The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has issued a public clarification addressing recent changes to how taxes on imported second-hand vehicles will be calculated, following its announcement on May 30, 2025, regarding the revised Current Retail Selling Price (CRSP) schedule.
The new CRSP, which takes effect on July 1, 2025, sets the official retail prices that KRA will use to determine import duty and other applicable taxes on used vehicles brought into the country.
In a statement released on June 6, the authority addressed several concerns raised by the public and stakeholders in the auto sector. These included the legal foundation for customs valuation, the reason for revising the CRSP, and how the revision process was carried out.
“In response to public inquiries and recent media reports regarding the implementation of the revised CRSP, KRA wishes to clarify the legal basis of customs valuation, what CRSP is and why it is used, the rationale behind the review, and the process involved,” the statement read.
KRA explained that the adjustments to the CRSP were driven by changes in tax rates and the evolving car market. Import duty has increased from 25% in 2019 to 35% in 2025, while excise duty for some car models has risen to 35%, up from a maximum of 30% in 2019. A large number of new car models have also entered the market since the last update.
The updated CRSP list has expanded significantly from about 3,000 models in 2019 to over 5,200 in 2025. According to KRA, the revision was carried out in consultation with stakeholders in the motor vehicle industry, and public input was invited during the process. Some models could not be included due to data limitations, but the authority emphasized that the list will be continually updated and published on the KRA website.
KRA also clarified that the CRSP pricing system aligns with the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Customs Valuation, which is embedded in Kenyan law through the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004. This legal framework outlines how the customs value of imported goods should be calculated.
KRA highlighted several examples of new vehicle values under the revised CRSP: Toyota Vitz Hybrid F – Ksh 3,440,622; Toyota Prado TX-L-E4 – Ksh 9,095,659; Mazda CX-5 20S – Ksh 6,839,016; Toyota Premio 2.0G – Ksh 4,344,220; and Toyota Probox GL – Ksh 2,573,759. These figures reflect the new taxable value used in calculating import taxes and do not include additional logistics or clearance fees.
“The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) wishes to inform the public that, effective 1st July, 2025, a new Current Retail Selling Price (CRSP) schedule will be applied in the computation of customs value for used motor vehicles imported into the country,” the original notice stated.
Importers, car dealers, and the general public are advised to familiarize themselves with the new CRSP schedule to avoid surprises during clearance at the port. For full access to the revised CRSP list, visit KRA’s official website.
