ZIMRA Targets inDrive, Air BnBs & Other Small Taxpayers, Says “No One Will Be Left Behind”

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) is setting its sights on the digital economy with a powerful new weapon. Come 2026, a comprehensive e-commerce platform will be launched to ensure every player, from e-hailing services like inDrive to Bed and Breakfast providers, pays their fair share of tax. This major move signals a decisive shift by the taxman to formalise the fast-growing digital marketplace and capture revenue that has previously been difficult to track.

The initiative builds directly upon the recently introduced Tax and Revenue Management System (TARMS). It represents one of Zimra’s most ambitious attempts to bring the informal and digital sectors firmly into the tax net.

“No one will be left behind,” says tax boss

Speaking during the 12th Global Forum for Competent Authorities Conference in Victoria Falls on 26 September 2025, Zimra Commissioner for Domestic Taxes, Misheck Govha, laid out the authority’s plans. He stated that the digitalisation strategy is built on principles of fairness and inclusivity for all traders operating within Zimbabwe’s borders.

“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 commissioner Govha.

Commissioner Govha issued a clear warning to those operating in the informal and digital spaces, emphasising that tax compliance is a legal requirement, not a choice. He stressed that the authority intends to cast a wide net to ensure full registration.

“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 subscribed according to the laws of the country,” he said.

International operators also in the crosshairs

A key aspect of the new strategy is its reach beyond Zimbabwe’s physical borders. Commissioner Govha highlighted that robust legislative frameworks now empower Zimra to tax international operators who generate income from within the country. This ensures a level playing field for all businesses, regardless of their physical location.

“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 to 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 that.”

He revealed that the groundwork has already been laid, with several large e-commerce entities already compliant. This success paves the way for the wider enforcement that the 2026 platform will enable.

“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,” commissioner Govha confirmed.

How the new e-commerce platform will work

To ease the transition into compliance, Commissioner Govha assured the public that the new system will be accessible and user-friendly. The TARMS platform is designed for simplicity, allowing taxpayers to manage their obligations from anywhere in the world.

“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 heavily rely on collaboration with local financial institutions. By monitoring transactions through these Zimbabwean payment platforms, Zimra aims to configure its digital systems to track and account for digital earnings automatically.

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

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

The commissioner concluded with a final piece of advice for small taxpayers and new business owners, urging them to start on the right foot to avoid punitive measures.

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

“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.”