The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) issued a notice on Monday, Oct 5, urging all employers to file and remit their Pay As You Earn (PAYE) returns before the Oct 9, 2026 deadline, cautioning against last‑minute submissions.

KRA highlighted that PAYE is deducted directly from employees’ salaries and that employers bear the legal responsibility for filing monthly returns and ensuring timely payment to the authority.

Employers who miss the Oct 9 deadline face penalties and interest charges, adding to the financial burden on non‑compliant businesses.

The reminder follows complaints from several employers who experienced technical difficulties filing their August PAYE returns, prompting KRA to acknowledge the challenges and assure that fixes are underway.

KRA advised that completing PAYE obligations early reduces the risk of encountering technical or other unforeseen issues that often arise during a last‑minute rush.

In a separate announcement, KRA introduced an instalment option for the ongoing tax amnesty programme, allowing taxpayers to settle principal tax liabilities in instalments provided the full balance is cleared by Dec 31, 2026.

The amnesty instalment scheme applies only to principal tax amounts and does not affect the Oct 9 PAYE deadline; employers must still meet their current PAYE obligations on time.