The Secret Math of KRA: Understanding CRSP and Depreciation in 2026

You found a 2019 Toyota Rav4 in Japan for $8,000. You assume the tax will be a percentage of that $8,000, right? Wrong. In Kenya, the KRA doesn’t care what you paid for the car. They care about the CRSP (Current Retail Selling Price). This is the official price KRA believes that car would cost if it were sold brand new in a Kenyan showroom today.

The 2026 CRSP Update: What Changed?

Effective July 2025, KRA updated the CRSP list to include over 5,200 models. This update significantly increased the “base value” for luxury SUVs and German brands.

• Example: If a 2026 Mercedes GLE has a CRSP of KES 15 Million, your duty for a 2019 model is calculated based on that 15M figure, minus depreciation.

The Depreciation Ladder

KRA gives you a “discount” based on the age of the car. In 2026, for a 2019 car (7-8 years old), you get a 70% depreciation.

• The Math: (CRSP) x (30% Remaining Value) = Customs Value.

• From there, you pay: 35% Import Duty, 25-35% Excise Duty, and 16% VAT.

Why Timing is Everything

If your car arrives on December 31st, it might be taxed as a 7-year-old car. If it clears on January 1st, it is officially an 8-year-old car, and the depreciation increases, potentially saving you KES 100,000 overnight!

However, wait too long, and you hit the 8-Year Limit, where the car becomes illegal to import. It’s a high-stakes game of timing.

Get a Guaranteed Quote

Tired of “estimated” duties from online calculators that are never right? At Cars Request Africa, we use the live 2026 CRSP database to give you a quote that is 99% accurate before you even bid.

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