Learn All about Shuru KRA, How to File KRA Returns on WhatsApp, Generate eTims via Shuru on WhatsApp The Complete 2026 Guide
Kenya’s tax authority has made compliance as easy as sending a message. Here is everything you need to know about Shuru, the KRA WhatsApp chatbot.
KRA WhatsApp Number: 0711099999KRA iTax Portal remains availableDeadline: 30 April 2026
Filing taxes in Kenya has long been associated with browser timeouts, forgotten passwords, and long queues at KRA offices. Shuru, the Kenya Revenue Authority’s new WhatsApp-powered chatbot, is changing all of that. And the transformation is arriving at exactly the right moment.
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has officially launched Shuru, a conversational AI chatbot that allows Kenyans to file tax returns, generate eTIMS invoices, make payments, and obtain compliance certificates, all through WhatsApp. No new applications. No complex portals. Just a familiar messaging interface that already lives on the phones of tens of millions of Kenyans.
40M+ WhatsApp users in Kenya
22.6M Registered KRA PIN holders targeted
7M Active tax filers in FY 2024/25
5M Filings expected via Shuru in 2026
What Is Shuru KRA?
Shuru is KRA’s official WhatsApp-based virtual assistant, accessible through the verified number 0711099999. It is not a simple FAQ bot. it is a fully integrated digital assistant connected directly to KRA’s backend systems, including iTax and eTIMS. The chatbot guides taxpayers through every step of the compliance process in a conversational, menu-driven format that requires no technical expertise to navigate.
KRA Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga launched the platform as part of a broader modernisation effort designed to bring millions of currently inactive registered taxpayers into the formal compliance net. The platform is also part of an anticipated rebrand of the authority itself, a signal that KRA is serious about reinventing its relationship with the Kenyan public.
The name “Shuru” meaning “begin” in Swahili, is intentional. It is an invitation: start here, start now, and start without anxiety.
What Can You Do With the Shuru KRA Bot?
Once a user activates the Shuru chatbot, a structured menu of services becomes available. The platform has been designed as a one-stop compliance hub, covering the full range of obligations that most Kenyans will encounter:
File Tax Returns
Step-by-step guided filing for nil returns, individual income, VAT, PAYE, and rental income.
Make Tax Payments
Generate a Payment Registration Number (PRN) and settle obligations directly from the chat.
eTIMS Invoice Generation
Create a fully compliant eTIMS electronic tax invoice and download it as a PDF instantly.
Tax Compliance Certificate
Apply for and download your TCC directly within the WhatsApp conversation.
PIN Verification
Instantly verify any KRA PIN to confirm compliance status for business transactions.
Live KRA Agent Support
Escalate complex questions to a real KRA customer care representative without leaving WhatsApp.
How to File KRA Returns on WhatsApp: Step-by-Step
Getting started with the Shuru KRA bot takes less than two minutes. The process has been designed around the way Kenyans already communicate. Thus, through short, conversational messages making it significantly more approachable than the traditional KRA iTax portal.
Filing KRA Returns via WhatsApp (Shuru)
- Save the official KRA WhatsApp number 0711099999 (+254 711 099 999) to your phone contacts.
- Open WhatsApp and start a new chat with the saved number. Send a message such as “Hi” or “Menu” to activate the Shuru chatbot.
- The bot will respond with a menu of available services. Select the option for tax return filing by replying with the corresponding number.
- Enter your National ID number and KRA PIN when prompted. A one-time password (OTP) will be sent to your KRA-registered phone number for verification.
- Once verified, the chatbot will display your pre-filled return data pulled directly from KRA’s systems. Confirm, review, and submit. Your filing is complete.
Deadline reminder: The annual KRA tax return filing deadline remains 30 April 2026. The Shuru WhatsApp service does not change this date, but it does make meeting it significantly easier. Do not wait until the last week.
How to Generate eTIMS Invoices via Shuru on WhatsApp
For small business owners, market traders, and freelancers, one of the most practical features of the Shuru KRA bot is the ability to generate a fully compliant Electronic Tax Invoice Management System (eTIMS) invoice without opening a browser, downloading an application, or visiting a KRA office. The entire process happens inside a WhatsApp conversation and takes under three minutes.
eTIMS is KRA’s system for issuing and tracking electronic tax invoices. Businesses registered for VAT or subject to eTIMS obligations are required to issue compliant invoices for every transaction. Previously, this demanded either a dedicated eTIMS device, the online portal, or the eTIMS mobile application. Shuru collapses all of that into a single chat window.
Generating an eTIMS invoice via Shuru Step by step
- Save KRA’s official WhatsApp number0711099999and open a chat. Send “Hi” or “Menu” to wake up the Shuru chatbot.
- From the main menu, select theeTIMS Invoiceoption by replying with its corresponding number.
