Have you tried opening a new NTSA TIMS account and got the error KRA PIN Does Not Exist? Learn how to solve KRA PIN Does Not Exist error message today. 

While trying to create a new NTSA TIMS Account, there is quite a very common error that nearly all Kenyans experience and that is KRA PIN Does Not Exist. This is basically due to the fact that your KRA PIN is not yet available on the NTSA TIMS database system.

So, in this article I am going to share with you the steps that are involved in solving the KRA PIN Does Not Exist error message while trying to create a new TIMS Account. Basically this is the guide that you need to read and follow the steps outlined here in solving PIN Does Not Exist TIMS error message. 

READ ALSO: Steps Involved In Downloading KRA PIN Certificate on iTax Portal

KRA PIN nowadays plays a very important role in the lives of many Kenyans. Gone are the days when someone could tell you that you do not need a KRA PIN number and KRA PIN certificate in Kenya. Infact, this notion has drastically changed and most Kenyans have embraced the need of having a KRA PIN as part of their Government documentation that includes: National ID, Huduma Namba, NSSF, NHIF and Passport.  

KRA PIN is required everywhere in Kenya from Banks to other Government institutions and also even in the job market, you require to have both the KRA PIN Certificate and KRA Tax Compliance Certificate. But there is one key area where in the recent months KRA PIN number is definitely a must to have. 

Now, the most important part is the KRA PIN number. If you dont know or have forgotten your KRA PIN number, you can request for KRA PIN Retrieval here at Cyber.co.ke Portal and get in within 30 minutes in your email address. Just fill and submit the KRA PIN Retrieval form and you will be sorted out by our support. 

What Is KRA PIN Does Not Exist?

KRA PIN PIN Does Not Exist is simply an error resulting from missing KRA PIN on the NTSA Database. This error arises in cases where a user is trying to create a new NTSA account. When NTSA cannot find your KRA PIN on its Database, the PIN Does Not Exist error will pop up, thus preventing you from creating the NTSA TIMS Account.

This area is opening or creation of a new NTSA TIMS account. The TIMS account is very important when you require services from NTSA. Some of the key services that you may require from NTSA includes the following:

• New Smart Driving Licence (Smart DL)
• Transfer of Motor Vehicles
• Acceptance of Motor Vehicle Transfer
• Book Online NTSA Appointment
• Book for Motor Vehicle Inspection
• Obtain Duplicate Logbook
• Obtain Duplicate Number Plate

The above are just a few of the major services that you might require from NTSA. The main hassle comes in whereby you need to have with you your KRA PIN number before proceeding any further. To open a new NTSA TIMS account, you require the following three items with you:

• ID Serial Number
• Mother’s Maiden Name
• KRA PIN number

The first two are just the basic. If you have your national ID, then you can find the ID serial number at the top left hand side of the ID. The mother’s maiden name is her last name. In some instances, you can put the first name and it should work. 

Now, the most important part is the KRA PIN number. If you dont know or have forgotten your KRA PIN number, you can request for KRA PIN Retrieval here at Cyber.co.ke Portal and get in within 30 minutes in your email address. Just fill and submit the KRA PIN Retrieval form and you will be sorted out by our support team. 

Issues Related to KRA PIN on NTSA TIMS System

When you are just creating a new NTSA TIMS account, you will need to input your ID Serial Number, Mother’s Maiden Name and your KRA PIN Number. This is as illustrated below:

Once you have filled in the above three fields, click on the Verify button. Most new KRA PINs will generate the error as shown below: “The PIN Does Not Exist”

The above is the most common error that you will get when you try to open a new NTSA TIMS account. The error simply states that the “KRA PIN Does Not Exist.” Most Kenyans enter the panic mode when they get the error ” The PIN Does Not Exist” and immediately rush into conclusion that the KRA PIN is wrong or fake or invalid. Don’t panic or worry, I am going to share with how to solve KRA PIN Does Not Exist Error Message. 

Most of the times, the issue is not the KRA PIN number, but rather the main issue is with the NTSA TIMS Servers and Databases. To clear your doubt, you can use the KRA PIN Checker on iTax Portal to confirm the validity of your KRA PIN number. I wrote about How To Confirm KRA PIN Using KRA PIN Checker on iTax. 

A valid KRA PIN number will be in “Active” status and will show both taxpayer details, address details and obligation details. If the KRA PIN is invalid, then you will get the details as shown below: 

Now that you have checked the validity of your KRA PIN number, the next step will to find out How To Solve KRA PIN Does Not Exist Issue on TIMS System. Our main focus now will be highlighting the steps that you can take to solve KRA PIN Does Not Exist error message on TIMS portal. 

