— Import Guide
KRA Import Duty Calculator: How Car Duty Actually Works in Kenya
The KRA duty system is opaque to most buyers. Here's exactly how the formula works — and how to estimate duty on any vehicle before you commit.
Most car buyers in Kenya think of "duty" as one number. It's actually four stacked taxes calculated in a specific order — and getting the formula wrong is how importers lose millions.
The KRA Formula (In Order)
- 01Start with CRSP (Current Retail Selling Price) — KRA's official price database, NOT what you paid
- 02Apply depreciation based on the vehicle's age
- 03This becomes the Customs Value (CIF-equivalent)
- 04Import Duty (25%) is calculated on Customs Value
- 05Excise Duty is calculated on Customs Value + Import Duty
- 06VAT (16%) is calculated on Customs Value + Import Duty + Excise
- 07IDF (3.5%) and RDL (2%) are calculated on CIF separately
What Is CRSP?
The Current Retail Selling Price is KRA's own valuation of what a vehicle is worth new in Kenya. Whatever you paid at auction is irrelevant to KRA — they use CRSP as the baseline, then apply depreciation.
Key Insight
This is why cheap auction wins don't always mean cheap final prices. If KRA's CRSP for that model is high, your duty will be high regardless of what you paid.
Depreciation Schedule
- ◆Under 1 year old: 5% depreciation
- ◆1 year: 15% depreciation
- ◆2 years: 20% depreciation
- ◆3 years: 30% depreciation
- ◆4 years: 40% depreciation
- ◆5 years: 50% depreciation
- ◆6 years: 60% depreciation
- ◆7 years: 70% depreciation
- ◆8 years: 75% depreciation (max allowed age)
Excise Duty Tiers (Engine Size Matters)
- ◆Petrol under 1500cc: 20%
- ◆Petrol 1500–2500cc: 25%
- ◆Petrol above 2500cc: 35%
- ◆Diesel under 1500cc: 20%
- ◆Diesel 1500–3000cc: 25%
- ◆Diesel above 3000cc: 35%
- ◆Electric vehicles: 10% (Kenya incentive)
Worked Example: 2020 Range Rover Vogue 3.0L Diesel
- ◆KRA CRSP (2020 Vogue): KES 22,000,000
- ◆Depreciation (5 years old): 50% off
- ◆Customs Value: KES 11,000,000
- ◆Import Duty (25%): KES 2,750,000
- ◆Excise Duty (35% on 13.75M): KES 4,812,500
- ◆VAT (16% on 18.5625M): KES 2,970,000
- ◆IDF + RDL: ~ KES 605,000
Total KRA Charges
KES 11,137,500 — before shipping, port clearance, transport, and NTSA registration.
At Roskyways we use our own duty calculation engine (built on live KRA CRSP data) to give buyers exact landed cost estimates in seconds. If you're considering importing anything specific, WhatsApp us on +254 768 377 047.
KRA Duty & Landed Cost Calculator
Test custom specs below. Calculates Import Duty (25%), Excise (10-35%), VAT (16%), IDF (3.5%), and RDL (2%) in real time.
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— Frequently Asked
Quick answers
Does what I pay at auction affect KRA duty?
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No. KRA uses their own CRSP database as the starting valuation.
Can I import an electric vehicle to Kenya cheaper?
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Yes. EVs pay 10% excise duty instead of 25–35%, a significant saving.