Starting August 1, 2025, KRA will roll out two new systems—the Independent Review of Objections (IRO) and the Technical Review Unit (TRU)./SCREENGRAB
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has announced new steps to make the process of handling customs-related disputes fairer, faster, and more transparent.
Starting August 1, 2025, KRA will roll out two new systems—the Independent Review of Objections (IRO) and the Technical Review Unit (TRU).
These units will handle complaints and disagreements related to customs taxes, like when importers feel they were wrongly taxed or treated unfairly by customs officers.
This move follows laws under the KRA Act and the East African Community Customs rules.
It shifts the responsibility for reviewing customs disputes from the Commissioner of Customs to a new office under the Commissioner for Tax Dispute Resolution.
If someone disagrees with a customs decision—for example, after a tax audit or duty charge—they can now write to the IRO office within 30 days, clearly stating the reason for their objection.
The new system will be rolled out in three phases:
From August 2025, it will start with cases from post-clearance audits (PCA).
In September 2025, it will cover tariff, valuation, and exemptions.
By November 2025, it will include bond matters and other customs-related issues.
KRA says all objections related to PCA must now be sent to the IRO office, either by email ([email protected]) or by hand delivery to their office at Ushuru Pension Towers, Nairobi.
The tax authority says this change is meant to boost public trust and make it easier for taxpayers to resolve disputes fairly and efficiently.
