NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 4 – Kenyan creators with AdSense for YouTube accounts based in Kenya have until October 1, 2026, to submit their Kenyan Personal Identification Number (PIN), with Google set to withhold a 5 percent Kenya tax from finalised YouTube earnings and hold payments for creators who fail to provide a verified PIN.
“Under the Kenya Income Tax Act, Google is required to withhold taxes on YouTube earnings paid to AdSense for YouTube accounts based in Kenya. Each month, Google will withhold a 5 per cent Kenya tax on finalised YouTube earnings along with any applicable U.S. taxes,” Google said.
The withholding will first apply to earnings made in September 2026 and paid out in October 2026, while creators are required to submit their Kenyan PIN through AdSense for YouTube by the October 1 deadline.
Google said payments may be held for creators who do not submit a verified PIN by the deadline, although their earnings will continue to accrue.
“You must submit your Kenyan personal identification number (PIN) in AdSense for YouTube by 1 October 2026 or your payments may be held. This means that your YouTube earnings will continue to accrue, but payments will stop until a verified PIN is provided,” the company said.
Creators are required to provide the information through their AdSense for YouTube payment profiles by accessing the Kenya tax information section and submitting their 11-character Kenyan PIN.
Google said submitted tax details may take between three and five working days to be reviewed and approved, after which creators will receive an automated email updating them on the status of their tax form.
The company is also required to report information to the Kenya Revenue Authority each month, including gross payments subject to the Kenya withholding tax, the total amount withheld, the total amount withheld, the creator’s PIN and address.
The requirement places Kenyan tax information at the centre of the payment process for affected AdSense for YouTube accounts, with the first 5 per cent withholding expected to apply to September earnings paid out in October.
