KRA To Replace Excel Tax Return Filing With Web-Based System In Major iTax Overhaul
Millions of Kenyan taxpayers could soon have an easier way to file their annual income tax returns, with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) moving to replace the Excel-based system currently used by taxpayers on the iTax platform.
The planned shift will allow taxpayers to complete their returns directly through a web-based interface instead of downloading an Excel spreadsheet, enabling macros, entering their information offline and uploading the completed file to iTax.
For taxpayers, the change could remove one of the most technically difficult parts of the annual filing process. The existing Excel return requires users to work with a spreadsheet containing embedded macros, which can create problems when security settings, software versions or spreadsheet compatibility prevent the file from functioning correctly.
KRA says the move is part of a broader effort to modernise tax administration and strengthen the iTax infrastructure ahead of future filing periods.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Kenya Frontline WhatsApp channel for more news
The authority is also working to manage the heavy traffic that typically occurs when large numbers of taxpayers attempt to submit their returns close to the annual deadline.
Read Also: 7 African Countries With Highest Alcohol Consumption: Where Does Kenya Rank In 2026?
KRA plans direct online tax-return filing
Under the current system, taxpayers generally download the relevant income tax return form from iTax and complete it using Microsoft Excel or compatible spreadsheet software.
The spreadsheet uses embedded formulas and macros to process information entered by the taxpayer, including income, deductions, reliefs and the resulting tax position.
After completing the form, the taxpayer uploads the file to iTax for validation and submission.
While the system has enabled millions of returns to be filed electronically, it can be difficult for people who encounter problems with macros, Excel compatibility or security settings.
KRA now intends to move that process directly into the web environment.
Josephine Mugure, KRA’s Chief Manager for Tax Policy, said the authority is working to strengthen iTax before future filing seasons and will introduce web-based returns.
“We are not going to require you to fill out the Excel anymore. It will be web-based,” Mugure said.
The change means taxpayers should eventually be able to log into iTax, enter the required information online and submit their returns without downloading a separate spreadsheet.
That could significantly reduce the number of technical steps involved in filing an annual return.
Why KRA is moving away from Excel
The Excel-based system creates several potential points of failure.
A taxpayer may download the correct form but find that macros have been blocked by Microsoft Office security settings. Others may use software that does not fully support the spreadsheet’s functionality.
There can also be confusion when taxpayers use different versions of Microsoft Office or attempt to complete the return on devices where the required spreadsheet functions are unavailable.
A web-based system removes much of that dependency because the calculations and validation processes can be handled within KRA’s online platform.
For taxpayers, this could mean fewer instances where a completed return has to be downloaded, modified, saved and uploaded again because of a technical problem.
It could also make the process more accessible to people who do not regularly use Microsoft Excel.
However, the introduction of web-based filing does not remove the taxpayer’s responsibility to provide accurate information. Taxpayers will still need to keep records supporting their declared income, deductions, reliefs and other information included in their returns.
iTax faces its biggest test during filing season
The move to web-based filing also comes as KRA faces the challenge of handling large numbers of taxpayers accessing iTax around the same time.
The annual income tax deadline has traditionally resulted in a sharp increase in traffic towards the end of the filing period.
For taxpayers who wait until the final days to submit their returns, a slow or unavailable system can create unnecessary pressure.
KRA says it is therefore strengthening the iTax infrastructure to ensure the platform can accommodate increasing numbers of users.
Mugure said the authority wants the system to remain stable even as the number of people filing returns increases.
The planned technology changes are therefore not simply about replacing an Excel spreadsheet. They are part of a broader attempt to make tax administration more resilient as more services move online.
What the new filing system could mean for taxpayers
If successfully implemented, web-based returns could change the annual filing experience in several ways.
No Excel download: Taxpayers would no longer need to download a return spreadsheet before beginning the filing process.
Fewer macro problems: Because the return would be completed online, taxpayers should no longer have to enable spreadsheet macros on their computers.
