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.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 150,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 300,000 for the whole course.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of C- or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 2 years, full-time, online, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 3 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Cybersecurity Data Lawyer, at 9 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
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.
What you study
6 subjects- Domestic Tax Law
- Tax Administration Procedures
- Revenue Collection Systems
- Taxpayer Compliance
- Public Finance
- Research Methods
Modules
10 in the programmeTax 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 | Against it |
|---|---|
| Specialised training from KRA's own training school, carrying strong recognition for tax-sector roles. | Job market outside KRA and tax advisory firms is narrower than general accounting or business diplomas. |
| Clear progression into KESRA's Advanced Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma in Tax Administration. | 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 coursesAnnual 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 recordedCounty 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.
Scholarships you could apply for
1 usable where it is taught- Moringa School Craftbyte Scholarship
QuarterlyFullMoringa School
Full software development course
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
A relevant certificate from a recognised institution.
When it next starts
Taught at 3 institutionsIncluding Eldoret Polytechnic, Kabete National Polytechnic, Borabu Technical and Vocational College.
Including Eldoret Polytechnic, Kabete National Polytechnic, Borabu Technical and Vocational College.
Including Eldoret Polytechnic, Kabete National Polytechnic, Borabu Technical and Vocational College.
How you are assessed
3 componentsContinuous 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
Kenya School of Revenue Administration
Specialist tax and customs training accreditationRequired
KESRA is an accredited World Customs Organization (WCO) Regional Training Centre.
Offered by KESRA, KRA's specialist training school; KCSE mean grade C- with C- in English and Mathematics.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesTax 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- Cybersecurity Data LawyerLaw9Low exposure
- In-House CounselLaw11Low exposure
- Commercial Mediation SpecialistLaw15Low exposure
- Data Privacy CounselLaw17Low exposure
- Forensic Audit InvestigatorBusiness17Low exposure
- Clinical Trial BioethicistLaw18Low exposure
- Commercial Arbitration CounselLaw18Low exposure
- Constitutional Litigation CounselLaw18Low exposure
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.