Frequently Asked Questions

Our calculators are built using official rates and regulations from Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), National Social Security Fund (NSSF), Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), and other government bodies. We implement the exact tax bands, contribution rates, and relief amounts specified in Kenyan law.

Every calculator is tested against real-world scenarios and verified by finance professionals. We update our rates within 24-48 hours of official announcements to ensure you always have access to current information. Our Methodology page documents our sources and calculation methods in detail.

While we strive for 100% accuracy, we recommend verifying critical financial decisions with your employer's payroll department or a qualified tax professional. Tax laws can be complex, and individual circumstances may vary. Check our Update Log to see when rates were last updated.

We monitor official government sources daily for any changes to tax rates, NSSF limits, SHIF contributions, Housing Levy rates, and other statutory deductions. When KRA or other regulators publish new rates, we begin verification immediately.

Most updates are released within 24-48 hours after official announcement. Critical updates (like NSSF rate changes in February 2026) are prioritized and deployed same-day. We thoroughly test all changes before going live to ensure accuracy.

Every update is documented in our Update Log with the effective date, what changed, and which calculators were affected. You can subscribe to our newsletter to receive email alerts when major rate changes occur.

For salary calculations: Use the Net Pay Calculator to see your take-home pay after all deductions, or the PAYE Calculator to focus specifically on income tax. The Gross to Net and Net to Gross calculators help you convert between gross and net salary.

For statutory contributions: Use dedicated calculators for NSSF (pension), SHIF (health insurance), Housing Levy, or Pension (voluntary contributions). The Employer Cost Calculator shows total employment costs including employer contributions.

For special scenarios: Use Bonus Tax for 13th month or performance bonuses, Overtime Calculator for extra hours worked, Annual Tax for yearly PAYE planning, Freelance Tax for self-employment, or Scenarios to compare multiple salary packages side-by-side.

For other needs: Use M-Pesa Calculator for transaction fees, VAT Calculator for sales tax, Loans Calculator for repayment planning, Leave Calculator for accrued leave value, or Payslip Generator to create professional payslips.

Yes, most of our calculators support both monthly and annual calculations. The Net Pay, PAYE, NSSF, SHIF, Housing Levy, Gross to Net, Net to Gross, and Bonus Tax calculators all include a period selector that lets you switch between monthly and annual views.

When you select "Annual" mode, the calculator automatically converts your inputs to monthly equivalents for accurate calculation (since Kenyan tax is calculated monthly), then multiplies the results by 12 to show annual totals. This ensures correct handling of tax bands, NSSF tier limits, and other monthly thresholds.

For calculators that only show monthly inputs (like some specialized tools), you can manually multiply results by 12 for an approximate annual figure. However, this may not be perfectly accurate due to how tax bands and contribution caps work on a monthly basis.

Absolutely! Net Pay Kenya is built with a mobile-first design philosophy, meaning every calculator is optimized for smartphones and tablets from the ground up. All forms, buttons, and results are touch-friendly with appropriately sized tap targets.

We test extensively on modern Android devices (Chrome, Samsung Internet) and iOS devices (Safari, Chrome) to ensure smooth performance. The calculators work on screen sizes from small phones (320px) to large desktop monitors (2560px+).

You can also install Net Pay Kenya as a Progressive Web App (PWA) on your phone for quick access from your home screen. The app works offline for basic calculations once loaded, and provides a native app-like experience without requiring an app store download.

Yes! Many calculators include built-in export and sharing features. The Payslip Generator has a dedicated print button that creates a clean, professional payslip suitable for printing or saving as PDF. The Net Pay, Loans, and M-Pesa calculators include export options for easy sharing.

Most calculators also support shareable URLs - after calculating, you can copy a link that includes all your inputs. This makes it easy to share scenarios with colleagues, save calculations for later, or email results to your HR department.

For any calculator, you can use your browser's print function (Ctrl+P or Cmd+P) to print or save results as PDF. The print view automatically removes navigation and shows only the relevant calculation details. Some calculators also offer CSV export for importing into Excel or Google Sheets.

We source all rates and regulations directly from official Kenyan government bodies and authorized institutions:

Tax rates: Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) - PAYE bands, personal relief, insurance relief, and all tax-related calculations come from the Income Tax Act and KRA public notices.

NSSF contributions: National Social Security Fund Act No. 45 of 2013 and official NSSF circulars. We implement the current Tier I and Tier II structure with updated 2026 limits (Tier I: KES 9,000, Tier II: KES 108,000).

SHIF rates: Social Health Insurance Act 2023 and official SHIF regulations. The 2.75% rate with KES 300 minimum is applied as specified in law.

Housing Levy: Finance Act 2023 and Housing Levy Regulations 2024, implementing the 1.5% employee and employer contribution rates.

M-Pesa fees: Official Safaricom tariff tables published on their website, including all transaction types and excise duty calculations.

Our Methodology page provides complete source citations with links to official documents and effective dates for every rate we use.

The Net Pay Calculator is a comprehensive tool that starts with your gross salary and calculates your final take-home pay after ALL deductions: PAYE tax, NSSF, SHIF, Housing Levy, pension contributions, insurance premiums, and any other deductions. It gives you the complete picture of what actually lands in your bank account each month.

The PAYE Calculator is more focused - it calculates ONLY your income tax liability. It shows you exactly how much tax you owe based on Kenya's progressive tax bands (10%, 25%, 30%, 32.5%, 35%), applies personal relief (KES 2,400/month), and breaks down which portion of your income falls into each tax bracket. This is useful when you want to understand just the tax component or plan tax-efficient strategies.

Use Net Pay when you want to know your actual take-home salary. Use PAYE when you want detailed tax analysis or need to verify tax calculations from your payslip.

Yes! We have specialized calculators for each of these scenarios:

Bonus Tax Calculator: Calculates tax on 13th month salary, performance bonuses, or commissions. It shows you the net amount you'll receive after PAYE, and how the bonus affects your total annual tax liability. Perfect for year-end planning.

Overtime Calculator: Handles overtime pay with different multipliers (1.5x for weekdays, 2x for weekends/holidays). Enter your regular hourly rate and overtime hours, and see both gross overtime pay and net amount after all statutory deductions.

Allowance Calculator: Helps you understand which allowances are taxable and which aren't. It shows how different allowances (housing, transport, meal, etc.) affect your PAYE, NSSF, SHIF, and Housing Levy calculations. Critical for salary negotiations.

The main Net Pay Calculator also has fields for taxable and non-taxable allowances, so you can include them in your regular salary calculations to see the complete picture.

Yes, each calculator has validation rules to ensure realistic and accurate calculations:

Salary calculators: Generally accept amounts from KES 1 to KES 100,000,000 per month. While there's no legal maximum salary, extremely high amounts may produce warnings to double-check your input.

M-Pesa Calculator: Transaction limits match Safaricom's official limits - for example, send money is capped at KES 500,000 per transaction, agent withdrawals at KES 150,000, and ATM withdrawals at KES 40,000. These limits are enforced to match real-world constraints.

NSSF/SHIF/Housing: These calculators respect statutory caps. For example, NSSF contributions are capped at the Tier II upper limit (KES 108,000 pensionable pay in 2026), while SHIF has no upper limit but has a KES 300 minimum.

If you enter an amount outside acceptable ranges, you'll see a clear error message explaining the limit and why it exists. These validations help prevent calculation errors and ensure results match what you'd actually experience in real life.

Partially, yes! All calculations run entirely in your web browser using JavaScript - we don't send your salary data to any server. This means once a calculator page is loaded, the actual calculations happen on your device.

Net Pay Kenya is built as a Progressive Web App (PWA) with a service worker that caches essential files. After your first visit, many pages and assets are stored locally on your device. If you lose internet connection, you can still access previously visited calculators and perform calculations.

However, you'll need an internet connection for:

• Your first visit to load the site
• Accessing new calculators you haven't used before
• Checking for rate updates or new features
• Using features that require external data (like newsletter signup)

For best offline experience, install Net Pay Kenya as a PWA on your device. This gives you quick access and better offline capabilities.

We notify users of calculator changes through multiple channels:

Update Log: Every significant change is documented in our Update Log with the date, affected calculators, what changed, and why. This is your authoritative source for all platform updates.

Status Banner: When you visit the site, you'll see a status banner at the top showing "2026 rates active" and the last update date. This updates dynamically every day so you always know you're using current rates.

Calculator Badges: Individual calculators display badges like "2026 Rates" or "Updated Feb 2026" to indicate when rates were last verified. Look for these near the calculator title.

Newsletter Alerts: Subscribe to our newsletter to receive email notifications when major rate changes occur (like the NSSF 2026 update). We only send emails for significant changes, not minor tweaks.

