Compliance Deadline: 24 April 2026

Live Compliance StatusZanzibar Tourism

Track real-time compliance of PMS suppliers and hotels with Zanzibar Revenue Authority requirements.

Deadline Passed
Deadline Reached

24 April 2026, 23:59:59 EAT

All PMS suppliers and properties must be compliant before this deadline.

What This Portal Does

A single source of truth for hospitality compliance

This portal provides independent, transparent tracking of compliance with the Zanzibar Revenue Authority's mandatory system integration requirements for the hospitality sector.

Independent Monitoring

We independently track and verify compliance status for all regulated hospitality entities against ZRA system integration requirements.

Public Compliance Registry

A transparent, publicly accessible registry listing every PMS vendor and hospitality operator with their current compliance status.

Legislative Guidance

Access the relevant laws, regulations, official notices, and ZRA guidance documents in one organised, easy-to-navigate location.

Media & Updates

Stay informed with the latest compliance deadline announcements, regulatory updates, and enforcement actions published by ZRA.

Who Must Comply

Five regulated hospitality sectors

ZRA's compliance requirements apply across five distinct sectors of the Zanzibar hospitality industry. Each has specific obligations under the applicable legislation.

PMS Suppliers

Property Management System vendors must register as taxpayers and integrate with both the ZAN Gateway and VFMS.

Registry Live

Hotels

Licensed hotels must register with ZRA and operate exclusively on ZRA-approved PMS systems before the deadline.

Registry Live

Short-Term Rentals

Operators of short-term rental accommodation must register and connect to ZRA-approved booking systems.

Coming Soon

Online Travel Agents

OTAs facilitating Zanzibar bookings must integrate with ZRA reporting systems and fulfil withholding tax obligations.

Coming Soon

Tour & Travel Agents

Licensed agents must register with ZRA and ensure all commission income is properly reported through approved systems.

Coming Soon

About This Platform

This platform provides independent monitoring of PMS suppliers and hospitality compliance based on available data. Compliance status is assessed against publicly known ZRA registration and integration requirements. For official requirements, refer to the Zanzibar Revenue Authority.

Compliance Registry

Compliance Registry

Live registry of PMS vendors, hotels, and other hospitality operators with their current ZRA compliance status.

Live data

Overview

Total Suppliers

15

Compliant

1

Non-Compliant

14

Compliance Rate

7%

1 of 15 vendors fully compliant

PMS Vendor Compliance Registry

Supplier compliance is required for hotels to operate legally. A hotel using a non-compliant PMS is itself at risk of enforcement action.

PMS Vendor ZRA Compliance

1 fully compliant with ZRA · 14 not yet compliant · 15 vendors tracked

ZRA Taxpayer Reg.ZAN Gateway IntegrationVFMS Integration
HotelOnlineCompliantYesYesYesView
CloudbedsNon-CompliantNoNoNoView
ECHONon-CompliantNoNoNoView
FortuneNextNon-CompliantNoNoNoView
HotelogixNon-CompliantNoNoNoView
IDS NextNon-CompliantYesNoNoView
NightsbridgeNon-CompliantNoNoNoView
NovacomNon-CompliantYesNoYesView
OdisNon-CompliantNoNoYesView
PesapalNon-CompliantYesNoNoView
ProfitroomsNon-CompliantNoNoNoView
ProtelNon-CompliantYesNoYesView
ResrequestNon-CompliantNoNoNoView
WintechNon-CompliantNoNoNoView
Yanolja Cloud SolutionNon-CompliantYesNoYesView
Showing 15 of 15 tracked vendors

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Under the Tax Administration and Procedures Act (No. 7 of 2009, revised 2025), consequences vary based on the nature of non-compliance. All three scenarios carry serious legal and commercial risk.

Risk: Extreme

Not Registered & Not Integrated with VFMS or ZAN Gateway

Most severe violation — illegal operation from day one

Illegal Operation

Operating without tax registration is a direct breach of the Tax Administration and Procedures Act. Fine: 100,000–500,000 TZS, or 2–12 months imprisonment, or both.

Forced Registration & Backdated Tax Exposure

ZRA can register the company automatically (deemed registration), estimate taxes using best judgment, and issue large retroactive tax bills with interest and penalties.

Business Licence Becomes Invalid

Without tax clearance no valid business licence can be issued, and any existing licence may be rendered invalid — the company cannot legally operate.

Full Enforcement After Deadline

The public notice explicitly states that failure to comply within 60 days will trigger audits, investigations, financial penalties, operational shutdown, and possible prosecution.

Market Rejection

Hotels are required to use compliant systems. Non-compliant suppliers face immediate loss of clients, severe reputational damage, and a high risk of commercial collapse.

