How to Download an eTIMS Invoice PDF in Kenya
Short answer: Open the completed invoice in the same eTIMS channel that issued it, confirm the transaction was accepted, then select its receipt or invoice number and use Download. Before sharing the PDF, check the seller, buyer, items, totals, control-unit details, and QR code.
Step-by-Step
1. Open the invoice history
Sign in to eCitizen, the eTIMS online portal, or your connected invoicing application and open the list of sales invoices or receipts.
2. Find the correct transaction
Search by invoice number, receipt number, customer, or date. Compare the amount and buyer before opening it.
3. Confirm the KRA result
Make sure the invoice is accepted or submitted successfully and contains the returned eTIMS reference information. Do not present a pending or failed draft as a final tax invoice.
4. Open the receipt or invoice number
KRA's portal guidance directs users to select the relevant receipt number to display the invoice. Other channels expose a View, Receipt, PDF, or Download action.
5. Download the PDF
Use the channel's download control and save the file with a clear invoice number or buyer reference. Avoid editing the accepted tax details after download.
6. Verify and share
Check the PDF against the transaction and scan its QR code or use KRA's invoice checker. Then send the unchanged file or a secure receipt link to the buyer.
Where to Download the Invoice
| Channel | Where to look | Download path |
|---|---|---|
| KRA eCitizen | Invoicing (eTIMS) sales invoice history | Open View on the completed invoice, then use the displayed receipt/download action |
| eTIMS Online Portal | Transaction Management / Sales Receipt history | Select the receipt number to display the invoice, then choose Download |
| Risiti | Dashboard invoice detail | Open the accepted invoice and use PDF download or the share action |
| Other OSCU/VSCU software | The provider's invoice or receipt history | Use its final receipt/PDF action after KRA acceptance |
What the PDF Should Contain
- ✓The seller's registered business identity and KRA PIN.
- ✓The invoice date, invoice or receipt number, and transaction details.
- ✓The buyer name and KRA PIN where applicable.
- ✓Each item or service, quantity, unit price, discount, and line total.
- ✓Tax treatment, taxable amount, tax amount, subtotal, and final total.
- ✓The eTIMS control-unit or receipt details returned for the accepted transaction.
- ✓A QR code or verification route that corresponds to the invoice.
Free PDF Template vs Real eTIMS Invoice
A blank invoice template can help with layout, but it cannot transmit the sale to KRA or create the returned control-unit details. A polished Word, Excel, or PDF document is not automatically an eTIMS invoice.
Generate the final transaction through an activated KRA channel or connected eTIMS application. Download the resulting receipt rather than adding a decorative QR code to a normal template.
Practical note: If the search term is 'eTIMS invoice PDF free download,' the safe answer is to download your own completed invoice from the official channel—not to reuse someone else's sample or a blank tax receipt.
Invoice, Receipt and Pro Forma Are Different
| Document | What it does | Treat as final eTIMS invoice? |
|---|---|---|
| Accepted eTIMS invoice or receipt | Records the completed sale with returned KRA receipt details | Yes, after checking it |
| Pro forma invoice | Quotes or requests payment before the completed tax transaction | No |
| Ordinary PDF invoice | Presents commercial information but may not have been transmitted | Only if the corresponding KRA acceptance and receipt details can be verified |
| Credit note | Reverses all or part of an accepted invoice | Keep it with the original and any replacement |
Can You Share the PDF on WhatsApp?
Yes. A completed invoice can be delivered as an unchanged PDF or through a secure receipt link. WhatsApp is a delivery method; it does not create or validate the tax invoice.
Use the buyer's correct number, avoid exposing invoices in public groups, and keep the accepted record in your business system. Email may be preferable when the buyer needs a formal accounts-payable trail.
Why the Download Button May Be Missing
Invoice is still a draft
Complete and submit the invoice before expecting final KRA receipt details.
Submission is pending or failed
Check status and the underlying error. Do not repeatedly create new copies without confirming whether KRA accepted the original.
Wrong taxpayer or solution
Confirm that you are viewing the business profile and eTIMS channel that generated the invoice.
Browser download was blocked
Allow the official page to download the file, check the browser downloads list, or try the channel's print/save action.
Missing QR Code or Blank PDF
Invoice has no QR code
Confirm the transaction was accepted and the issuing solution received the required receipt data. Do not paste an unrelated QR image onto the PDF.
PDF opens as a blank page
Download it again from the accepted invoice, try the browser's downloads list, and open it in a current PDF viewer. Keep the original file unchanged.
PDF generation fails in Risiti
Keep the accepted invoice record and retry the download. The PDF is generated from the stored transaction and returned receipt details; it should not be recreated by typing data into a separate template.
Old invoice is missing
Search the same taxpayer profile and channel that issued it by date, customer, local invoice number or receipt number. Check whether the transaction was later credited.
Where Mobile Downloads Go
On Android, browser downloads commonly appear in the Files or My Files app under Downloads. On iPhone or iPad, Safari downloads commonly appear in the Files app under iCloud Drive or On My iPhone, depending on the browser setting.
If the file opened in a preview instead of saving, use the browser or device share control and choose Save to Files. Rename the file with the invoice number without changing the PDF contents.
Printing and Secure Storage
- ✓Print from the unchanged final PDF and check that the QR code remains sharp enough to scan.
- ✓Store the accepted invoice under a consistent invoice number, customer and date convention.
- ✓Keep payment evidence and any linked credit note or replacement with the invoice.
- ✓Restrict access to invoices containing buyer PINs, phone numbers or other personal information.
- ✓Back up business records; a WhatsApp chat alone is not a durable filing system.
What If the PDF Is Wrong?
Do not edit the accepted PDF to change the buyer, items, tax, or total. Use the same solution that raised the original invoice to create a full or partial credit note, then issue a corrected invoice where necessary.
Keep the original, credit note, and replacement together. That preserves the audit trail and prevents the buyer from relying on a document that differs from KRA's record.
Official KRA Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download an eTIMS invoice as a PDF?
Yes. KRA's eCitizen and online-portal guidance provide completed invoice or receipt viewing and download workflows. Connected applications may also generate a final PDF after KRA acceptance.
How do I download an eTIMS invoice from eCitizen?
Open KRA's Invoicing (eTIMS) service, locate the completed sales invoice, select View, and use the receipt or download action shown for that invoice.
Where is the eTIMS invoice download on the KRA portal?
KRA's online-portal guide directs users to the sales receipt history, where selecting the relevant receipt number displays the invoice and its download control.
Is there a free eTIMS invoice PDF template?
A blank template is not an accepted eTIMS invoice. Generate your own sale through KRA or connected software, then download the completed receipt with its returned verification details.
Can I send an eTIMS invoice on WhatsApp?
Yes. Send the unchanged accepted PDF or a secure receipt link. WhatsApp delivers the invoice but does not make a draft or ordinary PDF eTIMS compliant.
Can I edit an eTIMS PDF after downloading it?
Do not alter accepted tax details in the PDF. Correct the KRA transaction through a credit note in the original solution and issue a replacement invoice if needed.
Last reviewed: July 2026. This guide summarizes current public KRA information and is not tax or legal advice. Confirm unusual cases with KRA or a qualified tax professional.