Value Added Tax (VAT) is a tax on consumer expenditure introduced in Kenya in January 1990 to replace Sales Tax, which had been in operation since 1973.
VAT was introduced as a measure to increase Government revenue through the expansion of the tax base, which hitherto was confined to sale of goods at manufacturing and importation level under the sales tax system. VAT is levied on consumption of taxable goods and services supplied or imported into Kenya and is collected by registered persons at designated points who then remit it to the Commissioner. Registered persons only act as VAT agents in collecting and paying the tax since the tax is borne by the final consumer of goods and services.

The VAT Law

The Scope of Tax

Value Added Tax is charged on the supply of taxable goods or services made or provided in Kenya and on the importation of taxable goods or services into Kenya. Taxable goods and services are contained in the various schedules to the VAT Act.

The VAT Act constitutes the following schedules: -

I.    1stSchedule -Part1-Specifies the general rate of tax which is 16%

                   -Part 11-Taxable services at 14%.

II.   2nd Schedule – EXEMPT GOODS- (Non-Taxable Goods) Goods that are not taxable.

III.  3rd Schedule -Lists the EXEMPT SERVICES. (Non-taxable Services) Services outside this list are taxable.

IV.  4th Schedule -Part 1-DESIGNATED GOODS. All taxable goods are now designated.

-Part11-- DESIGNATED SERVICES. These are services, which are not subject to the turnover limits for registration.

V.  5th Schedule -Part A--Zero-rated Supplies

                   -Part B--Zero-Rated goods.

VI.  6th schedule -Registration & deregistration procedures and changes affecting registration.

VII.  7th Schedule -Invoices, records and returns

VI.  8th Schedule-Part A-Public Bodies, privileged persons and institutions with Zero-rated status on imports and purchases.

                   -Part B- Special goods subjected to zero rating.

                   -Part C-Zero-rating of goods and services imported or purchased by persons with diplomatic privileges.