Calculating Import Duty for Cars in Kenya

Over the past we have had many inquiries about how duty is calculated. People find this confusing and hard to understand, so in this article we will be looking at the whole process of Duty Calculation and the applicable charges on the same.

1. Customs Duty

This varies by the vehicle you have imported, Customs duty depends on a few factors that you ought to understand that are listed below:

• Make of the Car - i.e Toyota, Subaru, Nissan, Land Rover, BMW, etc.
• Model of the Car - i.e Premio, Forester, Sunny, Discovery, 318i, etc.
• Class of the Car - i.e. Station Wagon, Saloon, Van, etc.
• Year & Month of Manufacture - i.e. 2003/02 (Feb), 2004/06 (June), 2005/12 (Dec), etc.
• Engine Capacity - i.e. 1300cc, 1500cc, 1800cc, 2000cc, etc.
• Engine Transmission - i.e. Manual or Automatic.
• Fuel Type - i.e. Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid.

The reason as to why all the above information is important is because all these details affect the overall Current Retail Selling Price (CRSP) of the car when buying it brand new from the showroom.

CRSP is basically the price that you will pay for a brand new version of the car you are importing (i.e. if you are importing a 2003 BMW 520i, the the CRSP is the price of the car brand new from the showroom).

2. Motor Vehicle Duty  Calculation

When calculating duty, Customs takes the CRSP (Current Retail Selling Price) and then deduct margin profit, depreciates it to the cars year of manufacture as per the stipulated depreciation rate, then they deduct the percentage taxes slapped on the price. The remaining amount is what Customs bases their values on. The charges are calculated as follows:

• 25% of the amount as - Import Duty
• 20% of the amount + Import Duty as - Excise Duty
• 16% of the amount + Import Duty + Excise Duty as -VAT
• 2.25% of the amount as-IDF Fee
• The total is payable to the NBK/CO-OP banks as Customs Duty.
  • NBK (National Bank of Kenya), Co-operative Bank of Kenya

3. CFS/Port Charges

The CFS (Container Freight Station) charges varies with the size (Volume or cubic measurement) of the unit and the Yard which the vessel discharges/unloads. For vans like Toyota Hiace pay is around Ksh. 30,000/- to 26,000/-, 4 wheel drive cars like Prado it is around Ksh. 34,000/- to 30,000/-, Saloon Cars like Toyota Corrola NZE 11cbm is around Ksh. 22,000/- to 18,500/- .

This is what you will pay if cleared within stipulated time allowed by the customs (i.e. 7 days). Its payable against Invoice from the Port/ CFS (Container Freight Station)

4. IDF FEES

The IDF (Import Declaration Form) fees are charged at a rate of 2.75% of the cost of Customs Value. Regardless of your import, Ksh. 5,000/- is payable upfront to Treasury via National Bank/Co-op Bank

5. Shipping Line Charges - Delivery Order Fees

This normally  averages Ksh. 10,000/- + VAT which amounts to an average of Ksh. 12,000/-.

Payable to the agents of the Vessel/ships which shipped your cargo and it is against their invoice.

6. Clearance Fees

Clearing and Forwarding fees normally depends with the agreement you have with your C&F Agent. Mostly it will range from Ksh. 15,000/- to 30,000/- for the units and 25,000 onwards for Containers. Its a negotiable fee and its paid to the clearing agent.

Other costs that may be involved but as per your arrangement are:

• Insurance - (as per your insurer)
• Delivery - (fuel to your destination)
• Driver Charges - (charges for the driver)
• Minor Car Service - (good measure to give the car a clean bill of health for delivery & your initial use)

If you have any more questions feel free to ask.

10 Comments

1. 

   Raphael

   November 6, 2010 at 7:37 pm

   Is the idf fee included in the duty or do you pay it twice?
2. 

   Raphael

   November 6, 2010 at 7:38 pm

   Is the idf fee included in the duty or do you pay it twice? Seeing it also in the duty calculation above?
3. 

   The Editor

   November 8, 2010 at 9:54 am

   Hello Raphael,
   IDF fees is part of the total fee payable to customs and no you do not pay it twice.
4. 

   leslie

   November 12, 2010 at 7:35 am

   what if a car is a 2005 model how do i calculate the duty///??pls help
5. 

   The Editor

   November 15, 2010 at 2:13 pm

   Hello Leslie,
   Following up onyour request we have a duty calculation page where you can enter the details of the car you want duty calculated on. Kindly follow the link below.
   http://www.kenyacarbazaar.com/duty_calculations.php
6. 

   Wilson

   February 4, 2011 at 3:01 pm

   i would like to import a car with the following details….how much KRA tax am i likely to pay

   NISSAN BLUEBIRD SYLPHY, 1800cc, 4WD, Automatic
   Yr 2004, between February and April (if possible do for each month)
   Estimated CFI Mombasa Max 3200 USD

   if possible please let me know the other charges payable to get the car to Nyeri.

   Thank you
7. 

   Admin

   February 15, 2011 at 6:49 am

   Hi Wilson, to get your car duty calculations worked out, please visit our import duty calculations page and fill out the required details here: http://www.kenyacarbazaar.com/duty_calculations.php. Please note that we have a refundable fee charged on this service. More details are available on the link provided.
8. 

   Anshul

   August 29, 2011 at 2:27 am

   Dear Kenya car baazar,

   looking at your page above, for instance say I want to import a car worth £10000. Your calculator page was not available and therefore I am posting this.

   So with the steps you have given above:
   Import duty = £10000* 25% = £2500
   Excise duty = 12500 * 20% = £2500
   VAT = 15000 * 16% = £2400
   IDF = £391.5

   Total payable as customs duty would be £7791.5 or equivalent in KShs. Obviously, clearance and frieght charges in addition to this.

   Could you explain to me, what would an expatriate pay? I am asking since My wife is migrating with me to kenya, and she will be comming into the country for the first time, as an expatriate (requiring a work permit).
   From what I have read on your website, she is elligible to bring a car in duty free? I am still interested in knowing what the cost of this would be.

   Thanks in advance
9. 

   Admin

   October 14, 2011 at 3:05 pm

   Hi Anshul and sorry for the late reponse. We have corrected the error with our duty calculations page and you can now access it here: http://www.kenyacarbazaar.com/importing/duty_calculations.php.
   With regards to your question about the charges payable, an expatriate is expected to pay for the Container Freight Station (vehicle storage), Import Declaration Form fees, Delivery Order charges and Agency fees which will be included when working out your duty after you fill in the form through the link provided.
10. Sheila

    April 24, 2012 at 6:57 am

    If I was to import a Nissan Teana, 2300 cc year of manufacture - 0ct 2005 , Automatic 81, 071 kms how much would the customs duty be?