Zambia Revenue Authority expands digital tax payment push, explicitly covering betting and gaming levies

ZRA is urging taxpayers—including licensed gambling operators—to use official e-payment channels such as TaxOnline, TaxOnApp and TaxOnPhone to settle obligations like betting excise duty and gaming-related presumptive taxes without relying on cash payments.

Zambia’s Revenue Authority (ZRA) has stepped up its campaign encouraging taxpayers to move to official digital payment channels, with messaging that also targets the gambling sector—where operators now face multiple, closely monitored levies. In an awareness drive highlighted this week, ZRA pointed to a mix of online and mobile options intended to reduce queues, cut cash handling, and improve traceability of payments.

The channels promoted include ZRA’s TaxOnline portal, mobile-first services such as TaxOnApp and TaxOnPhone (USSD), and other electronic routes tied to payment reference workflows. For gambling businesses, TaxOnline is also positioned as part of the compliance infrastructure, with ZRA’s portal supporting “Games and Betting Tax” registration flows alongside other tax types.

ZRA’s renewed push comes as the betting industry continues adjusting to higher tax friction. The authority has defended the legality of the 10% excise duty on betting stakes, noting that the Constitutional Court dismissed an attempt by operators to stop collection. Alongside excise duty, ZRA guidance on presumptive taxes for betting and gaming sets recurring monthly compliance requirements, reinforcing the need for streamlined, auditable payment processes.

On top of tax administration changes, Zambia also entered 2026 with a dedicated betting levy framework in force, adding another layer to reporting and payment discipline across the sector. The direction of travel is clear: more formalised collections, more digital rails, and less room for informal settlement methods.

For operators, the practical takeaway is that tax compliance is increasingly becoming a systems issue rather than a back-office afterthought: aligning internal reporting cycles with ZRA’s payment references and official channels can reduce friction, improve reconciliation, and limit exposure to penalties as enforcement tightens.