KRA Invoice Checker: Verify an eTIMS Invoice Online
Short answer: Open KRA services on eCitizen, choose Invoice Number Checker and enter the Control Unit invoice number, or scan the invoice QR code. Match the seller PIN, buyer details where applicable, invoice number, date, tax and total. If no matching invoice appears, do not rely on the PDF alone—ask the supplier for the KRA-accepted receipt details.
Step-by-Step
1. Open the official checker
Go directly to ecitizen.kra.go.ke, find KRA Checkers, and choose Invoice Number Checker. Confirm the kra.go.ke or ecitizen.kra.go.ke hostname before entering invoice details.
2. Enter the CU invoice number
Use the Control Unit invoice number printed in the KRA receipt details. Do not assume the seller's own invoice reference is the CU number.
3. Scan the QR code as a second route
Open the invoice and locate the QR code near the receipt or control-unit details. Scan it with your phone camera or a trusted QR reader and follow the KRA verification result.
4. Compare every material detail
Match the seller name and PIN, buyer PIN where applicable, invoice number, date, line items, taxable amount, tax amount and final total with the PDF or receipt.
5. Act on a missing or mismatched result
Keep the document and payment evidence, ask the supplier for the accepted eTIMS receipt or correction, and avoid altering the PDF yourself. Contact KRA when the supplier cannot resolve a material discrepancy.
Where to Find the CU Invoice Number
The Control Unit invoice number identifies the electronic receipt recorded through eTIMS. It normally appears in the receipt or KRA details area and may be labelled CU Invoice No., Control Unit Invoice Number, or shown using returned control-unit and receipt references.
A supplier may also display its own internal invoice number. That number is useful for the supplier's records but is not automatically the value required by KRA's checker. If the label is unclear, ask the supplier which value is the KRA CU invoice number.
QR-Code Verification
- ✓Open the original PDF or a clear, uncut receipt image.
- ✓Locate the QR code close to the eTIMS receipt details.
- ✓Scan it and inspect the destination before continuing.
- ✓Confirm that the result belongs to KRA and describes the invoice you are checking.
- ✓Compare the result with the document; a QR code that opens is not enough if the seller or amounts differ.
Practical note: Do not use a decorative or unrelated QR code as proof. The information returned must correspond to the same seller and transaction.
Manual Invoice-Number Verification
KRA's current eCitizen page lists an Invoice Number Checker for verifying a Control Unit invoice number. Open the checker from the official KRA services page, enter the requested number and complete any validation prompt shown.
Manual verification is especially useful when the printed QR code is damaged, a camera cannot focus, or you are checking an invoice on the same phone that displays it.
Seller PIN Verification
The seller name and KRA PIN in the checker result should match the business that supplied the goods or services. A trading name can differ from a registered legal name, so confirm the relationship rather than rejecting a legitimate invoice on the name alone.
Stop and ask for clarification when the PIN belongs to an unrelated entity, a different branch cannot be explained, or the supplier refuses to identify the legal seller.
Buyer PIN Verification
When the purchase needs to be associated with your business, confirm that the buyer PIN is your business PIN and was transmitted correctly. KRA's own validation guidance notes that the invoice checker includes buyer-detail fields that help identify errors early in the tax period.
A missing or wrong buyer PIN is not fixed by typing it onto the PDF. Ask the supplier to use the correction workflow supported by the solution that issued the original invoice.
Compare the Total and Tax
| Field | What must match | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Items or services | Description, quantity and line amount | Shows the KRA record represents the actual supply |
| Taxable amount | The amount on which tax was calculated | Exposes line or tax-treatment differences |
| Tax amount | The tax total for the transaction | A mismatch may indicate the wrong tax type or amount |
| Total | The final invoice amount | Should agree with the document and commercial transaction |
| Date | The sale or receipt date | Helps identify a reused or unrelated receipt |
Why a Valid-Looking PDF May Still Be Wrong
A PDF can contain a logo, professional layout, invoice number and QR-shaped image without representing an accepted KRA transaction. Visual quality is not the verification test.
The reliable check is whether the QR or official checker returns the corresponding electronic invoice and whether its seller, buyer and amounts agree with the document.
Why an Invoice May Not Be Found
| Possible reason | What to do next |
|---|---|
| Wrong number entered | Find the CU invoice number rather than the supplier's local reference and try once more. |
| Invoice is pending or failed | Ask the supplier to confirm the KRA status and provide the accepted receipt after submission completes. |
| QR image is damaged | Use the manual checker or request the original PDF. |
| Seller issued a normal PDF | Ask for the actual eTIMS receipt and returned KRA details. |
| Recent system delay or outage | Keep the record, retry later, and ask the supplier not to create an unexplained duplicate. |
| Invoice was corrected | Request the linked credit note and replacement invoice so the audit trail is complete. |
What to Ask the Supplier For
- ✓The accepted eTIMS receipt or unchanged PDF generated from the issuing solution.
- ✓The CU invoice number and confirmation that the status is submitted or accepted.
- ✓A correction through the original solution if the seller, buyer, items, tax or total are wrong.
- ✓The linked credit note and replacement invoice if the original transaction was reversed.
- ✓A response in writing when the invoice cannot be verified, so your accounts team can keep a clear trail.
Realistic Mismatch Example
A hardware supplier emails a PDF for KES 58,000. The QR result shows the correct seller PIN but a total of KES 5,800 and no buyer PIN. The PDF should not be filed as if it matches KRA's record.
The buyer should send the supplier the two conflicting values, request a correction in the original eTIMS solution, and retain the incorrect invoice, correction record and final accepted invoice together. The buyer should not edit the total or buyer PIN in a PDF editor.
Printable eTIMS Invoice Checklist
- ✓I opened an official kra.go.ke or ecitizen.kra.go.ke destination.
- ✓The CU invoice number in the result matches the invoice.
- ✓The seller name and KRA PIN match the supplier.
- ✓The buyer PIN is correct where it applies.
- ✓The date and item or service details match.
- ✓The taxable amount, tax amount and total match.
- ✓The invoice is accepted, not merely draft, pending, retrying or failed.
- ✓I saved the final invoice with payment evidence and any correction documents.
Practical note: Print this page from your browser and select only this section if your print dialog supports page ranges.
Related eTIMS Tasks
Official KRA Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify an eTIMS invoice online?
Use the Invoice Number Checker on official KRA services on eCitizen with the CU invoice number, or scan the invoice QR code. Then compare the returned seller, buyer and amount details.
Is the seller's invoice number the CU invoice number?
Not necessarily. A supplier may show an internal invoice reference as well as the Control Unit invoice number. Use the field labelled for the CU or KRA receipt details.
What if the QR code works but the amount is different?
Treat that as a mismatch. Keep the evidence and ask the supplier to correct the transaction through the original eTIMS solution. Do not edit the PDF.
Can Risiti verify invoices issued by another seller?
This guide directs you to KRA's official checker. Risiti at getrisiti.com is independent invoicing software and is not KRA's separate Risiti Legit verification app.
Last reviewed: 26 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.