"Last verified" dates: Each calculator shows when rates were last verified, giving you confidence that the information is current.

We implement Kenya's official PAYE (Pay As You Earn) tax bands as published by the Kenya Revenue Authority. The current progressive tax structure for 2026 is:

• 0 - KES 24,000: 10% tax rate
• KES 24,001 - 32,333: 25% tax rate
• KES 32,334 - 500,000: 30% tax rate
• KES 500,001 - 800,000: 32.5% tax rate
• Above KES 800,000: 35% tax rate

After calculating tax using these bands, we automatically apply Personal Relief of KES 2,400 per month (KES 28,800 annually), which every employed person in Kenya is entitled to. This relief is deducted from your calculated PAYE to reduce your final tax liability.

Our calculators also support additional reliefs including insurance relief (15% of premiums, max KES 5,000/month), disability relief (KES 1,800/month for NCPWD registered individuals), and mortgage interest relief (max KES 25,000/month). All band thresholds and relief amounts are clearly displayed in each calculator's notes section.

Yes, absolutely! Personal Relief is automatically applied in all our salary and tax calculators. This is a fundamental tax benefit that every employed person in Kenya receives.

The current Personal Relief amount is KES 2,400 per month (or KES 28,800 per year). Here's how it works: First, we calculate your gross PAYE tax using the progressive tax bands. Then, we subtract the KES 2,400 personal relief from that amount to arrive at your final PAYE liability.

For example, if your calculated PAYE before relief is KES 5,000, your actual PAYE after personal relief would be KES 2,600 (5,000 - 2,400). This relief is applied automatically - you don't need to claim it or check any boxes. It's your legal entitlement under Kenyan tax law.

The Net Pay, PAYE, Annual Tax, and Bonus Tax calculators all include this automatic personal relief application. You'll see it clearly broken down in the results section showing "PAYE before relief" and "PAYE after relief" so you can understand exactly how much you're saving.

Our calculators follow KRA guidelines on what constitutes taxable income. Here's the breakdown:

Taxable income includes:

• Basic salary: Your core monthly or annual salary
• Taxable allowances: Housing allowance, transport allowance, entertainment allowance, responsibility allowance, and most other cash allowances
• Bonuses and commissions: Performance bonuses, 13th month salary, sales commissions
• Overtime pay: Extra pay for hours worked beyond normal working hours
• Benefits in kind: Company car for personal use, housing provided by employer (calculated at market value), low-interest or interest-free loans

Non-taxable income includes:

• Reimbursements: Actual business expenses like travel, accommodation, or meals during business trips (with proper documentation)
• Medical benefits: Medical insurance premiums paid by employer, medical treatment costs
• Some allowances: Meal allowances up to KES 4,000/month, certain uniform allowances, tools of trade
• Pension contributions: Employer contributions to registered pension schemes
• Severance pay: Certain types of termination benefits may be tax-exempt

In our calculators, you'll find separate fields for "Taxable Allowances" and "Non-taxable Allowances" so you can correctly categorize your income. When in doubt about whether something is taxable, consult KRA guidelines or use our Allowance Calculator which explains common allowance types.

Bonuses and commissions are treated as regular income for tax purposes in Kenya, meaning they're subject to the same PAYE bands and rates as your normal salary. However, because they're often paid as lump sums, the tax calculation can be complex.

Our Bonus Tax Calculator uses the correct methodology: it isolates your bonus amount, adds it to your regular monthly income to determine your total taxable income for that month, then calculates PAYE on the combined amount using the progressive tax bands. The calculator shows you:

• The gross bonus amount
• The marginal tax rate that applies to your bonus (which band it falls into)
• The net bonus you'll actually receive after PAYE
• How the bonus affects your total monthly PAYE liability
• The effective tax rate on just the bonus portion

For example, if you normally earn KES 50,000/month and receive a KES 30,000 bonus, your total taxable income for that month becomes KES 80,000. The bonus will be taxed at your marginal rate (the rate that applies to the top portion of your income), which could be 25% or 30% depending on your total income level.

The calculator also handles 13th month salary, performance bonuses, sales commissions, and year-end bonuses. It applies personal relief correctly and shows you exactly how much of your bonus you'll take home.

Benefits in kind (non-cash benefits provided by your employer) have specific tax treatment under Kenyan law. Here's how we handle them:

Taxable benefits in kind include:

• Company car for personal use: Calculated at prescribed rates based on vehicle cost and engine capacity
• Housing provided by employer: Taxed at 15% of your cash salary or market rent value, whichever is higher
• Low-interest or interest-free loans: The benefit is the difference between market interest rate and what you actually pay
• Free or subsidized meals: Value exceeding KES 4,000/month is taxable
• Electricity, water, domestic servants: Provided by employer for personal use

Non-taxable benefits include:

• Medical insurance premiums and treatment costs
• Employer pension contributions to registered schemes
• Meal allowances up to KES 4,000/month
• Tools of trade, protective clothing, uniforms
• Professional subscriptions and training directly related to your job

In our calculators, you should add the cash equivalent value of taxable benefits to the "Taxable Allowances" field. For example, if your employer provides housing worth KES 20,000/month, add this to your taxable allowances. The Allowance Calculator provides detailed guidance on valuing different types of benefits and shows their tax impact.

Yes! Kenya provides a Disability Tax Relief of KES 1,800 per month (KES 21,600 annually) for persons with disabilities who are registered with the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD).

This relief is in addition to the standard Personal Relief of KES 2,400/month, meaning eligible individuals receive a total of KES 4,200/month in tax relief (1,800 + 2,400). This significantly reduces your PAYE liability.

Eligibility requirements:

• You must be registered with NCPWD and have a valid disability certificate
• The disability must be certified by a medical practitioner
• You must provide your NCPWD registration number to your employer

Our Annual PAYE Calculator and PAYE Calculator include a checkbox for disability relief. When enabled, the calculator automatically adds the KES 1,800/month relief to your personal relief, showing you the combined tax savings.

For example, if your calculated PAYE before any relief is KES 8,000/month, with both personal relief (2,400) and disability relief (1,800), your final PAYE would be KES 3,800/month - a saving of KES 4,200/month or KES 50,400/year.

Always confirm your eligibility with KRA and ensure you have proper documentation from NCPWD before claiming this relief through your employer.

Pension contributions to registered pension schemes provide significant tax benefits by reducing your taxable income. Here's how it works:

Tax-deductible pension contributions:

• Employee voluntary contributions: Up to 30% of your pensionable pay (gross salary + taxable allowances) or KES 20,000 per month, whichever is lower
• Employer contributions: Also tax-deductible up to the same limits
• The scheme must be registered with the Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA)

How the tax benefit works: Your pension contributions are deducted from your gross income BEFORE calculating PAYE. This means you pay tax on a lower amount, resulting in lower PAYE.

Example: If you earn KES 100,000/month and contribute KES 10,000 to your pension:

• Without pension: Taxable income = KES 100,000
• With pension: Taxable income = KES 90,000 (100,000 - 10,000)
• You save tax on that KES 10,000, which at a 30% marginal rate = KES 3,000/month saved

Our Pension Calculator shows you exactly how much tax you save with different contribution levels, helping you optimize your retirement savings while minimizing your tax burden. The Net Pay Calculator and Annual PAYE Calculator also include pension contribution fields that automatically apply the tax deduction.

Note: NSSF contributions are separate from voluntary pension contributions and have their own limits (Tier I: KES 9,000, Tier II: KES 108,000 in 2026).

Yes, you can calculate PAYE for multiple jobs, though it requires a slightly different approach since each employer typically calculates tax independently.

How multiple employment taxation works in Kenya: Each employer is required to deduct PAYE based only on what they pay you, applying personal relief once. However, KRA requires you to declare all sources of income, and you may owe additional tax if your combined income pushes you into higher tax bands.

Using our calculators for multiple jobs:

• Option 1 - Annual PAYE Calculator: Add up your total annual income from all jobs, then calculate your total PAYE liability. Compare this to what's being deducted by your employers to see if you're under-taxed or over-taxed.
• Option 2 - Separate calculations: Use the Net Pay or PAYE calculator for each job individually to see what each employer is deducting, then compare to your actual total liability.
• Option 3 - Scenarios Planner: Create multiple scenarios representing different job combinations to compare total net income.

Important note: If you have multiple employers, only ONE should apply personal relief (typically your main employer). Your second employer should deduct PAYE without applying personal relief, otherwise you'll be under-taxed and may owe KRA at year-end.

We recommend consulting with a tax professional or KRA if you have multiple jobs to ensure you're paying the correct amount of tax and avoid penalties.

Back pay and salary arrears have special tax treatment in Kenya. Here's how to calculate tax on them:

KRA's approach: Back pay should ideally be taxed in the period it relates to, not when it's paid. However, in practice, many employers tax it in the month of payment, which can push you into higher tax bands temporarily.

