Zimbabwe Mandates Fiscal Device Upgrade for Buyer Detail Transmission

Zimbabwe's tax authority ZIMRA now requires all VAT-registered businesses to upgrade their fiscal devices by May 31, 2025, to ensure buyer details are transmitted to the Fiscalization Data Management System (FDMS). Only compliant invoices bearing buyer information and a verifiable QR code will be accepted for input tax claims, with non-compliance potentially triggering audits.

 

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has issued a directive requiring all registered operators under the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act [Chapter 23:12] to upgrade their fiscal devices to ensure buyer details are mandatorily transmitted to the Fiscalization Data Management System (FDMS). The deadline for compliance is set for May 31, 2025.

The upgrade is essential for registered businesses to accurately capture and transmit buyer details during transactions. This includes the buyer’s name, address, Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), contact details, and VAT registration number (if applicable). Businesses whose fiscal devices do not currently support this function must urgently coordinate with approved suppliers to rectify the issue.

To confirm compliance, operators must review fiscal tax invoices, debit notes, or credit notes to ensure transmitted details are accurately reflected on the FDMS validation portal. Documents must bear a verifiable QR code that can be authenticated via a QR code scanner or through the ZIMRA FDMS portal.

The commissioner has affirmed that input tax claims will only be permitted on fiscalized tax invoices that comply with Section 20(4) of the VAT Act. Non-compliant invoices may be subject to audits to validate their accuracy.

ZIMRA urges all registered operators to complete the necessary upgrades before the deadline and regularly verify transactions via the FDMS portal to ensure uninterrupted compliance. For further details, businesses can visit the FDMS Validation Portal.