An Overview of International Tax Services in Kenya

Cross-border operations provide many benefits to professionals, businesses, and foreign investors. These include financial gains, market advantages, and strategic partnerships. However, these inter-regional transactions also introduce complexities in tax compliance.  That’s where international tax consultants come in handy.

International tax advisory will help you stay compliant across all jurisdictions to avoid costly penalties. Working with a tax agent also helps maximise benefits and leverage cross-border tax reliefs. Above all, a tax professional will help you avoid legal and financial risks. Whether you are a remote worker, expatriate, foreign investor running operations in Kenya, or a local organization conducting business outside Kenya, keep reading to understand international tax compliance and how our experts can help.

What We Do

At Gichuri & Partners, we help you solve cross-border tax issues, from KRA PIN registration and tax planning to filing returns and avoiding double taxation. Here are some of the areas we cover:

• Tax residency status for foreigners
• Taxation of foreign income in Kenya
• KRA PIN registration for foreign individuals and businesses
• Transfer pricing
• Tax filing
• Cross-border tax planning
• Double taxation relief

Our International Tax Services

We offer comprehensive international tax and transfer pricing services to help you stay compliant and save on taxes. Here are our key services:

• Double Taxation Relief and Treaties : In international trade and investment, double taxation may occur when a business or individual’s income is taxed in two countries. It is a taxation mistake. To avoid this mistake, countries enter into a Double Taxation Agreement (DTA), where only one country is given the right to tax a particular income. Kenya has entered into DTAs with various countries. We help our clients leverage Kenya’s DTA network to avoid paying tax twice on the same income. This promotes fairness and ensures tax is paid to the correct jurisdiction.
• Transfer Pricing Services : Transfer pricing entails the rules and strategies that govern the pricing of transactions between enterprises that are owned or controlled by a common entity. In international tax, this is a critical factor between parent companies and subsidiaries as it affects how profits are allocated between various countries. We help multinationals and growing local companies align their pricing with KRA regulations, as well as the OECD guidelines. Our scope includes documentation, tax filing support, and drawing elaborate pricing strategies that withstand KRA audit scrutiny.
• Cross-Border Tax Planning and Advisory : Tax planning is critical to reduce tax leakage, improve cash flow, and stay compliant with Kenyan and international tax regulations. Our cross-border tax planning and advisory services include structuring investments and transactions to optimize tax exposure across borders while maximizing profits.
• Permanent Establishment (PE) Assessment : Tax obligations change over time as foreigners invest or conduct businesses in Kenya. It is a daunting task for these investors to identify what tax obligations apply to their operations. We assess your international business activities to determine if they meet a permanent establishment (PE) status across various jurisdictions. Knowing your PE status helps you stay compliant with all tax obligations, mitigate PE risks, and avoid unnecessary audits and penalties. 
• Expatriate and Executive Tax Services :  Are you an expatriate or foreign employee working in Kenya? We help you assess your tax residency status, report your income, and file returns according to KRA regulations. We also help you take advantage of available reliefs, benefits, pensions, and tax treaties across borders. Our goal is to help expats be tax compliant while saving on taxes.
• VAT on Imported Services/Reverse VAT : KRA imposes a Value Added Tax (VAT) on goods and services provided by foreign companies. At Gichuri & Partners, we help you navigate the complex tax landscape of international transactions and VAT implications on foreign goods and services. We handle VAT registration for non-residents, reclaiming import VAT, and filing tax returns.
• Withholding Tax Advisory and Compliance : Income paid to a foreign individual or company for consultancy and other services is subject to withholding tax. Withholding tax is one of the most confusing tax obligations for taxpayers. We simplify it by helping you calculate, file, and justify these transactions to avoid KRA penalties, audits, and other issues.
• Digital Service Tax (DST) Advisory: KRA introduced the DST tax on income accrued for providing services through a digital marketplace. This tax was repealed in late 2024 and became a Significant Economic Presence (SEP) tax. It affects companies like Meta, Google, and Netflix. If your company is earning an income via digital advertisement, digital marketplace sales, and streaming, you are eligible for this tax liability. We can help you with KRA registration, income reporting, and filing tax returns.

Who We Serve

We tailor our international tax services to match your unique needs, whether you are a remote worker, a foreigner working in Kenya, or a business running operations across borders. Here are the various clients who need our cross-border tax services:

• Multinational corporations (MNCs) operating in Kenya as parent companies, subsidiaries, or branches.
• Local companies that are expanding their operations beyond Kenyan borders.
• Non-resident businesses with PEs, agents, or clients in Kenya.
• Tech startups and digital services operating in Kenya.
• Non-resident digital service providers like Netflix and other streaming services.
• Venture capital firms and foreign investors.
• NGOs and international organizations operating in Kenya.
• International consulting and professional services, like law firms, contractors, architects, etc.
• High Networth Individuals (HNWIs) like artists, athletes, diaspora investors returning to Kenya, and businessmen with income from abroad.

Why Choose Gichuri & Partners For International Tax Services?

We are your trusted partner in cross-border taxation, transfer pricing matters, and other international tax services.  Here’s why clients choose us:

• Over 10 Years of Trusted Experience: Our team of tax consultants and accounting professionals has hands-on experience with tax matters, including cross-border taxes. We keep up and understand the local and international tax landscape to simplify it for you.
• Fully-Licensed KRA Tax Agent: As a registered KRA tax agent, we provide our clients with trusted tax advisory, representation, compliance, and other relevant services.
• Client-First and Personalised Approach: At Gichur & Partners, we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to international tax matters. We take time to analyse and understand your tax needs to tailor our solutions around them.
• Unparalleled Expertise in Cross-Border Taxation: We will help you navigate the various issues and obligations in international tax, from withholding tax and transfer pricing to recent developments like the digital services tax (DST).
• eTims and iTax Integration Support: We help businesses seamlessly integrate eTims and iTax systems into their business operations for accurate and real-time reporting to KRA. This simplifies return filing and compliance.

Let’s Simplify Your Cross-Border Taxes for You

We are here to help you navigate the international tax landscape easily. Get in touch to book a free consultation with us.