Using our calculators:

• If paid as a lump sum: Use the Bonus Tax Calculator. Enter your normal monthly salary and the arrears amount as a "bonus." This shows you the tax on the lump sum payment.
• For annual planning: Use the Annual PAYE Calculator. Add the arrears to your total annual income to see your correct annual tax liability. This helps you determine if you'll owe additional tax or get a refund.
• For spreading arrears: If the arrears relate to specific past months, you can calculate what the tax should have been by using the Net Pay calculator for each affected month with the correct salary.

Example: You receive KES 60,000 in back pay for 3 months (KES 20,000/month). Instead of being taxed at your normal rate, when paid as a lump sum it might push you into a higher tax band temporarily. Our Bonus Tax calculator shows you this impact.

Important: If you believe you've been over-taxed due to how arrears were handled, you can file for a tax refund with KRA at year-end. Keep documentation of what period the arrears relate to.

Yes! Understanding your marginal tax rate is crucial for financial planning, salary negotiations, and understanding how raises or bonuses affect your take-home pay.

What is marginal tax rate? It's the tax rate you pay on your next shilling of income. Due to Kenya's progressive tax system, this can be different from your average (effective) tax rate.

Where to see your marginal rate:

• PAYE Calculator: Shows which tax band your income falls into, revealing your marginal rate (10%, 25%, 30%, 32.5%, or 35%)
• Bonus Tax Calculator: Explicitly shows the marginal tax rate on your bonus amount - the rate at which your extra income is taxed
• Scenarios Planner: Compare different salary levels side-by-side to see how your marginal rate changes as income increases
• Salary Raise Calculator: Shows the effective tax rate on your raise amount, which is your marginal rate

Example: If you earn KES 50,000/month, your income falls into the 30% tax band. This means your marginal rate is 30% - any additional income (raise, bonus, overtime) will be taxed at 30% (plus NSSF, SHIF, Housing Levy).

Why it matters: Knowing your marginal rate helps you understand that a KES 10,000 raise doesn't mean KES 10,000 more in your pocket - after 30% PAYE, 6% NSSF, 2.75% SHIF, and 1.5% Housing Levy, you might only take home about KES 6,000 of that raise.

You might notice that your annual PAYE (calculated once for the year) doesn't exactly equal 12 times your monthly PAYE. This is normal and happens for several mathematical reasons:

Why differences occur:

• Tax band thresholds: Monthly bands are calculated by dividing annual bands by 12, which can create rounding differences. For example, the monthly threshold of KES 32,333 × 12 = KES 387,996, not exactly KES 388,000.
• Personal relief application: Monthly relief of KES 2,400 × 12 = KES 28,800 annually. Small rounding in monthly calculations can accumulate.
• NSSF tier limits: The Tier I limit of KES 9,000/month × 12 = KES 108,000/year, but contributions are capped monthly, not annually.
• Rounding at each step: Monthly calculations round at each step (PAYE, NSSF, SHIF), while annual calculations round once at the end.

Typical difference: Usually less than KES 100-500 per year - not significant for most people.

Which is correct? Both are correct for their purpose. Kenyan employers calculate PAYE monthly (which is what you see on your payslip), but KRA reconciles annually. Our calculators follow the official KRA methodology for each mode.

For accuracy: Use monthly calculations to match your payslip. Use annual calculations for year-end tax planning or when filing returns.

KRA typically announces PAYE band and relief changes during the annual Budget reading (usually in June) or through Finance Acts. Here's our process for handling these changes:

Our update process:

1. Monitoring: We monitor KRA announcements, Finance Bills, and official gazettes daily
2. Verification: When changes are announced, we verify the exact rates, effective dates, and affected calculations
3. Implementation: We update our rate modules within 24-48 hours of official confirmation
4. Testing: All changes are tested against official examples before going live
5. Documentation: Every change is logged in our Update Log with the effective date and what changed
6. Notification: Major changes trigger newsletter alerts to subscribers

What we track:

• PAYE tax band thresholds and rates
• Personal relief amounts
• Insurance relief limits
• Disability relief amounts
• Pension contribution limits
• Mortgage interest relief caps

Historical changes: Our Update Log maintains a complete history of all rate changes, so you can see what rates were in effect at any point in time. This is useful for verifying past payslips or filing amended returns.

Effective dates: We clearly mark when new rates take effect. If KRA announces changes mid-year, we show both the old and new rates with their respective effective dates.

The NSSF 2026 rate changes represent a significant increase in pension contributions for Kenyan employees. Here's what changed:

Previous limits (before Feb 2026):

• Tier I: First KES 7,000 of pensionable pay
• Tier II: KES 7,001 to KES 36,000
• Maximum employee contribution: KES 2,160/month (6% of 36,000)
• Maximum employer contribution: KES 2,160/month

New limits (from Feb 2026):

• Tier I: First KES 9,000 of pensionable pay (increased by KES 2,000)
• Tier II: KES 9,001 to KES 108,000 (increased by KES 72,000!)
• Maximum employee contribution: KES 6,480/month (6% of 108,000) - tripled from KES 2,160
• Maximum employer contribution: KES 6,480/month - also tripled

Impact on your salary: If you earn above KES 108,000/month, your NSSF deduction increased from KES 2,160 to KES 6,480 - a difference of KES 4,320/month or KES 51,840/year. However, this also means more retirement savings and potentially higher NSSF benefits when you retire.

Tax benefit: NSSF contributions are tax-deductible, so the increased contribution also reduces your taxable income, partially offsetting the higher deduction through lower PAYE.

Our NSSF Calculator automatically uses the 2026 rates and shows you the exact breakdown by tier, plus employee and employer portions.

NSSF uses a two-tier system to calculate contributions, with different caps for each tier. Here's how our calculator handles it:

Tier I (Lower Earnings Tier):

• Applies to the first KES 9,000 of your pensionable pay
• Contribution rate: 6% employee + 6% employer = 12% total
• Maximum contribution: KES 540 employee + KES 540 employer = KES 1,080 total

Tier II (Upper Earnings Tier):

• Applies to pensionable pay between KES 9,001 and KES 108,000
• Contribution rate: 6% employee + 6% employer = 12% total
• Maximum contribution: KES 5,940 employee + KES 5,940 employer = KES 11,880 total

Example calculation: If you earn KES 150,000/month:

• Tier I: 6% of KES 9,000 = KES 540
• Tier II: 6% of KES 99,000 (108,000 - 9,000) = KES 5,940
• Total employee NSSF: KES 6,480 (capped at maximum)
• Employer matches this with another KES 6,480

Pensionable pay options: You can choose whether to base NSSF on gross salary only or gross salary + taxable allowances. Our calculator lets you select this option and shows how it affects your contribution.

The calculator displays a clear breakdown showing Tier I amount, Tier II amount, employee portion, employer portion, and total contribution to your retirement fund.

SHIF (Social Health Insurance Fund) replaced NHIF in 2024 with a completely different contribution structure. Here's everything you need to know for 2026:

Contribution rate: 2.75% of your gross salary (basic salary + taxable allowances)

Minimum contribution: KES 300 per month - even if 2.75% of your salary is less than this, you pay at least KES 300

Maximum contribution: NONE - Unlike old NHIF which capped at KES 1,700/month, SHIF has no upper limit. Higher earners pay proportionally more.

Key differences from old NHIF:

• NHIF: Fixed bands (e.g., KES 30,000-34,999 = KES 850). Everyone in a band paid the same.
• SHIF: Percentage-based (2.75%). Your exact contribution matches your exact salary.
• NHIF: Maximum KES 1,700/month regardless of salary
• SHIF: No maximum - someone earning KES 500,000/month pays KES 13,750

Tax deductibility: SHIF became tax-deductible from December 27, 2024. This means your SHIF contribution reduces your taxable income BEFORE calculating PAYE, lowering your overall tax burden. This is a significant benefit that partially offsets the cost.

Example calculations:

• KES 20,000 salary: 2.75% = KES 550/month
• KES 50,000 salary: 2.75% = KES 1,375/month
• KES 100,000 salary: 2.75% = KES 2,750/month
• KES 200,000 salary: 2.75% = KES 5,500/month

Our SHIF Calculator shows your exact contribution, the tax benefit you receive, and compares it to what you would have paid under old NHIF.

SHIF primarily applies to employment income (salaries and wages), but the rules around other income types are still evolving. Here's what we know:

Definitely covered by SHIF:

• Regular employment salary (basic pay)
• Taxable allowances (housing, transport, etc.)
• Bonuses and commissions from employment
• Overtime pay

Unclear or exempt:

• Self-employment income (freelancers, sole proprietors)
• Rental income
• Investment income (dividends, interest)
• Business profits

Our SHIF Calculator focuses on employment income scenarios. You can select your income base (gross salary, gross + allowances, etc.) to see how SHIF applies to your specific situation. The calculator notes explain which income types are included in the calculation.

