Tools for Kenyan employers
Kenya Payroll Calculators
Work out net pay, gross pay or PAYE using the current 2026 rates — no sign-up, nothing stored.
Monthly estimate
Net Pay Calculator — 2026
Start with gross pay and see estimated cash take-home after the selected payroll deductions.
Reverse estimate
Gross Pay Calculator — 2026
Work back from a desired net pay to the gross pay needed, by adding back PAYE, NSSF, SHIF, housing levy and pension.
The solver uses the same deductions as the Net Pay calculator and checks the result to within KES 1.
Tax estimate
PAYE Calculator — 2026
Work out PAYE due on a chargeable (taxable) amount for one month or a full year.
How this is calculated
A clear route from gross to take-home.
- Taxable pay first. PAYE is charged on taxable pay, not gross. Taxable pay is gross plus taxable non-cash benefits, minus NSSF, SHIF, housing levy and allowable pension contributions.
- Relief is applied next. Personal relief of KES 2,400 a month is deducted from the PAYE calculated.
- Statutory deductions reduce taxable pay. SHIF, the employee's housing levy and NSSF contributions are tax-deductible under current rules.
- Gross can be worked back. Gross pay is solved iteratively from the desired net by reversing the same deductions; progressive PAYE is why this cannot use a single closed-form formula.
- Employee side only. Employers also pay their own NSSF and housing levy contributions on top. These calculators show the employee's side only.
Current rates reference
The assumptions behind the estimate.
Rates current as of September 2026
| Item | Rate or rule |
|---|---|
| PAYE monthly bands | Up to KES 24,000 → 10%; KES 24,001–32,333 → 25%; KES 32,334–500,000 → 30%; KES 500,001–800,000 → 32.5%; above KES 800,000 → 35%. |
| Relief and allowances | Personal relief: KES 2,400/month. Allowable pension contribution: KES 30,000/month. Non-cash benefits up to KES 5,000/month are not taxed. |
| NSSF | Tier I: pensionable pay up to KES 9,000. Tier II: KES 9,001–108,000. The employee and employer each contribute 6% of pensionable pay. Private-sector employees may opt out of Tier II where an alternative pension scheme is in place. |
| SHIF | 2.75% of gross monthly salary, remitted to the Social Health Authority (SHA). |
| Housing Levy | 1.5% of monthly gross salary for both employee and employer. |
| Statutory filing | PAYE and other payroll deductions are remitted to KRA by the 9th of the following month. |
How is PAYE calculated in Kenya?
PAYE is calculated progressively on taxable pay. Taxable pay starts with gross pay and taxable non-cash benefits, less NSSF, SHIF, housing levy and allowable pension contributions. Personal relief of KES 2,400 per month is then deducted from the PAYE calculated.
How do I work out gross pay from net pay?
The Gross Pay calculator reverses the same deductions used by the Net Pay calculator. It solves progressively for the gross amount that lands within KES 1 of the desired take-home pay.
What rate is SHIF?
SHIF is calculated at 2.75% of gross monthly salary and remitted to the Social Health Authority (SHA).
What is the NSSF Tier II ceiling in 2026?
Under the rates used by this calculator, Tier II covers pensionable pay from KES 9,001 to KES 108,000. The employee and employer each contribute 6% of pensionable pay.
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