Less software dependence: The process would rely more heavily on the iTax platform rather than the taxpayer’s particular version of Microsoft Excel.
Simpler submission: Taxpayers would enter and submit their information through the same online environment rather than moving between Excel and iTax.
Potentially easier troubleshooting: A web-based interface could allow KRA to provide more direct prompts and validation messages when taxpayers enter incorrect information.
The actual experience, however, will depend on how the new system is implemented, including its reliability, user interface and ability to handle peak traffic.
KRA is also changing how filing traffic is managed
Technology is only one part of KRA’s planned reforms.
The authority has also pointed to changes in filing deadlines as a way of preventing millions of taxpayers from accessing the system simultaneously.
Under the existing arrangement, individual taxpayers have traditionally faced a June deadline for filing annual income tax returns.
KRA has said that changes coming into effect from 2027 will introduce different filing timelines for different categories of taxpayers, with some returns due in April and others in June.
The objective is to spread demand on iTax instead of having a large proportion of taxpayers attempting to file during the same final weeks.
Mugure explained that the staggered deadlines are intended to prevent traffic from reaching the system at the same time.
“That makes traffic not coming at the same time,” she said.
For taxpayers, the practical implication is that the applicable filing deadline will become increasingly important. People should not assume that the June deadline will apply to every category of taxpayer once the new arrangements take effect.
KRA’s final guidance will be important in establishing which taxpayers fall under each deadline.
What taxpayers should do before the changes take effect
The introduction of web-based returns does not mean taxpayers should wait for the new system before preparing their records.
Taxpayers can continue organising the information they need for their annual returns, including employment income, business income, investment income and other relevant financial information.
They should also retain documents supporting claims for allowable deductions and tax reliefs where applicable.
Read Also: Remembering Rally Legend Dave Williamson
Keeping accurate records is particularly important because changing the filing interface does not change the underlying obligation to declare income correctly.
Taxpayers should also rely on official KRA communication when determining filing deadlines and new procedures rather than information circulating on social media or unofficial websites.
The authority’s official iTax portal and KRA website should remain the primary sources for updates on the implementation of the new filing system.
What the reform means for KRA
For KRA, replacing the Excel-based return could provide benefits beyond convenience for taxpayers.
A web-based system gives the authority greater control over the filing environment. Instead of relying on taxpayers to download and operate a spreadsheet correctly, KRA can build calculations, validation checks and prompts directly into the online platform.
That could reduce some of the technical errors associated with manually completed spreadsheets.
It could also give KRA greater flexibility to update forms and calculations without requiring taxpayers to repeatedly download new versions of Excel templates.
The reform is therefore potentially significant for both sides of the tax system: taxpayers get a simpler filing process, while KRA gains a more centrally managed digital environment.
The bigger challenge will be reliability
The success of the reform will ultimately depend on more than removing Excel.
A web-based filing system can only improve the taxpayer experience if it remains accessible when millions of people need it.
That makes system capacity, uptime, page-loading speeds, data validation and customer support critical to the success of the transition.
If the new platform is easier to use but experiences congestion during the final days of filing, taxpayers could still face the same frustrations under a different interface.
KRA’s decision to combine the web-based filing system with staggered deadlines therefore addresses two sides of the problem: making returns easier to complete and reducing the number of taxpayers trying to file at the same time.
For taxpayers, the most important change to watch is the transition from Excel to direct online filing.
The reform could make annual tax returns considerably simpler, particularly for people who have struggled with macros, spreadsheet compatibility and file uploads.
Read Also: Top Comoros Official Hospitalized in Nairobi Amid Rising Tensions in Moroni
But until KRA provides final implementation guidance, taxpayers should continue following the existing filing procedures and deadlines applicable to them.
The move ultimately represents a broader shift in Kenya’s tax administration: from taxpayers managing government-provided spreadsheets on their own computers to completing more of the tax process directly inside KRA’s digital systems.
