What “Device Not Registered” Actually Means
KRA’s eTIMS platform is a central registry of all tax invoices issued in Kenya. Every invoice generated by a compliant device is matched to a registered device serial number on KRA’s side. If your device serial is not in that registry, the invoice is rejected at the validation step.
The “Device Not Registered” status can appear in three places:
On the physical OSCU/VSCU screen
Older ECD devices display 'Device Not Registered' on the small LCD when booted. This means the device firmware cannot authenticate against KRA - usually because the device serial was never registered to your PIN.
Inside eTIMS Client (software)
When you open the eTIMS Client app on your computer or phone, it tries to connect to KRA and shows 'Device Not Registered' or 'Device Not Found'. The local app cannot talk to KRA's validation endpoint.
On eTIMS Lite web portal
When you log into etims.kra.go.ke and check Device Management, the device appears in the list with status 'Not Registered' or 'Pending' - meaning the registration was started but never completed by KRA's back office.
Key distinction: “Not Registered” is different from account locked (your device is registered but KRA disabled it - see our eTIMS account locked guide). It is also different from pending sync - where the device is registered but invoices have not been uploaded (see pending sync guide).
Why eTIMS Devices Get Stuck on “Not Registered”
The registration pipeline has several handoffs: device supplier → KRA back office → eTIMS platform → your KRA PIN. Any link can drop the registration.
Your KRA PIN has no VAT obligation
This is the most common cause. You cannot register an eTIMS device on a PIN that is not VAT-registered. KRA rejects the registration silently - the device serial appears in the portal as 'Pending' but never activates. Check your VAT obligation on iTax under Returns > Obligations before contacting anyone.
The supplier has not uploaded the serial
When you buy an OSCU from an authorised supplier (e.g., Triton, M heroine, Smart Africa), they are supposed to upload the device serial to KRA within 24 hours. Some suppliers wait until a batch of devices is sold before uploading. Result: your device is physically in your shop but not on KRA's registry.
Wrong PIN captured during onboarding
If the supplier captured the wrong KRA PIN (a single digit wrong), the device is registered to someone else's PIN. When you try to use it, your PIN does not match - and the device shows 'Not Registered' on your end because your PIN lookup fails.
The device was previously deregistered
If a device was returned by a previous owner and deregistered, KRA's system sometimes blocks re-registration to a new PIN for 7-30 days. The supplier may not know this - they sell you a 'refurbished' device that fails to register.
eTIMS platform backlog
During peak filing periods (the 18th-22nd of each month), KRA's eTIMS registration queue slows down. A registration that normally takes 30 minutes can take 24 hours. If you are registering close to the VAT filing deadline, expect delays.
How to Register Your eTIMS Device (Step by Step)
The fastest registration path is self-service through eTIMS Lite (the web portal). You do not need the supplier to do anything if you have the device serial number.
- 01
Find your device serial number
It is printed on a sticker on the back of the OSCU/VSCU (a 12-15 character alphanumeric code starting with 'KR' or 'S/N'). For eTIMS Client on a phone/PC, the serial is auto-generated when you install the app - check the 'About' section inside the eTIMS Client app.
- 02
Log into eTIMS Lite
Go to etims.kra.go.ke. Use your KRA PIN and the same password you use on iTax. If you have never logged in, click 'Forgot Password' and KRA will send a reset link to the email registered on your iTax profile.
- 03
Open Device Management
Once logged in, the main menu has a 'Device Management' or 'Manage Devices' option (the label varies). Click it. You will see a list of devices currently registered to your PIN - this list may be empty if you are registering your first device.
- 04
Add your device serial
Click 'Add Device' or 'Register New Device'. Enter the serial number exactly as printed - case-sensitive, no spaces. Select the device type (OSCU for physical ECDs, VSCU for virtual/software-based). Submit. The portal will say 'Registration submitted - pending activation'.
- 05
Wait 5-30 minutes and verify
Refresh the page after 30 minutes. The status should change from 'Pending' to 'Active'. If it is still 'Pending' after 1 hour, the registration has failed - try once more. If it still fails, the device serial is likely registered to a different PIN and you need KRA support.
- 06
Test with a sample invoice
Once the device shows 'Active', open eTIMS Client (or your OSCU screen) and try to issue a sample invoice of KES 1. If the invoice transmits successfully and you can see it in eTIMS Lite > Transaction History within 5 minutes, the device is fully working.
Need to invoice urgently while waiting?
Use eTIMS Lite (the web portal) to issue your invoice online. eTIMS Lite uses your PIN directly and does not require a registered physical device. It is slower (a few minutes per invoice) but is fully KRA-compliant. See our eTIMS onboarding guide for the eTIMS Lite workflow.
If Your KRA PIN Is Not VAT-Registered
A common trap: eTIMS device registration requires a KRA PIN with an active VAT obligation. If your PIN has Turnover Tax (TOT) only, or has no tax obligation at all, the eTIMS platform will reject the device registration - and the rejection is silent. The device serial appears as “Pending” forever.
