Google will begin withholding 5% from eligible YouTube earnings paid to Kenyan creators from September, with the company set to remit the deducted amount to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) in line with the country’s tax requirements.
The withholding will apply to YouTube earnings processed through Google’s AdSense system for creators whose tax residence is Kenya. The deduction will be made before creators receive their payouts.
For a creator with KSh100,000 in eligible earnings, the 5% withholding would amount to KSh5,000, leaving KSh95,000 before any other applicable deductions.
Google has asked affected creators to provide a valid KRA Personal Identification Number through their AdSense accounts. The deadline for submitting a verified KRA PIN is Oct. 1, 2026.
Creators who fail to provide the required tax information could face restrictions affecting their payments.
The new withholding comes as Kenya increases its focus on income generated through the digital economy. YouTube has become an important revenue source for creators, with advertising, memberships and other monetisation tools supporting a growing ecosystem of online businesses.
The 5% withholding is not necessarily a creator’s final tax liability. Additional taxes may apply depending on a creator’s total income and individual circumstances.
For creators operating YouTube channels as businesses, the change could affect cash flow, revenue forecasts and production budgets. It also makes the distinction between gross YouTube revenue and actual take-home income increasingly important.
The move highlights the growing integration of global digital platforms into domestic tax systems, with Google effectively becoming part of the collection and remittance process for tax due on eligible creator earnings.