Online Reporter
H-Metro Reporter
THE country’s social media influencers, and other online content creators, who are earning thousands of dollars from platforms such as YouTube and Facebook, have been put on notice to regularise their tax affairs.
Yesterday, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) issued a warning that the window for voluntary disclosure is closing fast.
The advent of digital media has revolutionised how influencers earn money from platforms such as Facebook.
Madam Boss, one of the leading figures in the industry, recently revealed that she earns more than US$20,000 from Facebook on a good month.
Now, she has to regularise all her earnings with ZIMRA.
She is not the only one who has to do that before the window closes.
A number of others, including Mai Titi, Comic Elder, DJ Towers, Ritz and Mama Vee, just to mention but a few, will also have to regularise their incomes with ZIMRA, for tax purposes.
But now ZIMRA is clamping down, and content creators who may have been operating outside the tax net, could be in for a rude awakening.
ZIMRA has opened a voluntary disclosure window that allows taxpayers — including social media money-makers — to come clean about their earnings without facing hefty penalties.
But that window slams shut on May 30, 2026.
After that date, anyone caught dodging tax will face the full force of the law, including penalties and possible prosecution.
“Under the programme, taxpayers who make a full and truthful disclosure will have penalties waived in full, although interest on outstanding amounts will still apply,” ZIMRA said in a public notice.
“Importantly, such disclosures will not automatically trigger audits or criminal proceedings.”
While much of the attention has been on rental income tax — which took effect on January 1, 2026 and targets landlords leasing to commercial tenants — the amnesty covers far more than just property owners.
The scope is broad, covering individuals and businesses across all sectors, including informal traders, transport operators and crucially, online earners.
Income earned from online platforms such as Facebook and YouTube is firmly on ZIMRA’s radar.
The tax authority has made it clear that it is also watching for cases where individuals possess significant assets or property developments that are inconsistent with their declared income.
ZIMRA noted that the voluntary disclosure facility applies across all major tax heads, including Income Tax, Value Added Tax (VAT), Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and Capital Gains Tax (CGT).
Earlier this year, the Government clarified the scope of the Digital Services Withholding Tax (DSWT), introduced under Finance Act Number 7 of 2025 and effective from 1 January 2026.
Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Professor Mthuli Ncube, noted that the DSWT applies to payments made to non-resident suppliers for imported digital services such as streaming platforms, online advertising, e-hailing services and other cross-border digital access services.
What do the influencers need to do?
If you are earning money from online platforms, you need to regularise your tax affairs before 30 May 2026.
That means registering with ZIMRA, declaring all income, and paying what is owed.
Those who come forward voluntarily will have penalties waived, although interest on outstanding amounts will still apply. After the deadline, however, full penalties and possible prosecution await non-compliant taxpayers.
The Madam Boss Effect
Madam Boss recently set tongues wagging when she revealed she pulls in over US$20,000 a month from Facebook alone on a good month.
Her disclosure has shone a spotlight on the growing fortunes being made by Zimbabwean content creators, from lifestyle gurus to comedy skit producers.
But tax experts say with big earnings come big responsibilities – and the tax man is now paying close attention.
The party may be over for influencers who have been treating their online earnings as tax-free income.
ZIMRA is watching. The deadline is looming. And the penalties for non-compliance are severe.
Mathew Masinge