Zimra targets e-hailing, BNBs with new e-commerce tax

Rutendo Nyeve, Victoria Falls Reporter

THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) will roll out a comprehensive e-commerce platform in 2026 to ensure players in the fast-growing digital economy, including e-hailing services such as inDrive and Bed and Breakfast (BNB) operators, fully comply with tax obligations.

The initiative builds on the recently introduced Tax and Revenue Management System (TARMS) and marks one of Zimra’s most decisive moves to formalise and capture revenue from digital transactions.

In an interview, Zimra Commissioner for Domestic Taxes, Mr Misheck Govha, said the authority’s digitalisation strategy is anchored on fairness and inclusivity.

“As part of Zimra’s plan to digitalise, we are going to be coming up with an e-commerce platform from 2026. This will be covering issues like BNBs and e-hailing services like inDrive,” said Comm Govha.

“Every trader in Zimbabwe should make sure that they are compliant, and they pay their taxes. The source of those revenues is Zimbabwe and as such, Zimbabwe has the entitlement to take the right to those incomes.”

Comm Govha warned players in the informal and digital sectors, saying compliance is not optional.

“We have no one we are going to leave behind as far as registration is concerned, for those who are BNBs and inDrive. Even if you own the vehicle, make sure that it is properly registered and is actually subscribing according to the laws of the country,” he said.

Comm Govha said Zimra already has a number of these entities on its books.

“The current position is we have got some BNBs who are on our tax base and we also have those that are in e-hailing also on our tax base. We are taxing them under the Income Tax Act,” he said.
Comm Govha highlighted that the tax net will also ensnare international operators, thanks to robust legislative frameworks.

“We have put up a law that compels even someone who is operating outside the country or jurisdiction to be taxed in Zimbabwe and that law is applied to other e-platforms,” he said.

“This is why we are saying everyone, whether you are outside the country or you are inside the country, the treatment is the same. The source of the revenue is Zimbabwe and as such we have to take to that.”
Comm Govha said several large e-commerce entities are already compliant, paving the way for wider enforcement.

“We have more than 16 big companies that are already in e-commerce which are already paying their income tax and they are also paying their VAT,” he said.

To facilitate easy compliance, Comm Govha assured the nation that the new system will be accessible.

“The TARMS system is very user-friendly. Through the self-service portal, you can do it anywhere globally and that should really assist us. We look forward to making sure that Zimbabweans are compliant and paying their taxes,” he said.
The implementation will leverage local financial institutions to monitor transactions.

“In terms of how we are going to be implementing the e-commerce, it is going to be covering institutions where the payments are going to be done. These payment institutions are in Zimbabwe,” said Comm Govha.

“They are local institutions that monitor the transactions to make sure that we configure and digitalise with those institutions.”

Comm Govha said the new platform will not only simplify compliance but also strengthen Zimra’s enforcement capacity.

“So we are looking forward to making sure that whether you are a little taxpayer or you are starting your business, start it well. Let us not be found non-compliant; the penal provisions will not be good for everyone,” he said.

“So let us make sure that we are compliant, we register with Zimra.

“We need to make sure that we leave no stone unturned in any transaction that happens, whether across jurisdictions, as long as the source of that is Zimbabwe.”

The planned e-commerce platform is expected to significantly broaden the tax base and enhance revenue collection.