VATCalculate VAT in Kenya
A quick VAT tool for Kenya: find the price with or without 16% VAT, the tax amount and the share of tax inside a KES price.
Kenya VAT
VAT rates in Kenya
Kenya uses 2 VAT rates: a standard rate of 16%, reduced rate of 8%. The standard rate is close to the Africa average of 16.4% and shared with 8 other countries in our list.
Official source: kra.go.ke. Rates checked October 2026.
VAT examples in KES
Common amounts with 16% VAT added:
| Net | VAT 16% | Gross |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000.00 KES | 160.00 KES | 1,160.00 KES |
| 5,000.00 KES | 800.00 KES | 5,800.00 KES |
| 10,000.00 KES | 1,600.00 KES | 11,600.00 KES |
| 50,000.00 KES | 8,000.00 KES | 58,000.00 KES |
| 100,000.00 KES | 16,000.00 KES | 116,000.00 KES |
| 1,000,000.00 KES | 160,000.00 KES | 1,160,000.00 KES |
Removing VAT from gross prices
| Gross | Net | VAT |
|---|---|---|
| 5,800.00 KES | 5,000.00 KES | 800.00 KES |
| 11,600.00 KES | 10,000.00 KES | 1,600.00 KES |
| 58,000.00 KES | 50,000.00 KES | 8,000.00 KES |
| 116,000.00 KES | 100,000.00 KES | 16,000.00 KES |
How to calculate VAT in Kenya
Adding VAT to a net price
VAT = net × 16 / 100
Gross = net × 1.16
Removing VAT from a gross price
Net = gross / 1.16
VAT = gross − net
A common mistake is to take 16% off the gross price. That gives the wrong figure: the VAT inside a gross price is only 13.79% of it.
Questions about VAT in Kenya
What is the VAT rate in Kenya?
The standard VAT rate in Kenya is 16%. Reduced rates of 8% apply to selected goods and services.
How do I add 16% VAT to a price?
Multiply the net price by 1.16. For example 50,000.00 KES × 1.16 = 58,000.00 KES.
How do I remove VAT from a gross price in Kenya?
Divide the gross price by 1.16. For example 58,000.00 KES ÷ 1.16 = 50,000.00 KES net; the difference is the VAT.
How much of a KES price is VAT?
At 16%, VAT makes up 13.79% of the gross price (16 ÷ 116).