Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) collected US$4,71 billion in the first half of 2026, beating its target by 16,14 percent as digitalisation, compliance enforcement and improved border controls boosted revenue.
The collection was also 46,73 percent higher than the US$3,21 billion recorded during the same period last year.
In Zimbabwe Gold (ZWG) terms, net revenue stood at ZWG125,06 billion, against a target of ZWG104,99 billion, representing a 19,12 percent positive variance.
Zimra Board chairman Mr Antony Mandiwanza said the authority had also expanded its tax base, registering 37,783 new taxpayers during the period.
“Zimra delivered strong H1 2026 performance, collecting USD 4.71 billion- 16.14% above target and 46.73% higher than H1 2025- while registering 37,783 new taxpayers. Progress in digitalisation, trade facilitation and border controls strengthened service delivery and compliance,” he said.
According to Zimra’s H1 2026 Key Performance Highlights, PAYE was the biggest contributor at 18 percent, followed by Corporate Income Tax at 15 percent, VAT on local sales at 14 percent and VAT on imports at 13 percent.
The four revenue heads accounted for 60 percent of total collections.
Corporate Income Tax exceeded its target by 47,77 percent, while VAT on imports was 41,20 percent above target.
Mining royalties exceeded target by 30,25 percent, Net Customs Duty by 26,93 percent and Net VAT on local sales by 22,03 percent.
Of the new taxpayers registered, 2,056 were PAYE taxpayers and 955 were VAT taxpayers, with Zimra attributing the growth partly to digital platforms.
The authority also reported improved trade facilitation, processing 258,631 Bills of Entry and registering 261,435, achieving a 98,93 percent assessment rate.
Average clearance time for local Bills of Entry stood at two hours, 11 minutes and 30 seconds.
Zimra said it scanned 73,085 high-risk cargo consignments and seized 14,881 high-risk transit trucks, while issuing 1,480 Notices of Seizure.
Digital transformation remained a major driver of the authority’s performance, with the Tax and Revenue Management System (TaRMS) project 98 percent complete and the Fiscalisation Data Management System (FDMS) 99 percent complete.
Integration between FDMS and TaRMS was reported at 100 percent.
A total of 22,679 taxpayers had been onboarded, with national onboarding reaching 92 percent, while 20,4 million fiscal invoices were processed.
Zimra said all 16 banks had also been integrated for payments.
The authority paid ZWG7,48 billion in refunds, representing 5,64 percent of gross collections of ZWG132,53 billion.Cumulative debt as at June 30 stood at ZWG9,47 billion and US$1,26 billion.
Zimra said compliance enforcement accounted for 78,2 percent of the excess revenue, with other gains attributed to TaRMS and FDMS visibility, staff focus and debt control.
