Zambia: ZRA TaxOnline, Smart Invoice, the Government Service Bus and ZamPortal
- Tax portal
- ZRA TaxOnline 1
- Payment reference
- Payment registration number (PRN), expires after 7 days if unused 1
- Payment channels
- ZRA cash offices, participating banks and Airtel Money 1
- E-invoicing
- Smart Invoice, in effect from 1 July 2024 4
- Services portal
- ZamPortal on the Government Service Bus 2
ZRA TaxOnline and the payment registration number
ZRA says a return "can be filed manually at any ZRA tax office or electronically through the TaxOnline Web portal" 1. To register for a taxpayer identification number, applicants complete a ZRA form and submit it with supporting documents 1.
To pay, the taxpayer gets a payment registration number (PRN), which ZRA describes as "a unique reference number you get from TaxOnline system either from the cash office or the web portal" 1. A PRN expires after 7 days if unused 1. ZRA says "Payments can be made at the nearest ZRA cash offices or through participating commercial banks or through Airtel Money" 1. Taxpayers can pay by e-Payment, which means instructing their bank to debit their account and credit the ZRA account 1.
Smart Invoice
Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane rolled out Smart Invoice on 19 March 2024, and it took effect on 1 July 2024, as reported by Bumba Mulenga of Zambia Monitor 4. ZRA Commissioner-General Dingani Banda said 12,415 taxpayers had been onboarded as at 4 July 2024 4. He said 195,438 invoices worth K7.2 billion had been sent through the system, carrying K416.8 million in tax 4. Banda said Zambia's tax-to-GDP ratio has been below 20 percent 4.
Government Service Bus and ZamPortal
ZamPortal says the Government Service Bus is a national platform that "digitally integrates all government institutions, departments, and agencies" 2. ZamPortal was deployed by the Electronic Government Division, SMART Zambia Institute 2. On 11 September 2024 the portal listed 322 services and reported, citing director Beaton Sibulowa, over 3.7 million transactions and K5 billion generated since inception 2.
ITWeb Africa reported on 10 July 2026 that the Government Service Bus, the Government Electronic Payment Gateway and ZamPortal had collected more than K8.8 billion, about US$488 million 3. More than 400 services are onboarded, including passport applications, rent and road tax. Eight councils are on the platform and the plan is to reach all 116 3. Daniel Mwewa of the Ministry of Finance and National Planning said "The continued growth in collections and usage demonstrates increasing public confidence in digital service delivery" 3.
The two reported totals cover different dates and the 2024 figure is attributed to ZamPortal alone 2,3.
Revenue context and unremitted non-tax revenue
The Presidential Delivery Unit says the 2026 Budget projects K206.5 billion in domestic revenue, with digitalisation named as one driver 6. It lists the Ministry of Finance and National Planning as lead, with ZRA and Smart Zambia among the bodies supporting the work 6.
An Accountant-General report showed K1,078,158,586.39 in non-tax revenue outstanding as of June 2024, an amount identified in the Auditor General's report, as reported by Bumba Mulenga of Zambia Monitor on 16 October 2024 5. Minister Musokotwane said "the government will publish details of all organizations and individuals who are owing" 5.
Common questions
How do I pay ZRA taxes?
Generate a PRN on TaxOnline or at a ZRA cash office, then pay at a ZRA cash office, a participating bank or through Airtel Money 1.
How long is a ZRA PRN valid?
A PRN expires after 7 days if it is not used 1.
What is ZamPortal?
A government services portal on the Government Service Bus, deployed by the SMART Zambia Institute e-government division 2.
When did Smart Invoice take effect?
Smart Invoice took effect on 1 July 2024 after a launch on 19 March 2024 4.
How much has Zambia collected through its digital government platforms?
More than K8.8 billion by July 2026, according to the Ministry of Finance as reported by ITWeb Africa 3.
Rules and fees change. Check the official site linked above before you apply or pay. Spotted an error? Email [email protected] with the official link.
Sources
- Zambia Revenue Authority: Frequently asked questions
- ZamPortal: Director Sibulowa introduces the GSB (11 September 2024)
- ITWeb Africa, Arnold Mulenga: Digital services strengthen Zambia finances (10 July 2026)
- Zambia Monitor, Bumba Mulenga: ZRA claims over K7 billion transmitted through new Smart Invoice system (10 July 2024)
- Zambia Monitor, Bumba Mulenga: Govt targets K1 billion in unremitted non-tax revenue, sets October deadline (16 October 2024)
- Presidential Delivery Unit, Zambia: Revenue collection, progress for 2026
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