KRA rolls out new eRITS system to simplify rental income tax compliance for landlords

The Electronic Rental Income Tax System (eRITS), unveiled on Thursday, is now live on the Gava Connect platform and is tailored to help property owners meet their tax responsibilities more efficiently.
Landlords across Kenya will now be able to file and pay their rental income taxes with greater ease, following the Kenya Revenue Authority’s (KRA) rollout of a new electronic system designed to simplify compliance in the real estate sector.
The Electronic Rental Income Tax System (eRITS), unveiled on Thursday, is now live on the Gava Connect platform and is tailored to help property owners meet their tax responsibilities more efficiently.
More To Read
The system supports both direct service access through the eCitizen platform and system-to-system integration via the Gava Connect API portal.
According to KRA Commissioner-General Humphrey Wattanga, the initiative is designed to reduce the tax burden for landlords while boosting compliance. “eRITS is designed to enable seamless integration with the KRA ecosystem for purposes of tax computation, filing, and payment.
The intention is to augment voluntary compliance within the sector while reducing administrative burdens associated with taxation,” he stated.
Wattanga emphasized that the platform serves as a voluntary compliance tool, reflecting KRA’s commitment to modernizing service delivery. He noted that property owners and rental agents stand to benefit from this step toward efficiency and continuous improvement.
The system is open to individuals earning rental income ranging from Sh288,000 to Sh15 million annually.
These landlords are required to pay a monthly tax rate of 7.5 percent on their gross rental income. The rate was lowered from 10 percent at the beginning of 2024 in a move aimed at easing the tax load and encouraging greater compliance.
Expanding national tax base
Landlords, previously considered a hard-to-tax group, are now central to the KRA’s efforts to expand the national tax base.
In the last financial year ending June 2024, the real estate sector contributed Sh14.4 billion in rental income taxes, a 5.2 percent increase from the previous year’s Sh13.6 billion.
At the launch event in Nairobi, Treasury Principal Secretary Dr. Chris Kiptoo said the system is an example of how technology can be used to make governance more efficient and inclusive.
“The government is committed to ensuring that the tax system remains fair and that compliance is as seamless as possible. With eRITS, we are moving towards a smarter, more efficient tax system that benefits everyone. With this system, we aim to not only increase revenue collection but also create a more equitable and predictable tax environment that benefits both taxpayers and the government,” Kiptoo said.
His sentiments were echoed by Housing Secretary Athman Said, who highlighted the potential of the real estate sector to drive national development through increased tax revenue.
The eRITS platform is part of the larger Enterprise Integration Platform under the Gava Connect umbrella, which the government introduced to bring public services together in a centralised digital space.
Its integration into this system signals a shift in how tax collection is managed, with more emphasis placed on accessibility and user convenience.
Since its introduction in 2016, the Monthly Rental Income (MRI) tax has become a key part of real estate revenue collection. The recent upgrade through eRITS represents another step in aligning tax practices with modern digital trends.
With the launch of this platform, KRA aims to make tax obligations easier for landlords while improving overall tax performance in the country. The hope is to create an environment where tax compliance becomes routine and less of a challenge for property owners.
Top Stories Today
- Safaricom’s role in SHA limited to tech support - CEO Peter Ndegwa
- Ministry must respect DG Patrick Amoth’s position, says Duale
- IPOA disputes Ruto’s claim on abductions, says probes still ongoing
- Nairobi MCAs call for closure of Naivas outlets
- Operation Ondoa Jangili nets over 300 suspects, 200 firearms
- Fraud and system abuse led to end of EduAfya - Duale
- Most intense fighting for years traps terrified residents in Libyan capital
- KeRRA closes sections of Ngong-Suswa Road for major repairs
- Nearly half of CBK jobs held by two ethnic groups, Senate told
- Environment tribunal stops Ruto housing project in Lang’ata
- Nairobi hawkers speak out on sexual harassment in hands of City askaris
- National Assembly freezes Sh4.5bn for Bomas renovations, questions priorities
- 17 people killed, 84,000 affected as flash floods cause havoc in Somalia- UN
- Speaker Kingi suspends revenue formula debate
- Kagwe calls for removal of VAT on key farm inputs
- Kenyans invited to submit views on Finance Bill 2025 by May 27
- Gachagua to unveil Democracy for Citizens Party, official launch set for Thursday
- President Ruto postpones tour of Ukambani region
- Court gives KFCB nod to regulate social media content
- US Foreign Relations Committee warns of Washington ‘diminishing’ influence in Africa