TIMS
The earlier electronic tax invoice system that relied on a compliant electronic tax register with a physical control unit.
Also called
You will also see this written as tax invoice management system. Kenyan businesses use these interchangeably in conversation even where the underlying things differ, which is worth knowing when someone tells you what you need.
Where you meet this
TIMS is the reason many Kenyan businesses still have a device sitting next to the till. It required a compliant electronic tax register with a control unit, which meant hardware to buy, hardware to maintain, and a support problem when it failed. Understanding TIMS mostly matters now for context: it explains why so much advice about tax invoicing in Kenya assumes you own a machine.
What it sits alongside
In Kenyan business records tims sits alongside Kenya Revenue Authority, eTIMS and ETR. The pages for each explain how they connect.
Related terms
Common questions
What does TIMS mean in Kenya?
The earlier electronic tax invoice system that relied on a compliant electronic tax register with a physical control unit.
Is TIMS the same as tax invoice management system?
In everyday use Kenyan businesses treat these as the same thing. The earlier electronic tax invoice system that relied on a compliant electronic tax register with a physical control unit.
How do I know this information is current?
Tax rules in Kenya change with each Finance Act and with regulations made during the year. Before acting on any figure, deadline or threshold, check the current position on KRA's own website.
Sources
- officialeTIMS (Electronic Tax Invoice Management System) — Kenya Revenue Authority, checked 2026-09-18
- officialKenya Revenue Authority — Kenya Revenue Authority, checked 2026-09-18