On the morning of 10th July, 2025, Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Zambia (CCCZ) and Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) successfully convened a high-level tax coordination meeting at the ZRA Headquarters in Lusaka. In attendance were over 20 participants, including the Assistant Commissioner of ZRA, Director of Taxpayer Services and Training, Project Lead for Smart Invoice System, CAMCO Group Chairman and CCCZ President Mr. Li Tie, CCCZ Secretary-General Mr. Shen Yaolin, and representatives from member enterprises of the Chamber. The meeting focused on in-depth discussions around the implementation of Smart Invoice System, communication on tax policies, and the establishment of a tax-enterprise cooperation mechanism, leading to the achievement of several important consensus points.
Deepening Cooperation for Tax Compliance
During the meeting, ZRA officials provided a detailed update on the operational status of the Smart Invoice System. Since its pilot launch in 2023, the number of registered enterprises has grown from an initial 31 to 18,867 by 2025, covering the majority of the 21,876 taxpayers nationwide. The ZRA Smart Invoice Coordinator stated that the system has significantly improved tax collection and management efficiency, enhanced data transparency and compliance, but there are still technical issues such as insufficient usage rates in certain sectors and the need to optimize system response speed. ZRA pledged to collaborate with technical service providers to continuously optimize system functionality and improve user experience.
Representatives from CCCZ member units raised specific operational challenges and policy misunderstandings encountered by Chinese enterprises in using the Smart Invoice System, while also providing constructive suggestions on import tariffs, VAT tax refunds, and compliance procedures for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. ZRA relevant officials responded to the concerns on-site, pledging to enhance policy interpretation and targeted guidance to ensure consistency and transparency in tax policy implementation.
Establishing Long-Term Mechanisms to Improve Business Environment
The meeting achieved significant results, and both parties agreed to:
1. Sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): Finalize the text within 30 days, and execute the signing under the witness of the ZRA Commissioner, establishing a regular cooperation mechanism.
2. Form a Joint Liaison Committee: Dedicated to addressing tax-related issues faced by Chinese enterprises, and hold regular meetings to promptly resolve business concerns.
3. Strengthen Tax Training and Publicity: Utilize the Chamber as a platform, conduct multilingual tax training programs to improve compliance capabilities among Chinese enterprises.
4. Optimize Feedback Channels: Establish an efficient and confidential grievance system to ensure targeted resolutions of enterprise issues.
CCCZ President Mr. Li Tie stated, "Chinese enterprises operating in Zambia have always adhered to local laws and regulations while actively fulfilling their tax obligations. This meeting has built a crucial bridge for dialogue between the tax authorities and businesses. We are willing to work hand in hand with the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to foster a fairer and more transparent business environment." In response, a ZRA official noted that the Authority highly values the contributions of Chinese enterprises to Zambia's economy. In the future, it will further strengthen communication and collaboration to support enterprises in achieving better development on a compliant basis.
This meeting marks a new stage of institutionalized and pragmatic cooperation between Zambia's tax authorities and Chinese enterprises. It will provide clearer policy guidance and more convenient tax services for Chinese enterprises operating in Zambia, further promoting the optimization of Zambia's investment environment and sustainable economic development.