- Log in by entering your KRA PIN. An OTP will be sent to your registered mobile number — enter it to verify your identity and proceed.
- Enter the details of the goods or services sold: a brief description, quantity, and selling price. The chatbot walks you through each field one at a time.
- Review the invoice summary displayed in the chat. Confirm that all details are correct, then approve the submission.
- The eTIMS invoice is generated instantly. A download link appears in the chat — tap it to save a fully compliant PDF invoice bearing the official eTIMS logo and KRA insignia, ready to share with your customer.
The Shuru KRA Bot and KRA iTax: What Is the Difference?
The KRA iTax portal at itax.kra.go.ke remains fully operational and is not being replaced. For taxpayers with complex filings, businesses with multiple revenue streams, companies dealing with corporate tax assessments, or professionals managing detailed deductions. Hence, the iTax portal continues to offer the most comprehensive environment.
The Shuru KRA WhatsApp service is designed for the majority of Kenyans who have straightforward tax obligations: salaried employees filing nil returns or declaring employment income, small business owners generating eTIMS invoices, and individuals seeking a Tax Compliance Certificate. For this population, which numbers in the tens of millions, Shuru removes every barrier that previously stood between them and compliance.
One of the most significant practical features is pre-filled data. KRA already holds taxpayer information in its systems, and Shuru surfaces this data automatically during the filing process. A user does not need to remember previous figures, track down salary slips, or manually enter amounts that the authority already has. A detail that alone resolves one of the most common pain points of the old iTax experience.
Why the KRA WhatsApp Number Matters for Kenya’s Tax Base
The figures driving this initiative are stark. In the 2024/25 financial year, which ended 30 June 2025. Only approximately seven million Kenyans were actively paying taxes, despite 22 million registered PIN holders. KRA is simultaneously working toward a revenue target of Sh2.9 trillion for 2025/26, having collected Sh1.161 trillion against a target of Sh1.314 trillion in the first half of the year.
WhatsApp penetration in Kenya exceeds 90 percent among internet users, with an estimated 40 million active accounts on the platform. By meeting taxpayers on an application they already use every day, to communicate with family, run small businesses, and share information. KRA is effectively removing the largest single obstacle to compliance: the friction of accessing an unfamiliar, bureaucratic digital system.
George Obell, Commissioner for Micro and Small Taxpayers at KRA, has noted that a meaningful portion of registered PIN holders either fall below the Sh24,000 monthly taxable income threshold or have no taxable income at all. For these individuals, filing a nil return has historically still required navigating the full iTax portal. The Shuru KRA bot reduces that process to a handful of WhatsApp messages.
Security: Is It Safe to File Tax Returns on WhatsApp?
Security is a reasonable concern whenever financial data is involved, and KRA has addressed this directly. The Shuru chatbot operates on WhatsApp Business API infrastructure, which uses end-to-end encryption for messages. Authentication requires both a KRA PIN and a one-time password sent to the taxpayer’s registered mobile number. A two-step verification process that provides a meaningful layer of protection against unauthorised access.
KRA has confirmed that user data entered through the chatbot is secured within its existing systems, and the authority has indicated that any gaps identified will be addressed within its support framework. For the filing of standard returns and the generation of compliance certificates, the security posture is consistent with what most Kenyans already accept when using mobile banking applications.
Start filing on WhatsApp today
Save the official KRA Shuru number, open WhatsApp, and send “Hi” to get started. No app download required.
0711 099 999
Frequently Asked Questions About Shuru KRA
What is the official KRA WhatsApp number for Shuru?
The official KRA WhatsApp number is 0711099999, also written as +254 711 099 999. Always verify you are chatting with the official KRA verified account before submitting any personal information.
Can I file all types of tax returns through the Shuru KRA bot?
Yes. The Shuru chatbot supports filing for Turnover Tax, VAT, PAYE, rental income declarations, and nil returns. All available 24 hours a day. More complex filings may still benefit from the full KRA iTax portal.
Do I still need to use KRA iTax after Shuru launches?
Not necessarily for most individual taxpayers. KRA iTax remains available and is the recommended environment for complex corporate filings. For the majority of individuals and small businesses, Shuru covers all essential needs.
Is there a separate Shuru app to download?
No. KRA has explicitly confirmed there is no separate Shuru app to download. The service runs entirely within the standard WhatsApp application on any smartphone or tablet.
What is the KRA tax return filing deadline for 2026?
The individual income tax return deadline remains 30 April 2026. The Shuru WhatsApp service does not alter any filing deadlines or legal obligations.
Kenya’s Most Accessible Tax Tool Is Already on Your Phone
Shuru KRA is not a technical experiment. It is a practical answer to a persistent national challenge. By bringing tax compliance into WhatsApp, KRA has built the most accessible filing tool in Kenya’s history. The deadline is 30 April. The number is 0711099999. The process takes minutes.
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