How to file employment income return via KRA Shuru WhatsApp
By Valerian Khakayi, June 17, 2026The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has made filing employment income returns easier by allowing taxpayers to complete the process through WhatsApp using Shuru.
The system is designed to reduce the time spent on tax filing, simplify the process for salaried workers, and ensure compliance ahead of the June 30 deadline.
Shuru is linked to the revenue authority iTax system and helps employees access their income details, verify information, and submit returns without needing to log into multiple platforms.
“File your employment income return with Shuru in 3 simple steps. It’s quick, easy, and can be done directly on WhatsApp through Shuru https://wa.me/254711099999,” KRA stated.
“Take a minute today and get it done before the June 30 deadline.”
Below is a detailed step-by-step guide on how the process works.
Step 1: Start the chat on WhatsApp
The first step is to initiate a conversation with Shuru through WhatsApp.
Open your WhatsApp and send the message “Hi” to Shuru.
Once the chat begins, the system will display a menu of available services. You are required to: Click on view services and then select employment income.
After selecting the service, you will be prompted to enter your KRA PIN or National ID. This step is important because it helps the system identify your tax records and retrieve your employment income details from the KRA database.
At this stage, ensure you enter your details correctly to avoid delays or failed verification.
Step 2: Identity verification and income summary
After entering your KRA PIN or National ID, the system will move to identity verification.
KRA sends a One-Time Password (OTP) to the mobile number registered with your tax profile. You are required to: Enter the OTP within the chat to confirm your identity and wait for the system to verify your details.
Once verification is successful, Shuru will generate and display your Income Tax I (ITI) Employment Income Summary .
It is important to carefully review this information to ensure everything is accurate before proceeding. If there are discrepancies, they should be addressed before submission.
Step 3: Review and submit your return
The final step is confirmation and submission.
At this point, you should go through the income summary carefully line by line, confirm that the figures match your employment records and tap Confirm & Submit once you are satisfied.
After submission, the system will process your return and send you an acknowledgement message confirming successful filing.
This serves as your official proof that your employment income return has been submitted for the year.
KRA’s WhatsApp tax filling
On Wednesday, April 1, 2026, the revenue authority announced the introduction of the new service that aimed at reducing the stress of completing tax returns by allowing taxpayers to file through WhatsApp.
“We’ve said it before, but this time, it’s real. Filing your taxes just got easier. We’ve introduced simpler ways for you to file, and the biggest update is this: you can now file through WhatsApp.
No new apps. No extra steps. Just open WhatsApp and get it done,” the taxman announced.
The authority highlighted that many people find filing taxes difficult not because they are complex but because the process feels long and frustrating.
According to KRA, logging in, resetting passwords, completing forms, and starting or stopping midway often discourage taxpayers from filing on time.
“For many people, filing isn’t hard because it’s complicated. It’s hard because it feels like a process, logging in, resetting passwords, figuring out forms, starting, stopping, and coming back later,” KRA stated.