Reference · May 2026

The current rates, in one place.

PAYE bands, SHIF, NSSF, the Affordable Housing Levy and Fringe Benefit Tax - kept current as KRA, NSSF and the Social Health Authority publish changes.

01 · Income tax

PAYE

Pay-As-You-Earn rates in effect from 1 July 2023, plus the personal reliefs and allowable deductions a Kenyan employee can claim.

PAYE bandsEffective from 1 July 2023
Monthly Taxable Pay (Ksh)Annual Taxable Pay (Ksh)Rate of Tax
Up to 24,000Up to 288,00010.0%
24,001 – 32,333288,001 – 388,00025.0%
32,334 – 500,000388,001 – 6,000,00030.0%
500,001 – 800,0006,000,001 – 9,600,00032.5%
Above 800,000Above 9,600,00035.0%
10.0%25.0%30.0%32.5%35.0%
Other PAYE parametersReliefs & allowable deductions
Monthly Limit (Ksh)Annual Limit (Ksh)Effective Since
Allowable Aggregate Benefits5,00060,00027 December 2024
Allowable Meals Benefit5,00060,00027 December 2024
Allowable Pension Fund Contribution30,000360,00027 December 2024
Allowable Owner-Occupier Interest30,000360,00027 December 2024
Personal Relief2,40028,80025 April 2020
Insurance Relief5,00060,0001 January 2007
Affordable Housing Relief27 December 2024
Disability Exemption150,0001,800,00010 March 2010
02 · Loans

Fringe Benefit Tax

Tax on the difference between the prevailing market interest rate and any below-market loans an employer extends to employees.

The employer is required to pay fringe benefit tax on any loans advanced to employees at an interest rate below the prevailing market interest rate. This applies to all loans issued after 11 June 1998, and to those issued on or before 11 June 1998 but whose terms and conditions have changed after this date.

Market interest rates · 2026Published quarterly by KRA
QuarterInterest Rate (%)
January to March8
April to June8
July to September
October to December
Market interest rates · 2025Published quarterly by KRA
QuarterInterest Rate (%)
January to March13
April to June9
July to September8
October to December8
03 · Health

SHIF

The Social Health Insurance Fund - successor to the NHIF, introduced under the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023.

Social Health Insurance FundEffective 1 October 2024
Employee contribution2.75% of gross monthly salary
Effective from1 October 2024
Tax-deductible from27 December 2024
Remitted toSocial Health Authority (SHA)

The Social Health Insurance Act, 2023 introduced the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) that effectively replaced the NHIF. Starting 1 October 2024, all employees are expected to pay 2.75% of their gross monthly salary to this fund. Employers are required to deduct the contributions and remit them to the Social Health Authority (SHA).

As from 27 December 2024, SHIF contributions are fully tax-deductible.

04 · Pension

NSSF

National Social Security Fund - Tier I and Tier II contributions under the NSSF Act of 2013.

NSSF tiers · February 2026 onwards6% employee + 6% employer
TierPensionable Pay (Ksh)Max contribution
IUp to 9,000540
II9,001 – 108,0005,940
NSSF tiers · Up to January 2026Previous limits
TierPensionable Pay (Ksh)Max contribution
IUp to 8,000480
II8,001 – 72,0003,840

Under the NSSF Act of 2013, contributions to NSSF are divided into Tier I and Tier II. Organisations may opt out of Tier II contributions if they have an alternative pension scheme in place. The employer and employee each contribute 6% of pensionable pay, subject to the monthly limits above.

The employee's contribution is tax-deductible.

05 · Levy

Housing Levy

The Affordable Housing Levy under the Affordable Housing Act of 2024.

Affordable Housing LevyEffective 19 March 2024
Employee contribution1.5% of gross monthly salary
Employer contribution1.5% of gross monthly salary
Effective from19 March 2024
Tax-deductible from27 December 2024

The affordable housing levy was first introduced in July 2023 by the Finance Act of 2023. It ceased to be payable in January 2024 following a successful legal challenge. It was reintroduced two months later under the Affordable Housing Act of 2024.

With effect from 19 March 2024, the employee and employer are each required to pay 1.5% of monthly gross salary as housing levy. Starting 27 December 2024, the employee's payment is fully tax-deductible.

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PAYEBands & reliefs