The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has outlined a simple mobile phone procedure that allows taxpayers to recover lost or forgotten Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) without visiting its offices.
A PIN is required to access most government and financial services in Kenya.
It is used when filing tax returns, applying for tax compliance certificates, registering businesses, opening bank accounts, processing land transactions, and accessing services on government digital platforms.
Losing access to a PIN often locks taxpayers out of these services until the PIN is recovered.
KRA said the dial code option is intended to provide taxpayers with a direct, faster way to regain access to their PINs, especially for those who may not have reliable internet access or who face challenges navigating online systems.
How to Recover Lost PINs Via Dial Code
In a message shared via its official customer service account, KRA said taxpayers can retrieve their PINs by dialing *222#5#.
The authority said the option is available to registered taxpayers whose phone numbers are already linked to their KRA records.
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According to KRA, the PIN recovery process starts by dialing *222# on a mobile phone and selecting option 5.
The system then guides the user through a short verification process to confirm ownership of the PIN.
Once the details are confirmed, the PIN is sent to the taxpayer through the registered mobile number or email address on record.
KRA said taxpayers should ensure that their contact details are up to date to avoid delays or failed recovery attempts.
The authority noted that the service is designed to work on basic mobile phones and does not require internet connectivity.
This makes it accessible to a wider group of taxpayers, including those in areas with limited network coverage or those who do not use smartphones.
KRA reiterated that taxpayers should avoid sharing PIN details with third parties, even during recovery.
The authority said PINs are confidential and should only be accessed through official KRA channels to prevent fraud and identity theft.
Why KRA PIN Access Matters
Access to a KRA PIN is required throughout the year, not only during tax return filing periods. Employers, financial institutions, county governments, and national government agencies regularly require the PIN as proof of tax registration.
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Current estimates show that Kenya has about 6 to 7 million registered KRA PIN holders.
Delays in PIN recovery can disrupt routine transactions and lead to missed deadlines, penalties, or stalled applications.
In some cases, taxpayers are forced to postpone business registration, loan processing, or property transfers because they cannot access their PINs.
KRA said the mobile dial code option is part of broader efforts to reduce congestion at its service centers, especially during peak periods.
The agency’s offices often experience long queues when taxpayers seek assistance with PIN retrieval, password resets, and iTax account issues.
By shifting basic services to mobile platforms, the authority aims to free up physical offices to handle more complex tax matters that require in-person support.
KRA has also increased its use of digital communication channels to pass information to taxpayers. Social media, short message services, and mobile codes are now regularly used to issue guidance, clarify procedures, and respond to common taxpayer challenges.
The authority encouraged taxpayers to familiarise themselves with self-service options and to keep their personal contact details up to date in its systems.
KRA said this helps ensure smooth access to services and reduces the need for physical visits to its branches.
