keep the acknowledgment number and track it under Useful Links → Track status of Application.
Quick answer
Portal: iTax → Refund → Income Tax.
Before claiming: File that year’s return and check your iTax general ledger for PAYE or other credits.
Deadline: within five (5) years from the date the tax was paid.
After submit: acknowledgment number by email; decision within 90 days.
What a KRA tax refund is
KRA defines a tax refund as a reimbursement of excess tax paid or tax paid in error when your liability is less than taxes already paid. Income tax refunds can arise from PAYE over-deduction, mortgage or insurance relief, personal relief not granted, disability exemption, overpaid instalments, withholding tax, or advance tax credits.
Official portals
TAX AND REVENUE
How to Apply for a KRA Tax Refund Online
Sep 5, 2026
Sep 5, 2026
6 min read
Published
Updated:
To apply for a KRA tax refund online, log in to iTax at itax.kra.go.ke, open Refund, select Income Tax, confirm your details, enter your bank account, fill the claim, upload supporting documents, and submit.
Filing a return that shows an overpayment does not automatically pay you. KRA says you must lodge a separate refund claim on iTax. Keep the acknowledgment number and track it under Useful Links → Track status of Application.
Quick answer
Portal: iTax → Refund → Income Tax.
Before claiming: File that year’s return and check your iTax general ledger for PAYE or other credits.
Deadline: within five (5) years from the date the tax was paid.
After submit: acknowledgment number by email; decision within 90 days.
What a KRA tax refund is
KRA defines a tax refund as a reimbursement of excess tax paid or tax paid in error when your liability is less than taxes already paid. Income tax refunds can arise from PAYE over-deduction, mortgage or insurance relief, personal relief not granted, disability exemption, overpaid instalments, withholding tax, or advance tax credits.
ADVERTISEMENT
Official portals
iTax portal — lodge the claim.
What you need
KRA PIN and iTax password
Filed return for the claim year
Bank account details in your name
Supporting documents for your claim reason
Credits confirmed in the iTax general ledger
Documents by claim type
Insurance (life/education): policy certificate and Form P9
Owner-occupied mortgage: mortgage certificate and Form P9
Disability exemption: exemption certificate and Form P9
Excess withholding tax: withholding tax certificate and Form P9 where applicable
Tax paid in error: documents proving the error
Employees can give insurance or mortgage documents to their employer for payroll relief. Apply for a refund only where you did not already get that credit. Upload documents in iTax; email extra scans to the processing officer if asked.
How to apply online
Open https://itax.kra.go.ke/KRA-Portal/ and log in with your KRA PIN and password.
Click Refund, then select Income Tax (or the matching tax obligation).
Confirm taxpayer details, then enter your bank account details.
Open Claim Details. Fill all mandatory fields (*): refund type, reason, description, and amount.
Attach supporting documents and click Submit.
Save the acknowledgment number emailed to you for tracking.
Deadlines and processing
Claim window: within five (5) years from the date the tax was paid.
Decision: communicated within 90 days of receiving the application.
Fully supported claims: processed within 90 days from lodgement.
Payment: expected within two (2) years when fully supported; unpaid amounts after two years attract interest of 1% per month or part thereof.
Email alerts: on approval and when Finance disburses funds.
Under Section 47(4) of the Tax Procedures Act, an approved refund is applied first to other tax you owe under the same tax law, then under any other tax law, and only then is any remainder paid to you. KRA tips: apply within the stipulated period; claims need valid debt status reports; first-time claimants face a pre-payment audit.
How to check status
On iTax, select Track status of Application under Useful Links and use your acknowledgment number.
ADVERTISEMENT
Fees
KRA’s public refund FAQs used for this guide do not list a separate application fee for lodging an income tax refund claim on iTax. Use only official KRA and iTax sites.
Common problems
No automatic refund after filing: you must still apply on iTax.
Missing PAYE credits: check the general ledger before claiming.
Extra documents requested: upload in iTax or email the processing officer.
Other tax debts: an approved refund may clear debts before cash is paid.
Scam and offence warning
A fraudulent or false refund claim attracts a penalty equal to two times the amount of the claim. Do not pay strangers for a “fast KRA refund,” and do not share your iTax password or OTP. Use only itax.kra.go.ke and kra.go.ke.
Contacts
Times Tower Building, Haile Selassie Avenue, P. O. Box 48240 - 00100, Nairobi. Contact Centre: 020 4 999 999 / 020 499 8000 or 0711 099 999. Email: callcentre@kra.go.ke.
Related XTRAfrica guides
POPULAR TODAY
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
RELATED ARTICLE