If you're self-employed or have mixed income sources, consult with SHIF or a tax professional to understand your contribution obligations, as the regulations are still being clarified.

Yes! This is a major change that significantly benefits employees. Housing Levy became tax-deductible from December 27, 2024, meaning it now works similarly to NSSF and SHIF in reducing your tax burden.

How it works:

1. Your employer calculates 1.5% of your gross salary as Housing Levy
2. This amount is deducted from your gross salary BEFORE calculating PAYE
3. You pay PAYE on the reduced amount, lowering your income tax
4. The Housing Levy is then deducted from your remaining salary

Example of tax savings: If you earn KES 100,000/month:

• Housing Levy: 1.5% × 100,000 = KES 1,500
• Taxable income reduced by KES 1,500
• At a 30% marginal tax rate, you save: 30% × 1,500 = KES 450 in PAYE
• Net cost of Housing Levy: KES 1,500 - KES 450 = KES 1,050 (instead of full KES 1,500)

Combined with other deductions: Housing Levy, NSSF, and SHIF are ALL tax-deductible, which means they all reduce your taxable income. This creates a significant tax benefit - you're building retirement savings and health coverage while paying less income tax.

Employer contribution: Employers also contribute 1.5% (matched contribution), but this doesn't affect your take-home pay. The employer portion goes toward the Affordable Housing Fund.

Our Housing Levy Calculator and Net Pay Calculator both apply the tax deduction correctly, showing you the actual net cost after tax savings.

We implement the official NSSF Act No. 45 of 2013 rates and ceilings as updated for 2026. Here are the complete details:

Current rates (2026):

• Employee contribution: 6% of pensionable pay
• Employer contribution: 6% of pensionable pay (matched)
• Total contribution: 12% of pensionable pay

Tier I ceiling: KES 9,000/month (KES 108,000/year)

• Maximum employee contribution: KES 540/month
• Maximum employer contribution: KES 540/month

Tier II ceiling: KES 108,000/month (KES 1,296,000/year)

• Applies to pensionable pay between KES 9,001 and KES 108,000
• Maximum employee contribution: KES 5,940/month (6% of KES 99,000)
• Maximum employer contribution: KES 5,940/month

Combined maximum: KES 6,480/month employee + KES 6,480/month employer = KES 12,960/month total to your retirement fund

Our NSSF Calculator shows the complete breakdown: Tier I amount, Tier II amount, employee portion, employer portion, total monthly contribution, and projected annual contribution. You can also see how different pensionable pay bases (gross only vs. gross + allowances) affect your contribution.

NSSF contributions are mandatory statutory deductions set by law - you cannot voluntarily increase them beyond the statutory limits. However, you can make additional voluntary pension contributions through other channels.

NSSF (Statutory - Mandatory):

• Fixed at 6% of pensionable pay up to KES 108,000
• Maximum KES 6,480/month employee contribution
• Cannot be increased voluntarily
• Managed by National Social Security Fund

Voluntary Pension (Additional - Optional):

• Contribute to registered pension schemes (RBA-approved)
• Up to 30% of pensionable pay or KES 20,000/month, whichever is lower
• Fully tax-deductible (reduces your PAYE)
• Managed by private pension providers (Old Mutual, Britam, etc.)

Why make voluntary contributions?

• Build larger retirement savings beyond NSSF
• Get immediate tax benefits (reduce current PAYE)
• More investment options and potentially higher returns
• Flexibility in contribution amounts

Our NSSF Calculator handles only the mandatory statutory contributions. Use our Pension Calculator to see how voluntary pension contributions affect your tax and retirement savings. The Net Pay Calculator includes fields for both NSSF and voluntary pension so you can see the combined impact on your take-home pay.

Yes! Understanding both employee and employer contributions is important for salary negotiations, employment cost planning, and seeing the full value going into your retirement fund.

Our calculators show:

NSSF Calculator:

• Employee contribution (deducted from your salary)
• Employer contribution (paid by employer, not from your salary)
• Total contribution to your NSSF account
• Breakdown by Tier I and Tier II

Employer Cost Calculator:

• Your gross salary
• Employee NSSF (comes from your salary)
• Employer NSSF (additional cost to employer)
• Employer SHIF contribution
• Employer Housing Levy contribution
• Total employment cost to the company

Example for KES 100,000 salary:

• Employee NSSF: KES 6,000 (6% of 100,000, capped)
• Employer NSSF: KES 6,000 (matched)
• Total to your retirement: KES 12,000/month
• You only "feel" KES 6,000 deduction, but KES 12,000 goes to your future

Why this matters: When negotiating salary, remember that your employer pays additional costs beyond your gross salary (NSSF, SHIF, Housing Levy employer portions). A KES 100,000 salary actually costs the employer about KES 110,000-112,000. This context helps in salary discussions.

The employer contribution doesn't affect your take-home pay, but it does increase your total retirement savings significantly.

Unlike the old NHIF which used fixed income bands, SHIF uses a simple percentage-based calculation - there are no income bands. This makes it much simpler and more transparent.

SHIF calculation method:

• Take your gross salary (basic + taxable allowances)
• Multiply by 2.75%
• If result is less than KES 300, pay KES 300 (minimum)
• If result is KES 300 or more, pay the calculated amount (no maximum)

Comparison with old NHIF bands: NHIF had 12 income bands with fixed contributions. For example, KES 30,000-34,999 paid KES 850, while KES 35,000-39,999 paid KES 950. This created "cliff effects" where earning KES 1 more could increase your contribution by KES 100.

SHIF eliminates this problem. Your contribution increases smoothly with your income at exactly 2.75%, so there are no sudden jumps. Every additional shilling you earn increases your SHIF by exactly 2.75 cents.

Our SHIF Calculator shows your exact contribution based on your specific salary, compares it to what you would have paid under old NHIF, and shows the tax benefit you receive from the deduction.

Yes, SHIF is fully tax-deductible as of December 27, 2024. All our calculators that involve tax calculations apply this deduction correctly.

How we handle SHIF tax deductibility:

• Net Pay Calculator: Deducts SHIF from gross salary BEFORE calculating PAYE, reducing your taxable income
• PAYE Calculator: When you include SHIF, it reduces the taxable amount before applying tax bands
• Scenarios Planner: Compares scenarios with correct SHIF tax treatment, showing true take-home differences
• Annual Tax Calculator: Applies annual SHIF deduction before calculating yearly PAYE
• Gross to Net / Net to Gross: Factors in SHIF tax deductibility when converting between gross and net

Tax savings example: KES 100,000 salary with 30% marginal tax rate:

• SHIF contribution: 2.75% × 100,000 = KES 2,750
• Tax saved: 30% × 2,750 = KES 825
• Net cost of SHIF: KES 2,750 - KES 825 = KES 1,925

The calculator results always show the final take-home amount after all deductions and tax benefits are properly applied. You don't need to manually calculate the tax benefit - it's built into the results.

The Affordable Housing Levy is currently set at 1.5% of gross salary for both employees and employers. Here are the complete details:

Current rates (2026):

• Employee contribution: 1.5% of gross salary
• Employer contribution: 1.5% of gross salary (matched)
• Total contribution: 3.0% of gross salary to the Affordable Housing Fund

No caps or limits: Unlike NSSF which has tier limits, Housing Levy applies to your full gross salary with no upper limit. Someone earning KES 500,000/month pays KES 7,500 (1.5%).

Tax deductibility: Employee contribution (1.5%) is tax-deductible from December 27, 2024, reducing your PAYE burden.

What it funds: The levy goes toward the government's Affordable Housing Program, which aims to build 500,000 affordable housing units. Contributors may get priority access to these units.

Example calculation for KES 80,000 salary:

• Employee levy: 1.5% × 80,000 = KES 1,200
• Employer levy: 1.5% × 80,000 = KES 1,200
• Total to housing fund: KES 2,400/month
• Tax saved (at 25% rate): 25% × 1,200 = KES 300
• Net cost to you: KES 1,200 - KES 300 = KES 900

Our Housing Levy Calculator shows employee and employer portions separately, calculates the tax benefit, and shows your net cost after tax savings. We update rates immediately when new regulations are gazetted.

Yes, absolutely! Both the employee and employer contribute 1.5% each, and our calculators show both portions clearly.

