Business

Diploma in Tax Administration

The Diploma in Tax Administration is offered by the Kenya School of Revenue Administration (KESRA), the Kenya Revenue Authority's premier training school and an accredited World Customs Organization Regional Training Centre.

Students study domestic tax law, tax administration procedures, revenue collection systems, taxpayer compliance, and public finance basics, building the specialised knowledge needed for tax administration roles. Skills RequiredDomestic Tax LawTax Administration ProceduresRevenue Collection SystemsTaxpayer CompliancePublic Finance BasicsKey SubjectsDomestic Tax LawTax Administration ProceduresRevenue Collection SystemsTaxpayer CompliancePublic FinanceCertificationsKenya School of Revenue Administration (KESRA) Advanced Diploma progressionSpecializationsDomestic Tax AdministrationFocus on income tax, VAT, and domestic revenue collection. Tax ComplianceFocus on supporting taxpayer compliance and audit processes. Skills RequiredDomestic Tax LawPublic Finance BasicsRevenue Collection SystemsTax Administration ProceduresTaxpayer ComplianceKey SubjectsDomestic Tax LawTax Administration ProceduresRevenue Collection SystemsTaxpayer CompliancePublic FinanceResearch MethodsCertificationsKenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) CertificationSpecializationsDomestic Tax AdministrationFocus on income tax, VAT, and domestic revenue collection. Tax ComplianceFocus on supporting taxpayer compliance and audit processes.

Kenya's tax authority and the broader tax advisory and compliance industry need trained tax administrators to support domestic revenue collection and compliance work.

Training is delivered at KESRA's Nairobi and Mombasa campuses, with some programmes also available online, combining classroom tax law with case studies of Kenyan tax administration practice.

Graduates work as tax officers, tax compliance assistants, and revenue administration staff at the Kenya Revenue Authority and in private tax advisory firms, with progression into KESRA's Advanced Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma in Tax Administration.

The programme suits students interested in public finance and taxation who want a specialised route into Kenya's tax administration and revenue collection system.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 150,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Online
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 35 students
Award: Diploma

What you study

6 subjects

Domestic Tax Law
Tax Administration Procedures
Revenue Collection Systems
Taxpayer Compliance
Public Finance
Research Methods

Modules

10 in the programme

Tax Law
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Kenyan tax legislation and regulations including regulatory compliance, legal frameworks, and professional obligations in practice.
Income Tax
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Income tax assessment and collection as applied to tax administration principles, practices, and professional competency requirements.
Domestic Tax Law
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Kenyan tax law covering income tax, VAT, and other domestic taxes for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Tax Administration Procedures
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Administrative processes for tax collection and enforcement for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Value Added Tax
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
VAT principles and administration as applied to tax administration principles, practices, and professional competency requirements.
Customs and Excise Duty
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Customs duty and excise tax as applied to tax administration principles, practices, and professional competency requirements.
Revenue Collection Systems
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Systems and processes used to collect government revenue for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Public Finance
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles of public finance and government revenue management for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Taxpayer Compliance
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Techniques for supporting and enforcing taxpayer compliance for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Tax Audit and Investigation
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Tax audit procedures and investigations as applied to tax administration principles, practices, and professional competency requirements.

Specialisations

Domestic Tax Administration
Focus on income tax, VAT, and domestic revenue collection, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Tax Compliance
Focus on supporting taxpayer compliance and audit processes, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
International Taxation
Focus on international tax principles, transfer pricing, cross-border taxation, and international tax compliance within Kenyan and global tax frameworks.
Tax Audit and Investigation
Focus on tax audit procedures, investigation techniques, compliance verification, and tax fraud detection within Kenyan revenue authority frameworks.

A day as a student

Days combine tax law and administration theory with case studies of Kenyan revenue collection practice, working toward practical competence in taxpayer compliance and administration procedures.

The trade offs

In its favour

Specialised training from KRA's own training school, carrying strong recognition for tax-sector roles.
Clear progression into KESRA's Advanced Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma in Tax Administration.

Against it

Job market outside KRA and tax advisory firms is narrower than general accounting or business diplomas.
Only offered at KESRA, limiting institutional choice.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 331 business courses

Public67k to 150k

67k at Public TVET colleges150k at Kenya School of Revenue Administration

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

KESRA 150,000/yr (kra.go.ke); TVET 67,189/yr. Private: unverified.

Students can access HELB loans and county bursaries; KRA occasionally sponsors staff pursuing further tax administration qualifications.

Funding options

HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
Loan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited diploma programmes.
County Government Bursaries
Bursary
Bursaries for needy students from their respective counties.

Scholarships

2 recorded

County Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan
Bursaries for needy students from their respective counties.
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited diploma programmes.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C-
Alternative entry: A relevant certificate from a recognised institution.

How you are assessed

3 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Tests across tax law and administration units.
Case Study Assignments
Coursework20% of the mark
Applied case studies of Kenyan tax administration practice.
Final Examinations
Examination50% of the mark
End-of-semester written examinations.

Accreditation

Offered by KESRA, KRA's specialist training school; KCSE mean grade C- with C- in English and Mathematics.

Accredited by

Kenya School of Revenue Administration
Specialist tax and customs training accreditationRequired
KESRA is an accredited World Customs Organization (WCO) Regional Training Centre.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Tax Audit Officer
Moderate demandKsh 42,000 to Ksh 80,000
Conducts tax audits, verifies compliance, and investigates tax matters within Kenyan Revenue Authority frameworks and tax administration systems.
Tax Officer (KRA, Junior)
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 48,000
Supports tax collection and compliance enforcement at the Kenya Revenue Authority.
Tax Compliance Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 45,000
Supports tax compliance work at a private advisory firm or company.
Revenue Administration Officer
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 44,000
Supports revenue administration functions for a government agency.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as tax officers, tax compliance assistants, and revenue administration staff at KRA and in private tax advisory firms.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

KRA iTax System
Tax softwarePrimary
Kenya Revenue Authority online tax administration platform for filing returns, PIN registration, and tax compliance certificates.
QuickBooks
Accounting softwarePrimary
Accounting software for tax preparation, bookkeeping, and generating financial statements for tax filing.
Microsoft Excel
Data analysis
Tax calculations, payroll tax analysis, VAT computation, and financial data management.
Sage Pastel
Accounting software
Accounting and tax management software widely used in Kenyan businesses for VAT and income tax compliance.
KRA Tax Procedures Act Guidelines
Reference
Official KRA reference materials for tax administration procedures, compliance, and dispute resolution.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Tax administration training only leads to jobs at KRA.
Graduates also work in private tax advisory and compliance firms supporting businesses with tax matters.
This is the same as an accounting qualification.
It focuses specifically on tax law, administration, and compliance rather than the broader scope of general accounting.