Risk: Very High

Registered & Integrated with VFMS, But Not with ZAN Gateway

Partial integration — ZAN Gateway is a separate mandatory requirement

ZAN Gateway Integration is a Distinct Legal Obligation

VFMS integration and ZAN Gateway connectivity are separate requirements under the directive. Operating without ZAN Gateway integration is itself a criminal offence regardless of VFMS status.

Transaction Data Incomplete

ZAN Gateway is the central revenue reporting channel. Without it, booking and payment data does not reach ZRA in the required format, leaving the supplier and its hotel clients exposed to underreporting liability.

Severe Penalties Apply

Minimum fine of 10,000,000 TZS, or at least 2 years imprisonment for failing to meet all integration requirements — even where partial integration exists.

Hotels Inherit the Compliance Gap

Hotels using a PMS that is not fully connected to ZAN Gateway are themselves non-compliant. They will be forced to switch suppliers to eliminate their own legal exposure.

Approval Status at Risk

ZRA can revoke approved supplier status for incomplete integration. Removal from the approved list triggers immediate commercial loss across all hotel clients.

Risk: Very High

Registered & Integrated with ZAN Gateway, But Not with VFMS

One integration missing — VFMS is still a hard requirement

VFMS Integration is Mandatory

The Visitor Fiscal Management System (VFMS) is a core ZRA requirement for all PMS suppliers. ZAN Gateway integration does not substitute for VFMS connectivity — both are required independently.

Severe Penalties for Non-Integration

Minimum fine of 10,000,000 TZS, or at least 2 years imprisonment. This penalty applies even where the supplier is registered and connected to ZAN Gateway.

Visitor Levy Collection Compromised

Without VFMS integration, visitor levy data cannot be properly captured or verified by ZRA. This creates direct levy underreporting exposure for both the PMS supplier and its hotel clients.

Suspension or Revocation of Registration

ZRA has the authority to suspend or revoke a taxpayer's registration for failure to meet integration requirements, stripping the supplier of its legal right to operate.

Client Attrition Risk

Hotels with their own compliance obligations will not wait for a supplier to complete VFMS integration under enforcement pressure. Client churn accelerates sharply once ZRA begins inspections.

Legal basis: Tax Administration and Procedures Act, No. 7 of 2009 (revised 2025). Enforcement is expected to follow a structured approach post-deadline: compliance checks, notices, financial penalties, system audits, suspension or shutdown, and legal prosecution in serious cases.

Legislation

Laws, Regulations & Guidance

All applicable legislation and official guidance documents governing ZRA hospitality compliance obligations.

Notice2026-02-24

Mandatory Registration and System Integration of Property Management Systems (PMS) with ZRA

ZRA Notice

Official ZRA notice requiring all hotels, accommodation providers, and property operators to mandatorily register and integrate their Property Management Systems (PMS) with ZRA systems for tax compliance and revenue monitoring.

View official document

Notice2025-08-29

Legal Obligation to Register Business and Integrate ICT Systems with Zanzibar Revenue Authority (ZRA) Systems

ZRA Public Notice

Official ZRA public notice outlining the legal obligation for businesses to register and integrate their ICT systems with Zanzibar Revenue Authority (ZRA) systems. Includes a downloadable PDF with full details.

View official document

Act2022

Zanzibar Revenue Authority Act

Act No. 11 of 2022

Establishes and reconstitutes the Zanzibar Revenue Authority, defining its mandate, governance structure, powers of enforcement, and administration of all revenue laws in Zanzibar.

View official document

Act2009

Tax Administration and Procedures Act

Act No. 7 of 2009 (Consolidated 2025)

Governs the administration and procedures for all taxes in Zanzibar, including taxpayer registration, filing obligations, assessments, objections, appeals, enforcement powers, and penalties applicable to hospitality operators and PMS vendors.

View official document

Notice 2026-03-26

Compliance Guidelines for Hotels, Accommodation Providers, and Online Travel Agencies (OTAs)

ZRA Compliance Guidelines

Official ZRA compliance guidelines outlining tax obligations, registration requirements, and system integration rules for hotels, accommodation providers, and online travel agencies (OTAs) operating in Zanzibar.

View official document

Note: The above documents are provided for informational purposes. For official copies and legally binding versions, contact the Zanzibar Revenue Authority directly.
Updates

Latest News & Announcements

Compliance deadline updates, enforcement actions, and regulatory changes affecting the Zanzibar hospitality sector.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common questions about ZRA hospitality compliance requirements.

The mandatory compliance deadline is 24 April 2026 at 23:59:59 EAT. After this date, ZRA will commence enforcement actions against non-compliant entities, which may include removal from approved supplier lists, tax assessments, penalties, and in serious cases, referral for further regulatory action.