Housing Levy Calculator shows:

• Employee contribution (1.5% - deducted from your salary)
• Employer contribution (1.5% - paid by employer, not from your salary)
• Total contribution to Affordable Housing Fund (3.0%)
• Tax benefit from employee contribution
• Net cost to employee after tax savings

Employer Cost Calculator shows:

• Your gross salary
• Employee Housing Levy (comes from your salary)
• Employer Housing Levy (additional cost to employer)
• Plus NSSF and SHIF employer portions
• Total employment cost to the company

Why both matter: Understanding the employer portion is important for salary negotiations and employment cost planning. When you negotiate a KES 100,000 salary, your employer's actual cost is higher due to their 1.5% Housing Levy, 6% NSSF, and other employer contributions - typically adding 10-12% to your gross salary.

The employer contribution doesn't affect your take-home pay, but it does contribute to the housing fund alongside your contribution, potentially giving you access to affordable housing units in the future.

Different statutory contributions have different minimum thresholds and rules for low-income earners:

SHIF (Social Health Insurance Fund):

• Minimum contribution: KES 300/month
• If 2.75% of your salary is less than KES 300, you still pay KES 300
• This applies to salaries below KES 10,909/month

NSSF (Pension):

• No official minimum - calculated as 6% of actual pensionable pay
• Even KES 5,000 salary pays 6% = KES 300 NSSF
• Tier I applies to first KES 9,000, so low earners stay in Tier I only

Housing Levy:

• No minimum - calculated as 1.5% of actual gross salary
• KES 10,000 salary pays 1.5% = KES 150

PAYE (Income Tax):

• First KES 24,000/month is taxed at 10%
• After personal relief (KES 2,400), salaries below ~KES 24,000 pay little or no PAYE
• Very low earners may pay zero PAYE after relief

Our calculators automatically apply these minimums and thresholds. Enter your actual salary, and the calculator will correctly handle low-income scenarios, showing you exactly what you'll pay for each statutory deduction.

We monitor NSSF, SHIF, and Housing Levy announcements closely and update our calculators rapidly. Here's our process:

Monitoring sources:

• NSSF official circulars and press releases
• SHIF/SHA announcements and regulations
• Finance Acts and Housing Levy regulations
• Kenya Gazette notices
• Ministry of Labour and Treasury announcements

Update timeline:

• Critical changes: Same-day updates (like NSSF 2026 rate increase)
• Standard changes: Within 24-48 hours of official confirmation
• Minor adjustments: Within 1 week with thorough testing

What we update:

• Contribution rates and percentages
• Tier limits and caps
• Minimum contribution amounts
• Tax deductibility rules
• Calculation methodologies

Documentation: Every change is logged in our Update Log with:

• Effective date of the change
• What changed (old vs new rates)
• Which calculators were affected
• Source of the official announcement

Notifications: Major changes trigger newsletter alerts to subscribers. Subscribe to get email notifications when NSSF, SHIF, or Housing Levy rates change.

Understanding how pension contributions interact with statutory deductions is crucial for tax planning and maximizing your retirement savings. Here's the complete picture:

Order of deductions (how they interact):

1. Start with: Gross Salary
2. Deduct (tax-deductible): NSSF + SHIF + Housing Levy + Voluntary Pension
3. Result: Taxable Income (reduced by all above)
4. Calculate: PAYE on the reduced taxable income
5. Apply: Personal Relief (KES 2,400)
6. Final PAYE: What you actually pay in tax

Tax benefit stacking: All these deductions work together to reduce your tax:

• NSSF (up to KES 6,480) reduces taxable income
• SHIF (2.75% of salary) reduces taxable income
• Housing Levy (1.5% of salary) reduces taxable income
• Voluntary Pension (up to KES 20,000) reduces taxable income

Example for KES 150,000 salary at 30% marginal rate:

• NSSF: KES 6,480 → saves KES 1,944 in tax
• SHIF: KES 4,125 → saves KES 1,238 in tax
• Housing: KES 2,250 → saves KES 675 in tax
• Pension: KES 10,000 → saves KES 3,000 in tax
• Total tax saved: KES 6,857/month or KES 82,284/year!

Our Pension Calculator shows exactly how voluntary pension contributions interact with statutory deductions to maximize tax savings. The Net Pay Calculator includes all these fields so you can see the combined effect on your take-home pay.

Yes! Buy Goods (Till) payments are generally FREE for customers, which is one of the major advantages of this payment method. However, there are some important exceptions and details:

Free for customers:

• Paying at retail stores, supermarkets, restaurants
• Online purchases using Till numbers
• Most merchant payments
• No transaction fee charged to the customer

Exception - Petrol stations: According to Safaricom, Buy Goods payments at petrol stations may incur customer charges. This is a special category due to the high transaction volumes and values.

Business side: While customers pay nothing, businesses (merchants) do pay fees to accept Buy Goods payments. These merchant fees are separate and don't affect customers.

Why it's free: Safaricom made Buy Goods free for customers to encourage digital payments and reduce cash handling. This makes M-Pesa more competitive with cash and card payments.

Our M-Pesa Calculator correctly shows KES 0 fee for Buy Goods (Till) transactions for customers, except when you select petrol station category where applicable charges are shown.

No, excise duty is NEVER applied to the transfer amount itself - only to the transaction fees. This is an important distinction that many people misunderstand.

How excise duty works on M-Pesa:

• Transfer amount: The money you're sending - NO excise duty
• Transaction fee: The fee Safaricom charges - 20% excise duty applied to THIS

Example: Sending KES 5,000

• Transfer amount: KES 5,000 (no excise)
• Base transaction fee: KES 56
• Excise duty: 20% of KES 56 = KES 11.20
• Total fee: KES 56 + KES 11.20 = KES 67.20
• Total cost: KES 5,000 + KES 67.20 = KES 5,067.20

Current excise rate: 20% on financial transaction fees (as of 2026)

Which transactions have excise: Most M-Pesa transactions that charge fees include excise duty - Send Money, withdrawals, PayBill, etc. Free transactions (like Buy Goods for customers) have no fees, so no excise applies.

Our M-Pesa Calculator always applies excise duty correctly to fees only, never to the principal amount. The breakdown clearly shows base fee + excise duty separately.

Our M-Pesa Calculator supports all major transaction types used in Kenya. Here's the complete list:

Person-to-Person Transfers:

• Send Money (On-net): Sending to another Safaricom M-Pesa number
• Send Money (Off-net): Sending to other mobile money services (Airtel Money, T-Kash)
• Different tariff bands based on amount sent

Cash Out Options:

• Agent Withdrawal: Withdrawing cash from M-Pesa agents
• ATM Withdrawal: Withdrawing from ATMs using M-Pesa
• Different fee structures for each method

Business Payments:

• PayBill: Paying bills, utilities, subscriptions (Business, Mgao, Customer tariffs)
• Buy Goods (Till): Paying merchants at stores, restaurants (FREE for customers)

Other Services:

• Fuliza: M-Pesa overdraft service with access and maintenance fees
• GlobalPay: International payments with FX conversion
• Airtime Purchase: Buying airtime (FREE)
• Lipa na M-Pesa: Various merchant payment options

Each transaction type has its own tariff structure, limits, and fee calculation. The calculator lets you select the specific transaction type and shows accurate fees including excise duty where applicable.

We apply the current Kenyan excise duty rate of 20% on applicable M-Pesa transaction fees. This rate is set by the Kenya Revenue Authority and applies to all mobile money transaction fees.

Key points about excise duty:

• Rate: 20% of the transaction fee
• Applied to: The fee only, NEVER the transfer amount
• Collected by: Safaricom on behalf of KRA
• Included in: The total fee you see in your M-Pesa SMS

Example calculations:

• KES 1,000 send: Base fee KES 28 + Excise KES 5.60 = Total KES 33.60
• KES 10,000 send: Base fee KES 87 + Excise KES 17.40 = Total KES 104.40
• KES 50,000 send: Base fee KES 105 + Excise KES 21 = Total KES 126

Transactions with excise: Send Money, withdrawals, PayBill (some tariffs), Fuliza fees

Transactions without excise: Buy Goods (Till) for customers (because fee is KES 0), airtime purchases (free)

Our calculator automatically applies the 20% excise rate to all applicable fees and shows the breakdown clearly: Base Fee + Excise Duty = Total Fee. We update the rate immediately if KRA announces changes.

Send Money fees come directly from Safaricom's official tariff tables, which use amount bands to determine fees. We implement both on-net (Safaricom to Safaricom) and off-net (Safaricom to other networks) tariffs.

