The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has outlined new customs requirements aimed at enhancing tax compliance and regulatory integrity for mobile devices entering the country.
In a notice on November 4, KRA targeted importers, travelers, and local device manufacturers and mandated specific actions to be undertaken in line with the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA, 2004).
This latest directive comes as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure proper monitoring and control of mobile devices in the country, in collaboration with the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).
According to KRA, all importers of mobile devices will now be required to comply with specific customs procedures to enhance transparency and accountability in the mobile device importation process.
Additionally, importers will need to submit detailed import entries for each mobile device they bring into the country.
This includes providing accurate quantities, proper model descriptions, and critical information about the device’s IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) numbers.
“All Importers of Mobile Devices will be required to submit detailed import entries for all mobile devices with accurate quantities, proper model descriptions/specifications, and their respective IMEI numbers in the Customs system,” said KRA in the statement.
KRA Targets Passengers
In a further bid to tighten controls, the KRA has outlined that passengers entering Kenya will be obligated to declare certain details of their mobile devices at the port of entry.
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Travelers will specifically need to provide information about the IMEI numbers of their devices as part of their passenger declaration on the F88 form.
The regulations further extend to local manufacturers and assemblers of mobile devices.
KRA has ordered that device assemblers and manufacturers who produce mobile devices for the local market must now register on the Customs portal.
They will also be required to submit a comprehensive report detailing all devices assembled, including the IMEI numbers of each device.
“Device Assemblers/Manufacturers must register on the Customs portal and submit a report of all devices assembled for the local market and their respective IMEI numbers.”
Other directives
In addition to these steps, manufacturers and assemblers are mandated to obtain the necessary regulatory clearances and permits from CA before their devices can be sold in the market.
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KRA while highlighting that the new requirements will take effect starting January 2025 added that specific guidelines on the system process will be shared in due course.
This also applies to specific guidelines on how to capture the devices and IMEI numbers for different users.
“For more information kindly email: [email protected], the Contact Centre on 020 4999 999 or 0711 099 999, or visit any KRA office near you,” the notice adds.
The notice by KRA comes a week after the Communications Authority of Kenya announced that mobile phones that do not meet requirements set in new tax compliance measures will not be connected to any mobile operators in the country.
The authority in a statement directed that mobile network operators must ensure that they only connect devices to their networks after verifying the tax compliance status through a whitelist database of compliant devices.
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