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Rates, thresholds and deadlines change. The figures on this page reflect the rules Bumara applies today and are given as a guide. The regulator’s current published position always governs. Bumara applies the rate in force when your filing is calculated — always check the figures shown on your actual filing rather than relying on this page, and take professional advice on how the rules apply to your business.
Turnover tax is a simplified regime for smaller businesses. Instead of calculating profit and paying income tax on it, you pay a flat percentage of your gross monthly turnover.

Who it is for

Turnover tax and standard income tax are alternatives. You are on one or the other, never both. Tick only the one you are actually registered for when connecting ZRA.

How it is calculated

5% of gross monthly turnover. Gross turnover means everything you invoiced or received in the month, before any deductions. You do not subtract costs, purchases, salaries or expenses. That simplicity is the point of the regime — and also its drawback, because a low-margin month still attracts the same 5%.

When it is due

14 days after the period end.

Filing your return

1

Open the filing

ZRA workspace → Filings → the turnover tax return for the month.
2

Enter your turnover for the month

If you invoice through Bumara, your approved sales invoices for the period are totalled for you. Check the figure against your own records before accepting it.
3

Check the calculated tax

Bumara shows 5% of the turnover you entered. Confirm it looks right.
4

Upload your sales summary

Optional but recommended — a sales report or Z report supporting the figure. Good evidence if ZRA ever queries the month.
5

Review and confirm

Confirm the figures.
6

Pay the fee and request submission

A service fee applies. See Paying fees.

The checklist

What counts as turnover

If you are unsure whether something counts, include it and note the query in a comment on the filing. Under-declaring is a far worse problem than over-declaring.

Threshold monitoring

Bumara tracks your year-to-date turnover against the K5,000,000 ceiling:
Exceeding the ceiling is not something to deal with later. Continuing to file turnover tax after crossing K5,000,000 means filing under a regime you no longer qualify for, and the correction is backdated. Act on the warning at 80%, not at 100%.

Moving off turnover tax

If you exceed the ceiling — or choose to move because your margins make the standard regime cheaper:
1

Raise a tax type change with ZRA

A service request from the ZRA catalogue.
2

Complete any final turnover tax returns

You still owe the periods you were registered for.
3

Update your ZRA connection in Bumara

Untick turnover tax, tick income tax. Your obligations update.
4

Expect a heavier filing load

Standard income tax requires proper books, and usually VAT registration follows. Talk to your accountant before the change rather than after.

Nil returns

No turnover in the month? You still file.
1

Mark the return as a nil return

In the figures section.
2

Give a reason

Temporarily inactive, seasonal, below threshold, or other.
3

Submit

The return becomes ready immediately.

Filing status

Related: ZRA overview and Invoicing overview — your invoicing data is what feeds these figures.
Last modified on August 4, 2026