Causes of KRA PIN Does Not Exist Error Message on NTSA TIMS Portal

Before we highlight the steps that you can take to solve KRA PIN Does Not Exist error message, we need to look at what causes this error when you try to open a new NTSA TIMS account. Below are just some of the main cause that give rise to the PIN Does Not Exist error message:

• New KRA PIN: Basically, if for example you apply and get a new KRA PIN and you immediately head over to create a new NTSA TIMS account with it, you will definitely get the error messgae that the PIN Does Not Exist. New KRA PIN numbers are stored in KRA database systems immediately but do not become immediately available to other Government systems such as the NTSA portal. This takes some time to propagate. 
• Slow NTSA Database: Since both NTSA and KRA store taxpayer details in databases, the script that NTSA servers use to query the KRA database takes time to update all new KRA PINs to it. That is why when you obtain a new KRA PIN number and use it on TIMS portal, the error PIN Does Not Exist pops up immediately. This is because the NTSA database has not yet been updated with the new KRA PIN number that you have just obtained. The script that NTSA uses to update its database might have bugs or its quite slow. 

So how do you solve KRA PIN Does Not Exist? The final solution definitely lies with NTSA and not KRA. Since KRA is the issuer of new KRA PINs, the button falls on NTSA whose systems are the main cause cause of the delay in the update of new KRA PINs to their databases. 

Let us look at the steps involved or you can take to solve the PIN does not exist issue on NTSA TIMS Portal. 

Step 1: Consult with KRA

If you get KRA PIN Does Not Exist, you can first consult with KRA. But this in most cases is futile in a scenario where your KRA PIN is new and active on KRA iTax portal. Basically the response that KRA will give you will be: 

If it’s a new KRA PIN that you want to use on NTSA TIMS portal, please give it about 2 weeks (14 days) for the PIN to be updated on their database. 

So, in this case that means it will take upto 14 days for new KRA PIN to update on NTSA databases. Sometimes this will take less than those stipulated days at sometimes even more days. If you need to create NTSA TIMS account urgently, then step 2 will come in handy. For KRA, the NTSA TIMS KRA PIN Does Not Exist error message can only be solved if you wait for upto 14 days for NTSA database to update its KRA PIN list.

Other times, KRA will just tell you to liase with NTSA for assistance on PIN Does Not Exist issue on TIMS portal. This is because the KRA PIN is fine and active on KRA Systems. But on the other hand, the KRA PIN might be missing or not available yet on TIMS Database Systems. 

From my day to day experience, I have seen that majority of Kenyans think Updating the KRA PIN is the solution to this problem. Please not that that does not and will not solve the problem. The issue is not the KRA PIN but rather NTSA Database Systems. From the above response, you can that the solution to this problem only lies with NTSA. This response from KRA leads to Step number two. 

Step 2: Visit NTSA Offices

The other step that you can use if you get the error KRA PIN Does Not Exist, you can choose to vist NTSA offices in your respective county and have them link the new KRA PIN to your ID serial number. This process sometimes takes between 24 to 48 hours. TIMS Account KRA PIN Does Not Exist error message can be sorted out at the nearest NTSA Offices.

Below is a list of the NTSA Offices that you can visit and have them update your KRA PIN on their databases so as to remove KRA PIN Does Not Exist message on creation on new NTSA TIMS account. 

Step 3: Send Message to NTSA via Twitter

You can choose to share your KRA PIN and ID with NTSA on their Twitter account. The main problems with this is that they are sometimes non-responsive. So, step 2 above is the main recommendation. When you submit your DM to NTSA on Twitter for NTSA TIMS PIN Does Not Exist, this process that can take time as you have to wait for NTSA to reply after updating the KRA PIN in their database. 

NTSA Kenya Official Twitter Account

Step 4: Wait for KRA PIN to Update on NTSA Database

As per the recommendation from KRA, the last option that you can use is to wait for upto 14 days for the NTSA to update the new KRA PIN on their TIMS databases. This is not viable in a scenario where you urgently need to create a TIMS account. So the other way to have your KRA PIN updated on the NTSA TIMS database so as to remove KRA PIN Does Not Exist TIMS is to wait for manual and slow update process. 

The update process can take upto 14 days for the new KRA PIN to become available on NTSA databases. 

READ ALSO: How To Apply For KRA Tax Refund Using iTax Portal

The above are the steps that you can take on How To Solve KRA PIN Does Not Exist Issue on TIMS System. You can choose to follow any of the above steps to solve PIN does not exist error message. The choice is yours. By following the above steps, once all has been updated to NTSA database, then you can go ahead to create your new NTSA TIMS account and you will not have any issue. 

Matthews Ohotto

Matthews Ohotto is a highly accomplished individual who holds a Bachelor of Business Information Technology (BBIT) degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).  He is the Founder of CYBER.CO.KE Portal and the Content Editor at CYBER.CO.KE Blog.