TallyPrime
TallyPrime is the strongest option in Kenya for inventory-heavy traders who want to own a licence rather than rent software: KSh 57,600 for Silver or KSh 172,800 for multi-user Gold, excluding VAT, with direct eTIMS integration, QR codes and eTIMS status reports. It is desktop software, so remote teams need hosting.
Last verified 28 Oct 2026 · Reviewed by Accounting Software Africa editorial, Publisher editorial desk. Tax figures are cited to the Nigeria Tax Act 2025. Assign a named ICAN reviewer in this field before treating a page as a signed professional opinion.
- Product kind
- Accounting
- Made in
- India
- Headquarters
- India
- Founded
- 1986
Strengths
- Not African-made
- One-time licence
- Fast keyboard data entry
- Inventory and eTIMS in Kenya
What it actually is
TallyPrime is the accounting and inventory package that a generation of Indian, Kenyan and Nigerian bookkeepers learned on: keyboard-driven, desktop-installed, extremely fast for high-volume vouchers. Tally Solutions sells it in Sub-Saharan Africa with a Kenya storefront and eTIMS integration.
Features
| Feature | Coverage | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Double-entry ledger | Core strength | Voucher-based books with very fast keyboard entry. |
| Inventory | Core strength | Godowns/locations, batches, BOM and stock valuation. |
| Invoicing | Strong | Sales invoices, delivery notes, credit notes. |
| E-invoicing | Strong | Direct eTIMS integration in Kenya with QR codes and status reports. |
| VAT | Strong | Kenya VAT reports; other African VAT set-ups via configuration. |
| Financial reports | Strong | Instant trial balance, P&L, balance sheet, ratios. |
| Multi-currency | Present | Foreign currency ledgers and forex gain/loss. |
| Payroll / PAYE | Present | Built-in payroll; statutory set-ups need local configuration. |
| Bank feeds | Limited | Bank reconciliation by statement import. |
| Mobile app | Limited | Browser access to reports via TSS; entry is desktop. |
Africa reach
| Countries | Presence |
|---|---|
 Nigeria | Partner-led |
 Ghana | Partner-led |
 Kenya | Available |
 South Africa | Limited |
Pricing
| Plan | Amount | Billing | Includes | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver (single PC) | Ksh 57,600 | One-off | Excl. 16% VAT (KSh 9,216). Includes 1 year Tally Software Services. | 28 Oct 2026 |
| Gold (multi-user) | Ksh 172,800 | One-off | Excl. 16% VAT (KSh 27,648). Multi-user across PCs; 1 year TSS. | 28 Oct 2026 |
Compliance
| Requirement | Status | Note | Verified on |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-invoicing | Supported | Direct eTIMS integration with real-time upload, QR codes and pending/rejected reports. | 28 Oct 2026 |
| VAT filing | Supported | Kenyan VAT reports for VAT3 preparation. | 28 Oct 2026 |
| WHT | Partial | Withholding configured via ledgers. | 28 Oct 2026 |
| PAYE | Partial | Built-in payroll; configure PAYE, NSSF, SHIF and Housing Levy. | 28 Oct 2026 |
| Local COA | Supported | Customisable. | 28 Oct 2026 |
| Multi-currency | Supported | Forex vouchers and revaluation. | 28 Oct 2026 |
| Bank feeds | Not supported | Statement import. | 28 Oct 2026 |
Best for
- Wholesalers, hardware and pharmacy chains
- High-volume invoicing at a counter
- Owners who prefer a one-time cost
Not suitable for
- Fully remote teams without IT support
- Businesses wanting live bank and M-Pesa feeds
Local support
Tally sells directly in Kenya through its Africa store and through Nairobi partners who handle installation, eTIMS set-up and training.
Migration notes
Import ledgers and stock; configure eTIMS and transmit a test invoice before go-live. Back up daily off-site.
How does TallyPrime handle eTIMS?
TallyPrime integrates directly with the eTIMS portal: invoices upload in real time, carry KRA QR codes, and an eTIMS report tracks generated, pending and rejected invoices so nothing silently fails.
Is a one-time licence really cheaper?
Gold at KSh 172,800 plus VAT for a multi-user team, renewing TSS each year, usually undercuts five users on a dollar-priced cloud ledger within two to three years. The trade-off is that you own hosting, backups and remote access.
When should a Kenyan business choose Zoho Books instead?
When the team is distributed, wants browser and phone access, or needs M-Pesa integration without IT work.
Sources
- Tally Solutions Africa store (KES) 28 Oct 2026
- TallyPrime e-invoicing (eTIMS) 28 Oct 2026
- KRA eTIMS income and expense validation (guide) 28 Oct 2026
Keep reading
- TallyPrime vs Zoho Books
Side by side.
- Inventory costing
Choosing a method.
Related in Kenya
- How to choose accounting software in Kenya
- Business Central is a strong Kenyan mid-market ERP for distributors, manufacturers and NGOs, with several Nairobi partners offering eTIMS (VSCU-style system integration) and Kenyan payroll extensions. Budget about KSh 10,393–14,290 per full user per month at list plus implementation.
- QuickBooks Online is still widely used by Kenyan accounting firms, but in 2026 it carries an eTIMS tax: Intuit does not ship a KRA integration, so you need a third-party connector, and you pay in dollars. For a new Kenyan SME, Zoho Books is cheaper and eTIMS-ready; QuickBooks makes sense when your accountant’s practice runs on it.
- Kenya has one of the deepest SAP Business One partner benches in Africa, which makes B1 a credible ERP for Nairobi distributors, manufacturers and regional groups expanding into Uganda and Tanzania. Pricing is partner-quoted; eTIMS integration is a partner deliverable you should see working at another customer.
- Odoo is the most flexible ERP route for Kenyan SMEs that want accounting, inventory, POS, CRM and payroll in one system. A Kenyan payroll localisation exists in Odoo’s app store, and Nairobi partners ship eTIMS connectors. Quality depends heavily on the partner, and per-user pricing is regionalised — get the shilling quote.
- Tyms suits Kenyan founders and accounting firms who need books caught up and kept current from bank and M-Pesa statements, at $200 per seat per year (about KSh 25,982). It is not an eTIMS integrator, so VAT-registered businesses still need eTIMS invoicing elsewhere — Zoho Books beats Tyms on that for most Kenyan SMEs. Tyms Inc. publishes this site.
- Zoho Books is the best default for Kenyan SMEs in 2026: shilling pricing from KSh 849 a month billed annually, eTIMS transmission on every paid plan as a KRA-approved OSCU integrator, VAT3 return reports, and a direct M-Pesa integration in the Kenya edition. Prices exclude VAT; growing teams hit the user caps before the feature caps.
- PaySpace, now Deel Local Payroll, is a strong choice for Kenyan employers that want a cloud payroll engine maintained for 2026 rules — PAYE, NSSF with the KSh 6,480 cap, SHIF at 2.75% and the Housing Levy — especially groups also paying staff in other African countries. Pricing is by quote.