Kenya Capital Gains Tax Calculator 2026 ☆ Save
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Capital gains tax is 15%
Kenya charges 15% on the net gain when you transfer property — land, buildings, or unquoted shares. It is a flat rate rather than something added to your income, so unlike PAYE your marginal bracket does not change what you pay.
Gain = transfer value − adjusted cost. The gain is what is taxed, not the sale price — which is why establishing your cost properly matters so much.
Your adjusted cost is more than the purchase price
Under-claiming here is the most common way people overpay. The adjusted cost generally includes:
- What you paid for the property;
- Costs of acquisition — legal fees, stamp duty (see the stamp duty calculator), valuation and registration;
- Capital improvements that enhanced the value — an extension, a permanent structure, a boundary wall. Not ordinary repairs and maintenance;
- Costs of disposal — agent's commission and legal fees on the sale.
Keep the invoices. Improvements made years ago still increase your cost base, but only if you can substantiate them. A file of receipts is worth real money at disposal, and reconstructing it afterwards is rarely possible.
When it applies — and when it does not
CGT is triggered on transfer, which is broader than a straightforward sale. Certain transfers are exempt or excluded — including some transfers between spouses, in the context of inheritance, and specific categories of transaction.
These exemptions are fact-specific and change. Confirm your position with KRA or a practitioner before assuming an exemption applies, particularly for family transfers, which people routinely assume are outside the net when they may not be.
Note also that quoted shares are treated differently from unquoted ones — trading on the securities exchange has its own regime, so do not assume this 15% applies to a listed portfolio.
Practical points
- Set the money aside at disposal. CGT is payable on the transaction, and a bill you have already spent is the classic problem;
- Timing matters for the paperwork. Payment is generally required in connection with the transfer process, so factor it into your conveyancing timeline rather than treating it as a later filing question;
- Losses. Where a disposal produces a loss, ask how it can be treated — the rules on offsetting are specific;
- Get advice on structuring before you sell, not after. Once the transfer is done, the options are gone.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay CGT on my home?
Certain transfers of a principal residence may qualify for relief depending on circumstances and length of occupation. This is exactly the sort of fact-specific question to confirm with KRA or an advocate rather than assume.
Is it 15% of the sale price?
No — 15% of the gain, after deducting your adjusted cost. Documenting that cost properly is what reduces the bill legitimately.
What about shares?
Unquoted shares fall within this regime; securities traded on the exchange are treated differently. Check which applies to your holding.
Can I deduct the improvements I made?
Capital improvements that enhanced value, yes — with evidence. Ordinary repairs and maintenance, no.
What if I inherited the property?
Inheritance and subsequent disposal are treated under specific rules, including how your cost base is established. Take advice before selling.
The 15% rate is the current figure held in this site's tax configuration. Exemptions, reliefs and procedures change — confirm with KRA or a registered practitioner before acting. General information, not tax advice.