Check the KRA website, on customs download. www.kra.go.ke

Here is the common external tariff to EA Community.

http://www.kra.go.ke/cus...0Externaltariff2007.pdf

Geneally Agricultural equipments dont attract Import duty, perhaps only 2.25% IDF fee.

@Tebes, thank you.

That list is damn complex! As I try to find my way there, any comments on the following.

I recently bought a gadget worth 40k including shipping with DHL but was slapped with 18k by customs?

How do they come up with these figures?

The gadget is meant for programming tests purposes and no commercial use as of now!

I agree. The list is quite complex.

To me, the problem with this, and with pretty much all governmental dealings such as this, in Kenya, is that they are still based on a British system of over-complexity for the sake of purposeful confusion. The Brits did this to lock-out the uneducated and the non-rich from reaping the benefits of systems of government, commerce, and justice.

Basically, if you couldn't/can't afford a full-time attorney, accountant, courier, driver, parking fees, and secretary, you couldn't possibly navigate the bureaucratic waters in a timely and efficient way- so while you are shuffling paperwork, driving from this house to that house, standing in line again, and figuring out complex documents yourself, rich Brits and Muhindis are getting the tenders, or starting the business, or enjoying freedom, etc., because they can afford the staff to do this for them in parallel, while they themselves focus on the business or idea at hand. This keeps the wanainchi as the underdog, at a disadvantage, unable to compete and set higher heights for Kenyan business. This is bad for all. It locks out competition, which causes the stagnation of advancement for ALL of Kenya! Imagine a football team that always played against a poor, malnourished, injured local opponent. They would never be able to play an able bodied team from another league. So much for a "free" market!

THIS LEADS TO CORRUPTION AS THE COMMON MAN FEELS AS THOUGH HE OR SHE MUST GO AROUND THE SYSTEM IN ORDER TO SURVIVE!

If these institutions were simplified by way of reexamination and "bureaucracy busting" wherein the amount of paperwork and complexity is reduced, and policy is geared toward a layman's understanding of common-sense policy...

SMALL BUSINESS WOULD THRIVE IN KENYA.

And small business, everywhere there are free markets, is the backbone of the economy.

Not to mention, likely half the car traffic in Nairobi could be eliminated if people could handle their dealings 1. With less paperwork and shuffling between houses, and 2. ONLINE, digitally.

So, while I don't at all condone corruption, if you want to end corruption, make it easy to do things the proper way. That's more important than clear glass office walls.

This is confusion. Remember, I have identified three things that we must eliminate in order to reach Vision 2030 and beyond:

Confusion, Self-Hate, and Doubt.

Best,

Hill

There is a harmonized system of tariff classification that is used across the globe. The idea was to simplify trade. The classification of all goods known to man must be done in order to assess taxes payable, and for statistical purposes(planning). Every good must be classified in the tariff – so I imagine it cannot be made smaller 

@ Inuendo, the book you refer to was actually a schedule to the Customs & Excise Act (I think 2nd Schedule). We’ve gone regional so the current law governing customs/import/export matters is the East African Community Customs Management Act. The relevant schedule is the Common External Tarriff (for the East African States).

The responsibility of correctly classifying the imports lies with the importer – there are even offences created for wrongly classifying goods you’re importing. Its usually treated as tax evasion especially where the correct classification would yield higher taxes. Classification is highly technical since it requires you to know what you’re importing sometimes to its essential components, and also a thorough understanding of the common external tariff, and how to classify goods. For instance, a shirt is not just a shirt – e.g. what is it made from? (wool,silk,cotton, mixture – relevant percentages? Etc etc) – so you wouldnt find one classification for “shirt”. You have to find the correct one and place it there.

The earlier chapters will usually be raw / unprocessed stuff, followed by semi processed products and so on. Which is why its always a good idea to hire someone who has been trained in the stuff to help out. But again, the more you use it, the more you learn to find your way around it. If you’re a regular importer, a short course in classification of goods is indispensable since u might not want to leave everything to your agent – if he messes up you pay.

About being taxed kshs. 18k for a gadget that cost 40k....it’s possible that they doubted the value given and used a higher value as the basis for computing taxes (not legal since tax should be computed on the basis of the taxations value - but few Kenyans protest because it wld take longer to clear your consignement while referrals are being made here and there). Did you ask what you were paying (breakdown of the taxes?)

The fifth schedule

http://www.revenue.go.ke..._Schedule_Exemptions.pdf