FAQs

Who are the members of BCOCC?

How does BCOCC operate to enhance coordination?

BCOCC under section 5C of the Act mentioned, was able to create the following bodies;

  • Border Management Secretariat (BMS)
  • Border Management Committees (BMCs) in all legal and operational ports of entry and exit in the three border environments of Land, Air and Maritime.
  • Joint Operations Centers (JOCs) at Kilindini Port, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Namanga One Stop Border Post.

 

 

Key:

NSC (National Security Council)

NSAC (National Security Advisory Committee),

BCOCC (Border Control and Operations Coordination Committee)

BMS (Border Management Secretariat) BMC (Border Management Committee)

JOC (Joint Operation Centre)

 

Role of KRA in Coordinated Border Management (CBM)

CBM mandate in KRA is currently hosted in Customs & Border Control Department. The following are among the roles undertaken by the Department to enhance coordination among border agencies:-

  • Trade Facilitation – Automated customs systems e.g. Integrated Customs Management System (ICMS), Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking (RECTS), Baggage and Cargo Scanners, K9 among others.
  • Protection of Society – Ensuring that contraband goods like electronics, medicines, clothes and Pornographic materials which compromise the health and safety of the society as well as domestic industries are not imported into the country
  • Compilation of Trade Statistics-This is relevant to the Government to enable establishment of strong Fiscal and Monetary policies.
  • Chair Border Management Committees(BMC) in all Land borders
  • Lead Agency in One Stop Border Post(OSBP) and all land borders
  • Coordinate acquisition of land under the BCOCC framework and establishment of new Ports entry/exit eg. Konyao(west Pokot) Lomokori (Turkana)
  • Chair Joint Border Operation Committees(JBOC) in OSBPs
  • Spear head border integrity programs to prevent detect and deter corruption in ports of entry/exit
  • Joint enforcement activities like Patrols, verification of cargo, Rummaging of aircrafts and buses and Destruction of Seized goods.

What duties and taxes are local manufacturers liable to

Taxes due are specific to the product. Reference to the EAC external tariff will aid taxpayer in knowing the tariff classification and thus the duty band for import duty purpose, this is read together with the VAT Act to inform if VAT is due on the product imported. The Miscellaneous fees and levies Act informs on IDF (import declaration form), MSL (miscellaneous shippers levy), Railway Development Levy and other levies that KRA collects on behalf of other agencies.

However, for Registered Manufactures the IDF & RDL is currently at 1.5% each (the manufacturer has to be registered under KAM).

As mentioned above, the kind of machine will determine the taxes due.

What is the process of transferring ownership of a car that was acquired duty free

The 5th Schedule of EACCMA, 2004 provides for the importation of Motor vehicles under duty free status provided they meet the required criteria.  Section 119 of the same act provides that duties are payable upon disposal of the Motor vehicle.

Requirements

  • Customs declaration
  •  Valuation report
  • Copy of motor vehicle records and copy of log book
  • Authority to dispose Motor vehicle (PRO 1C) for diplomatic vehicles
  • Previous importation customs entry

Procedure

  •  Obtain a valuation report from KRA to ascertain the value of the vehicle for tax purposes.
  •  Liaise with an authorized Customs clearing agent to Lodge a customs declaration using the assessed value and pay the relevant duties computed.
  •  Present the vehicle for inspection by a proper Customs officer to confirm the motor vehicle details.
  •  Once the customs entry has been processed, initiate the transfer process on the NTSA platform.

Which cosmetics and beauty products require to be affixed with an excise stamp?

Every package of Cosmetics and Beauty products of tariff heading No. 3303, 3304, 3305 and 3307 imported to or manufactured in Kenya are required to be affixed with an excise stamp.

How does one get excise stamps?

Excise stamps are issued by KRA to manufacturers with an Excise license and importers with import certificate.

Licensed manufacturers and importers lodge applications for excise stamps in EGMS system through the link https://egms.kra.go.ke/kraweb/home.seam 

 

How do I get an excise license or an import certificate?

  • Obtain requirements for excise licenses for manufacturers and import certificate for importers from the KRA website.
  • Submit your Excise license application on iTax as follows - Log in to your iTax portal, click on the registration tab, select “other registration” and click on “Excise license”. Fill in the details and submit.
  • For further clarifications, please send your queries via email to exciselicensing@kra.go.ke

How do I get registered on EGMS?

Manufacturers with an excise license and importers with an import certificate are required to fill the user creation form for EGMS rights and send it to egmshelp@kra.go.ke.

You will be notified on email on creation of your EGMS account and your log in credentials. A request to a book training on use of the EGMS system will also be forwarded.

How do I register my product on EGMS?

Log in to the EGMS system, click on “SKU MANAGEMENT MODULE”, select “Submit new” or “modified SKU”; update product details and submit.

How do I provide my forecast for excise stamps?

Log in to the EGMS system, click on “ORDERING” module, select “MANAGE FORECAST” and input your monthly stamp usage projections for the next 6 months.

 

How do I purchase excise stamps?

Log in to the EGMS system and create an order. The order will be reviewed and approved at your Tax Service Office (TSO) to enable you to generate a payment slip through the EGMS system for payment.

Paper stamps are collected at the EGMS Help desk on ground floor at KRA Times Tower, while the digital excise stamps are added automatically to the EGMS equipment at the production line.

What is the cost of a stamp?

The cost of an excise stamp for Cosmetics and Beauty products is Kshs. 0.6.

When should I affix and activate the excise stamps?

For locally manufactured goods, excise stamps are to be affixed at the production facility immediately after packaging.

For imported goods, excise stamps are affixed at a place approved by the Commissioner within five days of clearance of the imported goods for home use

How do I activate/declare usage of stamps?

Log in to the EGMS system, click on the “Digital Activation System” (DAS); select “Declare Usage of The Stamps”; select the available Packaging unit (PU) and select the product on which the stamp has been affixed

Can I declare usage of stamps using my phone?

Yes, you can declare usage of the excise stamps through a mobile App solution called “Smart Digital Activation System” (SDAS) available for download on Google play and Apple store

Can I automate the affixing of stamps if I have an automated line?

Yes, through use of EGMS equipment. Submit your request to egmshelp@kra.go.ke. KRA will conduct a Technical Site Visit (TSV) and advise accordingly

Is there a penalty for not affixing excise stamps after the rollout?

Yes. Failure to affix excise stamps is an offence which attracts a fine not exceeding five million shillings or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or both.

When is the excise duty to be charged on the cosmetics and beauty products affixed with stamps?

For locally manufactured goods, Excise duty is charged when goods are removed from the excise licensed factory. For imported goods, Excise duty is due at the time of importation

What is the rate of excise duty on cosmetics and beauty products?

All cosmetics and beauty products of tariff heading No. 3303, 3304, 3305 and 3307 imported to or manufactured in Kenya attract excise duty at a rate of 15%.