Kenyan Facebook Creators to Pay 5% Withholding Tax as Meta Updates Payouts

Kenyan content creators on Facebook will soon pay 5% of their earnings as withholding tax. Meta announced the change on Thursday, November 20, 2025. The company said it will align with Kenyan tax law, which requires taxes to be deducted and remitted to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).

Meta confirmed that payouts from Meta Platforms Ireland Limited will have a 5% tax deduction starting December 2025. “Starting January 1, 2025, Kenyan law mandates that all businesses deduct and remit taxes to KRA for payments to creators in Kenya. Meta will deduct 5% from all payments,” the notice stated. The deductions will appear on creators’ remittance advice. Tax certificates will also be available via the government portal.

Creators will still receive net payments directly into their usual bank accounts. Meta asked creators to update their business and tax details on the Payouts Page. This includes their registered business name, address, and Tax Identification Number (TIN). Meta assured that the payout process remains unchanged.

The announcement sparked strong reactions from creators. Radio presenter Hassan Mwana wa Ali said, “Maskini! Ushuruuuuuu!!!!” Content creator Malala Luttah joked, “The government asked creators to pay tax but did not collect. Now Meta will do it for them! What about low-income earners?”

This follows discussions that began with the Finance Bill 2023. It introduced a 5% tax for Kenyan content creators and a 20% tax for non-residents. The Finance Act 2024 clarified that the tax applies to creative works not exempted. The Finance Bill 2024 expanded the scope further. KRA continues to implement the tax through the Digital Services Tax (DST).

Creators are advised to keep their records updated. Doing so ensures they comply with the law. It also guarantees smooth payouts while Kenya strengthens oversight of digital content monetization.