How tariff bands work: Instead of a percentage, M-Pesa uses fixed fees for amount ranges. For example:

• KES 1 - 100: Fee varies by exact amount
• KES 101 - 500: Fixed fee
• KES 501 - 1,000: Higher fixed fee
• And so on up to KES 500,000 (maximum send limit)

On-net vs Off-net:

• On-net (Safaricom to Safaricom): Lower fees, most common
• Off-net (Safaricom to Airtel/T-Kash): Higher fees due to inter-network charges

Source of our data: We extract tariff bands from:

• Official Safaricom tariff tables published on their website
• M-Pesa app tariff information
• Official Safaricom announcements and press releases

Our M-Pesa Calculator displays the complete tariff table on the page, so you can see which band your transaction falls into. We update these bands within 24 hours whenever Safaricom announces changes.

Yes! We support both agent withdrawals and ATM withdrawals, each with their own tariff structures and limits. This helps you choose the most cost-effective cash-out method.

Agent Withdrawals:

• Withdraw from M-Pesa agents (shops, kiosks)
• Limit: Up to KES 150,000 per transaction
• Fees based on amount bands (similar to Send Money)
• Available 24/7 wherever agents are open
• Requires agent to have sufficient cash float

ATM Withdrawals:

• Withdraw from any M-Pesa enabled ATM
• Limit: Up to KES 40,000 per transaction
• Different fee structure (often lower for small amounts)
• Available 24/7 at ATM locations
• More secure for large withdrawals

Fee comparison example (KES 5,000 withdrawal):

• Agent: Approximately KES 33 (varies by band)
• ATM: Approximately KES 33 (varies by bank)

Which to choose:

• Small amounts (under KES 5,000): ATM often cheaper
• Large amounts (over KES 40,000): Must use agent (ATM limit is KES 40,000)
• Convenience: Agents more widely available, ATMs more secure

Our calculator lets you select either method and shows the exact fee including excise duty, helping you make the most economical choice.

Yes! PayBill has three different tariff structures depending on the business type and arrangement. Understanding these helps you know who pays what fees.

1. Business PayBill (Standard):

• Customer pays: Transaction fee (varies by amount)
• Business pays: Nothing (or minimal processing fee)
• Most common for utilities, subscriptions, loan payments
• Customer bears the cost of payment

2. Mgao PayBill (Shared):

• Customer pays: Reduced fee or zero
• Business pays: Part or all of the transaction fee
• Fee is split between customer and business
• Used by businesses wanting to reduce customer friction

3. Customer PayBill (Zero-rated):

• Customer pays: Zero (FREE)
• Business pays: Full transaction fee
• Business absorbs all costs to encourage payments
• Common for large retailers, premium services

How to know which applies: The business chooses their PayBill tariff structure. When you pay, your M-Pesa SMS will show if there's a customer fee. If you see KES 0 fee, it's likely Customer or Mgao tariff.

Our calculator lets you select the tariff type and shows the fee breakdown for both customer and business, helping you understand the total cost of the transaction.

Fuliza is M-Pesa's overdraft service that lets you complete transactions even when your balance is insufficient. Our calculator helps you understand the true cost of using Fuliza.

How Fuliza charges work:

• Access Fee: One-time fee charged when you use Fuliza (varies by amount borrowed)
• Daily Maintenance Fee: Charged every day until you repay (typically 1-1.5% per day)
• No interest: Fuliza doesn't charge interest, only access and maintenance fees

Example: Borrowing KES 1,000 for 5 days

• Access fee: ~KES 5-10 (one time)
• Daily maintenance: ~KES 10-15 per day
• Total for 5 days: ~KES 55-85
• Effective cost: 5.5-8.5% for 5 days

Important notes:

• Fees accumulate daily - repay quickly to minimize cost
• Your Fuliza limit depends on your M-Pesa usage history
• Fees are automatically deducted when you repay
• Actual fees may vary based on your credit score and limit

Our calculator lets you enter the Fuliza amount and number of days to see estimated total cost. We base calculations on published Fuliza pricing, but your actual charges may vary slightly based on your individual Fuliza terms.

Cost comparison: Fuliza is expensive for long-term borrowing. Consider alternatives like mobile loans (Tala, Branch) for amounts you'll hold more than a few days.

GlobalPay allows you to make international payments using M-Pesa. Our calculator helps you understand the true cost including foreign exchange (FX) markup and fees.

How GlobalPay costs work:

1. Base amount: The amount in foreign currency (USD, EUR, GBP, etc.)
2. Exchange rate: Safaricom's rate (usually slightly worse than market rate)
3. FX markup: Additional percentage Safaricom charges (typically 3-5%)
4. Transaction fee: Fixed fee for the international transfer
5. Total KES cost: All of the above combined

Example: Paying USD 100

• Market rate: 1 USD = 150 KES
• Safaricom rate: 1 USD = 155 KES (includes markup)
• Base cost: 100 × 155 = KES 15,500
• Transaction fee: ~KES 50-100
• Total cost: ~KES 15,550-15,600

What our calculator does:

• Shows current exchange rate (you can update this)
• Applies estimated FX markup (based on Safaricom's typical markup)
• Adds transaction fees
• Shows total KES cost
• Compares to market rate so you see the markup

Important notes:

• Exchange rates fluctuate - check current rate before sending
• Actual Safaricom rate may differ from our estimate
• Some countries/currencies may have different fees
• Consider alternatives (banks, Western Union) for large amounts

The calculator gives you a good estimate of total KES cost for international payments, helping you decide if GlobalPay is the best option for your transfer.

Yes! Buying airtime using M-Pesa is completely FREE - no transaction fees, no excise duty, no charges whatsoever. This is one of the free services Safaricom offers to encourage M-Pesa usage.

Airtime purchase details:

• Cost: KES 0 transaction fee
• For yourself: Buy airtime for your own number
• For others: Buy airtime for any Safaricom number
• Limits: Minimum KES 10, maximum varies by account
• Instant: Airtime credited immediately

Why it's free:

• Encourage digital transactions over physical scratch cards
• Reduce costs of distributing physical airtime cards
• Keep customers within the M-Pesa ecosystem
• Compete with other mobile money services

Other free M-Pesa transactions:

• Depositing money to M-Pesa (at agents)
• Receiving money from others
• Buy Goods (Till) payments (for customers)
• Checking M-Pesa balance

Our M-Pesa Calculator correctly shows KES 0 fee for airtime purchases. This is one of the few completely free financial transactions available in Kenya!

While we strive for 100% accuracy, you might occasionally see small differences between our calculator and your actual M-Pesa SMS. Here's why this can happen:

Common reasons for differences:

• Rounding: We round to nearest cent, Safaricom may round differently
• Tariff timing: If Safaricom just changed rates, there may be a 24-48 hour lag before we update
• Special promotions: Safaricom sometimes runs promotions (free transfers, reduced fees) that we can't predict
• Account-specific offers: Your account may have special rates based on usage, loyalty, or partnerships
• Transaction type variations: Some transaction subtypes have different fees we may not have captured

Typical difference size: Usually less than KES 1-5, rarely more than KES 10

What we do to minimize differences:

• Update tariffs within 24 hours of official Safaricom announcements
• Use exact tariff tables from Safaricom's official sources
• Test calculations against real M-Pesa transactions
• Monitor user feedback for discrepancies

If you spot a discrepancy: Please contact us with:

• Transaction type and amount
• Fee shown in your M-Pesa SMS
• Fee shown by our calculator
• Date of transaction
• Screenshot if possible (hide sensitive info)

We investigate all reported discrepancies and update our tariffs immediately if we find an error. Your feedback helps us maintain accuracy for all users!

Deposits, receiving money, airtime purchases, and Buy Goods (Till) payments (except some petrol stations) are treated as fee‑free for customers, in line with the current Safaricom tariff.

No! All calculators on Net Pay Kenya are completely accessible without creating an account. You can use every calculator, view all results, and access all features immediately without signing up, logging in, or providing any personal information.

What you can do without an account:

• Use all 24+ calculators unlimited times
• View complete calculation results and breakdowns
• Print or export results (where available)
• Share calculation links with others
• Access all educational content and FAQs

Future account features (if introduced): If we add optional account features in the future, they would be convenience-focused additions like:

• Saving favorite scenarios for quick access
• Calculation history across devices
• Personalized rate update alerts
• Custom default values for faster calculations

Any future account features would be optional extras - the core calculators will always remain free and accessible to everyone without requiring an account.

Currently, Net Pay Kenya is completely free - there are no charges, subscriptions, or paid features, so refunds don't apply.

If we introduce paid features in the future:

• We will clearly communicate our refund policy before any purchase
• Refund terms will be fair and transparent
• You'll be able to contact support for refund requests
• Core calculators will remain free regardless of any premium features

Current commitment: We're committed to keeping Net Pay Kenya's essential calculators free and accessible to all Kenyans. If we ever introduce premium features, they will be clearly optional additions, not replacements for existing free tools.

If you have any questions or concerns about our service, please contact us - we're always happy to help!

Absolutely not! You can start using Net Pay Kenya immediately - no sign-up, no registration, no email required. Just visit any calculator and start calculating.

