KRA: Travelers personal items, goods worth Sh75,000 and below exempted from tax

Travelers and workers at the JKIA International departures and arrivals area, Nairobi. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Used personal effects, items, and goods valued up to USD 500 (Sh75,000) are exempt from customs duties and import tax, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has clarified.

But, the taxman has revealed that plans are underway to review the law to include a higher limit.

In a circular dated Thursday, November 2, KRA’s Commissioner of Customs and Border Control stated that the review will be communicated to the public at a later date.

"As per the law affecting all East African Countries, goods of up to the value of USD 500 for each traveler are exempted from import tax, in so far as the baggage is accompanied and declared to the Customs Officer. However, KRA is in the process of reviewing this regulation to a higher limit," the statement read in part.

This comes in the back of a backlash on taxing travelers, and the harassment of travelers by KRA and JKIA customs officials.  

The Authority explained that the scanning of traveler's luggage only aims at ensuring correct declarations for the purpose of taxation, and also to screen out prohibited and restricted goods.

" Items flagged out after the first line x-ray/non-intrusive scanning process will undergo a physical inspection by the Customs Officer," it said, adding that it is in the process incorporating technology to enhance non-intrusive inspection of baggage at all points of entry.

Passengers have also been urged to self-declare the actual price of their items to help the customs official calculate the amount of duty to be paid.

"All passengers are thus required to declare the specified items in the Passenger Declaration Form (F88), before arrival in Kenya, and present it to a Customs official at the point of entry. However, a passenger has a right to query the assessed customs duty and may seek an explanation from the Customs Officer," KRA added.

This comes a few days after a public outcry, with Kenyans raising concerns over the alleged mistreatment and being forced to pay import tax upon entry.

Netizens have complained that the Sh75,000 limit on goods exempted from taxation is ‘absurd.’