Google will begin withholding 5% Kenyan tax from YouTube earnings paid to AdSense accounts in Kenya starting September 2026. The change applies to earnings generated from September onwards, according to Google’s Kenya tax guidance. The tax is required under the Kenya Income Tax Act and will be deducted directly from payments made through AdSense.
Creators using AdSense in Kenya will now see a 5% tax withheld from their earnings, which will be reported as part of their annual tax returns. The move aligns with Kenya’s efforts to increase tax compliance and ensure proper reporting of digital income. However, there are questions about how this new withholding will interact with existing U.S. Tax obligations for creators with international income.
The tax change is expected to impact content creators who rely on YouTube as a primary income source. While the exact implications for individual creators remain unclear, the government aims to improve revenue collection through direct tax deductions. The new policy marks a shift in Kenya’s approach to regulating digital income streams.