To check if your PIN is VAT-registered:
Log into iTax
Go to itax.kra.go.ke and log in with your KRA PIN and password. If you cannot remember your password, use the 'Forgot Password' link - KRA sends a reset to your registered email.
Check your obligations
Navigate to Returns > File Return. The drop-down list shows your active tax obligations. If 'Value Added Tax (VAT)' is not in the list, your PIN is not VAT-registered.
If VAT is missing, register for VAT
Navigate to Registration > e-Registration, select VAT, fill in your business details (turnover, business activity, expected monthly sales). Submit. VAT registration takes 1-3 working days. We handle this end-to-end for KES 5,000 - see our VAT registration service.
Then register the device
Once VAT appears on your obligations list (you will also get an SMS from KRA), go back to eTIMS Lite and re-submit the device registration. It will activate within 30 minutes.
Need to register for VAT first?
We handle the entire iTax VAT registration for KES 5,000 - including updating your iTax profile, generating the VAT PIN certificate, and guiding you through the first eTIMS device registration. Done in 1-3 working days.
Start VAT RegistrationWhen Your Device Supplier Is Stuck
If you bought your OSCU from an authorised supplier and they have not completed the registration after 3 working days, the supplier’s submission has likely failed. Here is the escalation path:
Get the original handover letter
The supplier should have given you a handover letter with the device serial, date of sale, and the supplier's KRA eTIMS integrator ID. This letter is proof that you own the device and is required by KRA support.
Email the supplier with the serial number
Send a formal email (not WhatsApp) to the supplier with: device serial, your KRA PIN, the date of purchase, and a screenshot of the 'Pending' status on eTIMS Lite. Ask them to confirm in writing whether the device has been uploaded to KRA.
If the supplier does not respond in 48 hours
Call KRA eTIMS support on 020 499 9999. Have your KRA PIN, device serial, and supplier name ready. KRA can force-register the device from their side if you prove ownership.
Worst case: re-register via eTIMS Lite
If the device was registered to a wrong PIN by the supplier, you may be able to register it to your PIN via eTIMS Lite - KRA's system sometimes allows a 'correction' registration. If it does not, KRA support must deregister it from the wrong PIN first, which takes 7-14 days.
Do not buy a “refurbished” OSCU off Jumia or social media
We see businesses weekly who bought a cheap OSCU online only to find the device is deregistered, blacklisted, or registered to a different PIN. Always buy from a KRA-authorised eTIMS integrator and get a proper handover letter. If you are stuck with a bad device, we can help you reset and re-register it - send the serial by email.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'Device Not Registered' mean on eTIMS?
It means your eTIMS device (OSCU, VSCU, or eTIMS Client on a phone/computer) has been physically set up but has not yet been linked to your KRA PIN on the eTIMS platform. KRA's servers do not recognise the device serial number, so it cannot transmit invoices. You must register the device online through the eTIMS portal or eTIMS Lite before any invoice can be confirmed.
Why is my eTIMS device showing as not registered?
Common causes: the device supplier has not completed onboarding on KRA's side, your KRA PIN is not VAT-registered (you cannot register an eTIMS device on a non-VAT PIN), the device serial number was captured incorrectly, the device was issued to a different PIN by mistake, or a previous registration was revoked. The fastest way to confirm is to log into eTIMS Lite (etims.kra.go.ke) and check the list of registered devices under your PIN.
Can I issue invoices while my device is not registered?
No. An unregistered eTIMS device cannot generate valid tax invoices. If you try to invoice, the device will reject the request or the invoice will not be confirmed by KRA. If you urgently need to invoice a customer, the only legal workaround is to issue a manual VAT invoice (with a manual serial number) and transmit it via eTIMS Lite web portal as soon as your device is registered, or use eTIMS Lite directly to issue the invoice online.
How do I register my eTIMS device online?
Log into eTIMS Lite at etims.kra.go.ke with your KRA PIN and password, navigate to Device Management, select Add Device, enter the device serial number exactly as printed on the device or in the supplier's handover letter, select the device type (OSCU for physical ECDs, VSCU for virtual/ software-based), and submit. The device appears as 'Active' within 5-30 minutes. If it still shows 'Not Registered' after 1 hour, call KRA eTIMS support on 020 499 9999.
How long does KRA take to register an eTIMS device?
Self-registration on eTIMS Lite is usually instant - the device shows 'Active' within 5-30 minutes. If a supplier is registering on your behalf, KRA can take 1-3 working days to process the registration form. If you submitted a registration more than 3 working days ago and the device is still not active, the application has likely failed silently - contact your supplier or KRA eTIMS support to investigate.
Can I register an eTIMS device if I am not VAT-registered?
No. eTIMS device registration requires a KRA PIN that has an active VAT obligation. If your PIN is not VAT-registered, the eTIMS platform will reject the device registration. You must first register for VAT (it takes 1-3 working days via iTax), then register your device. Persons on Turnover Tax (TOT) can use eTIMS Lite without a physical device but cannot register an OSCU/VSCU.