Why we don't require accounts:

• Privacy: We don't want to collect unnecessary personal information
• Accessibility: Everyone should have instant access to salary and tax calculators
• Simplicity: No passwords to remember, no forms to fill out
• Speed: Get your answers immediately without barriers

Our philosophy: Financial information and tools should be freely accessible to everyone. Creating barriers like mandatory registration goes against this principle. Whether you're checking your PAYE once or using our calculators daily, you should never need to create an account.

If we introduce optional account features in the future (like saving scenarios or calculation history), they will be purely convenience additions - never requirements for using the calculators.

Yes! Net Pay Kenya is 100% free to use. Every calculator, every feature, every time - no charges, no subscriptions, no hidden fees.

What's included for free:

• All 24+ salary and tax calculators
• Unlimited calculations - use as many times as you need
• Complete results with detailed breakdowns
• Print and export features
• Educational content, FAQs, and methodology
• Regular updates with latest 2026 rates
• Mobile and desktop access
• No ads interrupting your calculations (we use minimal, non-intrusive ads)

Why free? We believe every Kenyan employee, employer, freelancer, and job seeker should have access to accurate salary and tax information. Financial literacy shouldn't be behind a paywall.

How we sustain this: We use minimal, non-intrusive advertising and may explore optional premium features in the future. But the core calculators will always remain free.

No credit card required, no trial period, no surprise charges. Just free, accurate, helpful calculators whenever you need them.

No, we don't currently offer any paid plans or subscriptions. Everything on Net Pay Kenya is free.

Current status: All features are free with no premium tiers, no subscription options, and no paid upgrades.

If we introduce premium features in the future:

• Core calculators stay free: PAYE, Net Pay, NSSF, SHIF, Housing Levy, and all essential calculators will remain free forever
• Clear labeling: Any premium features will be clearly marked as optional extras
• Fair pricing: If we charge for anything, it will be reasonably priced for the Kenyan market
• No bait-and-switch: We won't make currently free features paid

Potential future premium features might include:

• Advanced business tools for HR departments
• API access for payroll software integration
• White-label calculator embedding for companies
• Priority support for businesses
• Bulk calculation processing

These would be business-focused additions, not replacements for the free individual calculators everyone uses today.

Currently, we don't offer cloud storage for calculations, but many calculators support shareable URLs that preserve your inputs. Here's how to save your work:

Shareable URLs (available on most calculators):

• After calculating, copy the URL from your browser
• The URL contains your inputs encoded in the link
• Bookmark it or save it in your notes
• Return to that URL anytime to see the same calculation
• Share the URL with colleagues or your HR department

Print/Export options:

• Use browser print (Ctrl+P / Cmd+P) to save as PDF
• Screenshot results for quick reference
• Some calculators offer CSV export for Excel/Sheets
• Payslip Generator has dedicated print button

Browser local storage: Some calculators remember your last inputs using browser local storage (stored only on your device, not our servers). This helps you pick up where you left off.

Future account features: We're considering adding optional account features that would let you:

• Save favorite scenarios with custom names
• Access saved calculations across devices
• Organize calculations by project or employee
• View calculation history

These would be optional convenience features - you'd never be required to create an account to use the calculators.

There are several ways to share your calculations with others:

1. Share URL (Easiest method):

• After calculating, copy the URL from your browser address bar
• The URL contains all your inputs encoded in the link
• Send via email, WhatsApp, Slack, or any messaging app
• Recipient clicks the link and sees the same calculation
• Works on most calculators (Net Pay, Scenarios, M-Pesa, Loans, etc.)

2. Print to PDF:

• Press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac)
• Select "Save as PDF" as the printer
• Creates a clean, professional document
• Removes navigation and shows only calculation details
• Perfect for emailing to HR or including in reports

3. Screenshot:

• Quick way to capture results
• Use Snipping Tool (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+4 (Mac)
• Good for quick sharing via messaging apps

4. Export (where available):

• Some calculators offer CSV export
• Import into Excel or Google Sheets
• Useful for further analysis or record-keeping

Privacy note: Shareable URLs contain your calculation inputs. Only share with people you trust with that information (like your employer or financial advisor).

Currently, Net Pay Kenya is completely free, so you don't need any payment method to use our calculators.

If we introduce paid features in the future, we would support:

• M-Pesa: The most convenient payment method for Kenyans
• Credit/Debit Cards: Visa, Mastercard for international users
• Bank transfers: Direct bank payments
• Mobile money: Airtel Money, T-Kash where applicable

We would prioritize payment methods that are accessible, secure, and commonly used in Kenya. M-Pesa would likely be the primary option given its widespread adoption.

Currently, Net Pay Kenya is free, so there are no invoices or receipts to provide.

If we introduce paid services in the future:

• Automatic email receipts for every payment
• Downloadable PDF invoices from your account
• VAT-compliant invoices for business users
• Transaction history with all payment details
• Monthly/annual statements if on subscription

We would ensure all invoices meet Kenyan tax requirements and are suitable for business expense claims or accounting purposes.

We're here to help! Contact us through any of these channels:

Contact Form: Visit our Contact page and fill out the form. We typically respond within 24-48 hours.

Email: Send detailed questions to the email address shown on our Contact page.

Social Media: Reach out via Twitter (@realwenani), Facebook (realwenani), or LinkedIn (in/realwenani) for quick questions.

To help us assist you faster, please include:

• Clear description of your issue or question
• Which calculator you're using
• Screenshots showing the problem (hide sensitive salary info)
• Your browser and device type
• Any error messages you see

We respond to all inquiries and take user feedback seriously. Your questions help us improve Net Pay Kenya for everyone!

We keep you informed about major changes through multiple channels:

Update Log: Our Update Log page lists all changes chronologically with dates and details. Check this anytime to see what's new.

Status Banner: Important updates appear in the status banner at the top of the site (e.g., "2026 rates active").

Newsletter (Optional): Subscribe to our newsletter for email alerts about major rate changes (like NSSF 2026 updates). We only send emails for significant changes - no spam.

Social Media: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn for announcements and tips.

What we notify about:

• Major tax or contribution rate changes
• New calculator launches
• Significant feature additions
• Important corrections or updates

We respect your inbox - notifications are opt-in and you can unsubscribe anytime.

Security and privacy are fundamental to how we build Net Pay Kenya. Here's how we protect you:

Current security measures:

• HTTPS encryption: All data transmitted between your browser and our servers is encrypted
• Client-side calculations: Your salary data never leaves your browser - calculations happen on your device
• No data storage: We don't store the numbers you enter in calculators
• Minimal tracking: We only collect anonymous analytics, not personal financial data
• Secure hosting: Site hosted on reliable, secure infrastructure

If we introduce account features:

• Password encryption using industry-standard hashing
• Optional two-factor authentication (2FA)
• Secure session management
• Regular security audits
• Compliance with Kenya Data Protection Act 2019

Your data rights: Under Kenya's Data Protection Act, you have the right to access, correct, or delete any personal data we hold. See our Privacy Policy for complete details.

Absolutely not. We will never sell, rent, or trade your personal data to third parties. This is a core principle of Net Pay Kenya.

What we don't do:

• Sell your email address to marketers
• Share your salary data with anyone
• Provide your information to data brokers
• Monetize your personal information

What we do:

• Use anonymous analytics to improve the site (Google Analytics 4)
• Display minimal, non-intrusive advertising (Google Adsense)
• Collect only essential data for site functionality
• Give you control over cookies and tracking

Your privacy matters: We believe financial tools should respect your privacy. Your salary information is sensitive, and we treat it that way. All calculations happen in your browser, and we never see or store the numbers you enter.

Read our complete Privacy Policy for full details on data handling, cookies, and your rights under Kenya's Data Protection Act 2019.

You have full control over cookies on Net Pay Kenya. Here's how to manage them:

Cookie Banner (First Visit): When you first visit, you'll see a cookie consent banner. Choose:

• Accept All: Allows all cookies including analytics
• Essential Only: Only cookies needed for site functionality
• Customize: Choose which cookie categories to allow

Change Preferences Anytime: Look for the cookie preferences link in the footer or use your browser settings.

Cookie Categories:

• Essential: Required for site to work (always on)
• Analytics: Help us understand site usage (optional)
• Advertising: For displaying relevant ads (optional)

Browser Controls: You can also manage cookies through your browser settings:

• Chrome: Settings → Privacy → Cookies
• Firefox: Options → Privacy → Cookies
• Safari: Preferences → Privacy

See our Cookie Policy for complete details on what cookies we use, why, and how long they're stored.

