All Value Added Tax (VAT) registered operators in category “C” liable to record transactions electronically in terms of section 78 of the VAT Act and have not yet done so are reminded to do so immediately as this is now overdue.

The effective date of recording transactions electronically was moved from 1^st October 2010 to 1^st January 2011 to give registered operators enough time to acquire the required registers and devices.

1. Type of Registers and Devices to be Used

All registered retail operators under category “C” shall record taxable transactions by using:

• a fiscalised electronic register;  or
• a non-fiscalised electronic register together with a fiscal memory device

All other category “C” registered operators who are not retail operators shall use:

• an electronic signature device; or
• a fiscalised electronic register; or
• a non-fiscalised electronic register together with a fiscal memory device

The fiscalised electronic registers and fiscal memory devices should be acquired from approved suppliers only.

2. Approved Suppliers of Fiscalised Electronic Registers and Devices

Please note that according to the amended regulations, the Ministry of Finance is responsible for the approval of prospective suppliers of fiscalised electronic registers or other devices. All prospective suppliers of fiscalised electronic registers and fiscal memory devices shall apply in writing to the Ministry of Finance on Form FTR 2.

The following suppliers have so far been approved for purposes of supplying the fiscalised electronic registers and fiscal memory devices.

3. Rebate of Duty on Fiscalised Electronic Registers

A rebate of duty shall be granted on the importation of approved fiscalised electronic registers and fiscal memory devices. This rebate is available to approved suppliers with effect from 01 August 2010.

4. Installation of the Machines

The fiscalised electronic registers and devices will be installed by the approved suppliers who will also train their clients on the machines’ usage.

5. Recovery of Cost for Fiscalised Electronic Register and Devices

50% of the cost of acquisition of the fiscalised electronic registers and devices may be claimable as input tax credit against output tax.

6. VAT on the Supply of Fiscalised Devices

The VAT regulations were amended with effect from 1^st December 2010 to zero rate the supply of fiscalised electronic registers and fiscal memory devices.

7. General Guidance

For specific details concerning fiscalised electronic registers and devices, kindly call the approved suppliers.

For specific details pertaining to applications to be considered as a supplier of fiscalised electronic registers, inspection of your prototype devices and approval as a supplier of these devices, kindly contact the Ministry of Finance.

For specific ZIMRA related issues, please contact your nearest ZIMRA office or send an e-mail to the Legal and Corporate Services Division on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .