How to Create a KRA eTIMS Invoice on Your Phone
Short answer: Yes, you can create KRA eTIMS invoices from a smartphone. With Risiti, you open the browser, create a new invoice, add buyer and item details, submit to KRA, then share the accepted receipt as a PDF on WhatsApp.
Risiti Is Built for Phone-First, Unreliable-Internet Work
Many Kenyan SMEs issue invoices from the counter, a delivery van, a market stall, or a customer's office. Risiti supports that reality: the invoice form uses cached KRA class codes, cached clients, and cached catalog items when live data is unavailable. If you submit while offline, the invoice is queued locally and sent later.
When KRA accepts the invoice, Risiti stores the receipt details and gives you a clean PDF and share link. When KRA fails, the invoice stays visible with a status and retry path instead of disappearing into a manual portal workflow.
Best Phone Options for eTIMS Invoices
| Option | Best for | Install | Sharing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Risiti | SMEs and freelancers that want PDF receipts, retries, clients, and reports | No app download | PDF and WhatsApp sharing |
| KRA eTIMS Lite | Very low-volume taxpayers who want the free official KRA option | App or portal depending on setup | Basic receipt flow |
| USSD *222# | Simple non-VAT flows and seller consent for buyer initiated invoicing | No app download | Limited phone-menu flow |
Create an eTIMS Invoice on Phone Using Risiti
- Open Risiti in your mobile browser.
Go to getrisiti.com and sign in with phone OTP. - Confirm your KRA connection.
If this is your first invoice, add your KRA PIN, business name, and branch ID during onboarding. - Tap New Invoice.
Add buyer name, buyer PIN if available, invoice date, receipt type, and payment method. - Add items or services.
Enter item name, quantity, price, and tax type. Non-VAT businesses normally use a non-applicable or exempt tax setup depending on their KRA classification. - Submit to KRA.
Risiti sends the sale to KRA eTIMS and shows the submission status. - Share the receipt.
Once accepted, download or share the PDF with your customer on WhatsApp.
When USSD or eCitizen Is Enough
KRA also supports simplified channels such as eCitizen and USSD for some small-business eTIMS Lite flows. These can work well when you issue very few invoices and do not need a client list, repeat items, PDF formatting, reports, or automatic retry when KRA is slow.
If you invoice customers every week, supply corporates, or need clean receipts for WhatsApp, a dedicated mobile eTIMS app is usually faster than repeating a phone-menu workflow.
Phone Invoice Checklist
KRA PIN is connected
Buyer name is correct
Buyer PIN is added when available
Item prices and quantities are correct
Tax type matches your VAT status
Payment method matches how the buyer paid
KRA status is submitted before sharing as final
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a KRA eTIMS invoice on my phone?
Yes. You can create a KRA eTIMS invoice on your phone using KRA eTIMS Lite, eCitizen for supported flows, USSD for simple cases, or a mobile-first app like Risiti.
Do I need to install an app to create eTIMS invoices?
Not always. Risiti works in your mobile browser, so you can create and share invoices without installing an app. KRA also offers app and portal options depending on your eTIMS solution.
Can I share an eTIMS invoice by WhatsApp?
Yes. Once the invoice is accepted by KRA, Risiti generates a receipt PDF that you can share on WhatsApp, email, or print.