We collect minimal, anonymous data to improve the site. Here's exactly what we log:

What we DO log (anonymous):

• Page views (which calculators are most popular)
• Device type (mobile, desktop, tablet)
• Browser type and version
• General location (country/city level, not precise)
• How you found us (search, direct, referral)
• Time spent on pages
• Button clicks and navigation patterns

What we DON'T log:

• Your salary amounts
• Calculation inputs or results
• Personal financial information
• Names, email addresses (unless you contact us)
• Precise GPS location

Why we collect this: Anonymous analytics help us understand which calculators are most useful, which features need improvement, and how to make the site better for everyone. For example, if we see many people using the NSSF calculator, we know to prioritize updates there.

Your control: You can opt out of analytics tracking through cookie preferences or browser settings. The site works perfectly fine without analytics cookies.

No, never. Your salary and financial data stays completely private. Here's how:

Client-side calculations: All calculators run entirely in your web browser using JavaScript. When you enter your salary and click calculate:

1. Your browser performs the calculation locally on your device
2. Results are displayed to you immediately
3. Nothing is sent to our servers
4. We never see the numbers you enter

No database storage: We don't have a database storing user calculations. There's no record of "User X calculated salary Y on date Z." It simply doesn't exist in our systems.

Browser local storage (optional): Some calculators use your browser's local storage to remember your last inputs for convenience. This data:

• Stays only on YOUR device
• Never leaves your browser
• Can be cleared anytime (browser settings)
• Is not accessible to us

Shareable URLs: If you create a shareable link, your inputs are encoded in the URL itself. We don't store these - the URL contains the data. Only share these links with people you trust.

Why this matters: Your salary is sensitive information. By keeping calculations client-side, we eliminate any risk of data breaches, unauthorized access, or misuse of your financial information.

We use Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to understand how people use Net Pay Kenya. Here's what that means:

What Google Analytics tracks:

• Which pages you visit (e.g., "User visited PAYE calculator")
• How long you stay on each page
• Which buttons you click
• Your device type, browser, and screen size
• General location (city/country level)
• How you found our site (Google search, social media, etc.)

What Google Analytics DOESN'T track:

• The salary amounts you enter
• Your calculation results
• Any personal financial data
• Your name or email (unless you contact us separately)

Why we use it: Analytics help us make data-driven improvements:

• "80% of users are on mobile" → prioritize mobile optimization
• "NSSF calculator is most popular" → ensure it's always accurate
• "Users struggle with X feature" → improve that feature

Your privacy: GA4 data is aggregated and anonymized. We see trends and patterns, not individual users. You can opt out via cookie preferences or browser extensions like uBlock Origin.

No third-party data sharing: We don't share analytics data with anyone except Google (who processes it for us). We don't sell or provide this data to advertisers or other third parties.

Under Kenya's Data Protection Act 2019, you have specific rights regarding your personal data. Here's how to exercise them:

Your data rights:

• Right to Access: Request a copy of any personal data we hold about you
• Right to Correction: Ask us to correct inaccurate information
• Right to Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data
• Right to Object: Object to certain types of data processing
• Right to Portability: Receive your data in a portable format

What data we might have: Since calculators run client-side, we have very little personal data. We might have:

• Your email if you contacted us or subscribed to newsletter
• Messages you sent through contact form
• Anonymous analytics data (not personally identifiable)

How to make a request:

1. Visit our Contact page
2. Specify which right you're exercising (access, deletion, etc.)
3. Provide enough detail for us to identify your data
4. We'll respond within 30 days as required by law

No charge: We don't charge fees for data requests unless they're excessive or repetitive.

When you submit a message through our contact form, here's what happens to your information:

What we collect:

• Your name (if provided)
• Your email address (to respond to you)
• Your message content
• Date and time of submission

How we use it:

• To respond to your specific question or issue
• To improve our calculators based on feedback
• To identify and fix bugs you report
• To understand common user needs

How we protect it:

• Messages are transmitted securely over HTTPS
• Stored in secure email systems with access controls
• Only accessible to support team members
• Never shared with third parties or used for marketing

Retention: We keep contact form submissions for up to 2 years to maintain support history and track recurring issues. You can request deletion anytime by contacting us.

Your control: You can request a copy of messages you've sent us or ask us to delete them at any time under Kenya's Data Protection Act.

We target 99.9% uptime (less than 9 hours downtime per year) to ensure Net Pay Kenya is available whenever you need it.

Our reliability measures:

• Hosted on reliable, enterprise-grade infrastructure
• Content Delivery Network (CDN) for fast global access
• Automated monitoring and alerts
• Regular backups and disaster recovery plans
• Performance optimization for fast load times

Planned maintenance: We perform updates and maintenance during low-traffic hours (typically late night/early morning Kenya time). Maintenance is kept brief - usually under 30 minutes.

Status updates: If we experience any issues, we update the status banner on the homepage and post on social media. Major outages are communicated proactively.

Why uptime matters: We know you might need to calculate your salary at any time - during salary negotiations, when reviewing job offers, or when planning your finances. We work hard to ensure the site is always there when you need it.

Net Pay Kenya works on all modern browsers and devices. Here's our compatibility:

Fully supported browsers (latest versions):

• Chrome: Version 90+ (desktop and mobile)
• Firefox: Version 88+ (desktop and mobile)
• Safari: Version 14+ (macOS and iOS)
• Edge: Version 90+ (Chromium-based)
• Samsung Internet: Version 14+ (Android)

Mobile devices:

• Android: Android 8.0+ with Chrome or Samsung Internet
• iOS: iOS 13+ with Safari or Chrome
• Responsive design works on all screen sizes (320px to 2560px+)
• Touch-optimized for phones and tablets

Older browsers: Internet Explorer 11 and older browsers may have issues. We recommend updating to a modern browser for the best experience and security.

Progressive Web App (PWA): Install Net Pay Kenya on your device for app-like experience on Chrome (Android/Desktop), Edge, and Safari (iOS 16.4+).

Testing: We test on real devices and browsers to ensure compatibility. If you experience issues, please contact us with your browser and device details.

Yes! We're committed to making Net Pay Kenya accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. We follow WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines.

Accessibility features:

• Screen reader support: Proper ARIA labels, roles, and landmarks for assistive technologies
• Keyboard navigation: All features accessible via keyboard (Tab, Enter, Arrow keys)
• Skip links: Jump directly to main content, bypassing navigation
• Semantic HTML: Proper heading hierarchy (H1, H2, H3) for easy navigation
• Color contrast: Text meets WCAG AA contrast ratios for readability
• Focus indicators: Clear visual indicators when navigating with keyboard
• Form labels: All inputs properly labeled for screen readers
• Error messages: Clear, descriptive error messages announced to screen readers

Tested with:

• NVDA (Windows screen reader)
• JAWS (Windows screen reader)
• VoiceOver (macOS and iOS screen reader)
• Keyboard-only navigation

Continuous improvement: We regularly audit accessibility and fix issues. If you encounter accessibility barriers, please contact us so we can address them.

Read our complete Accessibility Statement for detailed information about our commitment and conformance.

Before using Net Pay Kenya, we recommend reviewing these key policies:

Privacy Policy: Explains what data we collect, how we use it, and your rights under Kenya's Data Protection Act 2019. Key points:

• We don't store your salary calculations
• We never sell your personal data
• You have rights to access, correct, and delete your data
• We use minimal, anonymous analytics

Terms of Service: Outlines the rules for using Net Pay Kenya, disclaimers, and limitations. Key points:

• Calculators are for informational purposes
• Verify critical decisions with professionals
• We update rates regularly but can't guarantee 100% accuracy
• Free to use with no warranties

Cookie Policy: Details what cookies we use and why. Key points:

• Essential cookies for site functionality
• Optional analytics cookies (you can opt out)
• Advertising cookies for revenue (you can opt out)
• You control cookie preferences

Why read these? Understanding these policies helps you make informed decisions about using our site and protects your rights. They're written in clear language, not dense legalese.

We love hearing from users! Your feedback helps us improve Net Pay Kenya for everyone. Here's how to reach us:

Contact Form: Visit our Contact page for:

• Feature requests and suggestions
• Bug reports and technical issues
• Questions about calculators
• General feedback

Social Media: Quick feedback via:

• Twitter: @realwenani - fastest response for quick questions
• Facebook: realwenani - community discussions
• LinkedIn: in/realwenani - professional inquiries

What helps us most:

• For bugs: Browser, device, steps to reproduce, screenshots
• For features: Describe the problem you're trying to solve, not just the solution
• For accuracy: Specific examples with official source references
• For UX: What confused you or slowed you down

We respond to: All feedback is read and considered. We respond to most messages within 24-48 hours. Feature requests are tracked and prioritized based on user demand and feasibility.

Your impact: Many features on Net Pay Kenya came from user suggestions. Your feedback directly shapes the platform!