- KRA has released a list of countries that will now share financial account data with Kenya
- The move targets offshore income, foreign assets, and cross-border tax evasion
- Automatic data exchange will apply to returns from January 1, 2025
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has moved to tighten control over offshore income and foreign-held assets after publishing a list of reportable jurisdictions whose financial account information will be shared automatically with Kenya.
In a public notice dated December 18, 2025, KRA said the list was issued under the Tax Procedures (Common Reporting Standards) Regulations, 2023. The move is meant to help the tax agency track financial activities outside the country that involve Kenyan taxpayers.
The listed countries are part of the Common Reporting Standard (CRS), a global system created to fight tax evasion and improve transparency between tax authorities.
Under this setup, Kenyan banks and other reporting financial institutions will be required to submit details of accounts linked to individuals or entities that are tax residents in the listed jurisdictions. That information will then be exchanged automatically between KRA and foreign tax authorities.
KRA confirmed that the new reporting requirements will apply to tax periods starting January 1, 2025. This means all qualifying accounts and transactions from that date will fall under the expanded reporting rules.
“The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has published the List of Reportable Jurisdictions in line with the Tax Procedures (Common Reporting Standards) Regulations, 2023,” the notice stated.
“Reporting Financial Institutions are advised that the listed jurisdictions will apply for CRS information returns for periods beginning 1st January 2025.”
For Kenyans holding bank accounts, investments, or other financial assets abroad, the new framework is expected to make it harder to hide income earned outside the country.
Interest, dividends, and other returns that were previously not declared may now be detected through international data sharing.
Businesses with foreign operations or offshore accounts will also face closer scrutiny. KRA is expected to use the shared information to spot tax gaps, check compliance, and recover unpaid taxes where necessary.
According to KRA, the list includes countries such as Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Curaçao, Czechia, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Guernsey, Hong Kong, and Hungary.
Others are Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Kazakhstan, Korea, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Türkiye, Uganda, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay.
KRA said the list will strictly be used for Common Reporting Standard purposes. Financial account information tied to tax residents in the listed countries will now be exchanged automatically between Kenya and partner tax authorities.
The move places Kenya firmly within the global push for tax transparency and signals tougher enforcement for those with undeclared offshore income.
