ZRA TPIN Registration in Zambia — Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

What Is a ZRA TPIN?

A Taxpayer Identification Number (TPIN) is a unique 10-digit number issued by the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to every individual and entity that has tax obligations in Zambia. It is the foundational registration that all other tax types — PAYE, VAT, income tax, turnover tax — are built on.

You cannot do business in Zambia without a TPIN. It is required for:

• Registering a company with PACRA
• Opening a business bank account
• Filing any tax return with ZRA
• Clearing goods through Zambia Customs
• Obtaining a Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC)
• Receiving payments from government contracts
• Importing or exporting goods

Individual TPIN vs Company TPIN

ZRA issues two types of TPIN:

Important: A sole trader uses their individual TPIN for business. A limited liability company requires a separate corporate TPIN, even if it has the same owner.

Already have a TPIN but can’t find it? Do not register a second one; duplicate TPINs cause bank KYC and Tax Clearance Certificate problems later. Use our ZRA TPIN search using NRC guide to retrieve it in a few minutes.

Registering a company? The company TPIN is one step in a chain: PACRA incorporation, TPIN, bank account, then PAYE, VAT, NAPSA and NHIMA. M&J completes the whole chain as a single engagement for local and foreign-owned businesses. See our company registration service and the guide for foreign investors.

Documents Required

For Individuals (Zambian Citizens)

• National Registration Card (NRC) — both sides
• Proof of residential address (utility bill, lease agreement, or bank statement — less than 3 months old)

For Individuals (Foreign Nationals)

• Valid passport (bio-data page)
• Zambian immigration permit or work permit (if applicable)
• Proof of residential address in Zambia

For Companies

• PACRA Certificate of Incorporation
• Company registration form (Form 3) showing directors
• NRC or passport for all directors
• Proof of registered office address
• Articles of Association

For NGOs / Non-Profits

• PACRA registration certificate
• NGO Board registration certificate (if applicable)
• Constitution or founding document
• NRC or passport for trustees/directors

Step-by-Step: Online TPIN Registration

Step 1: Access the ZRA Tax Online Portal

Go to the ZRA Tax Online system from the official ZRA website (zra.org.zm). If you don’t have an account, click “Register” to create one. You will need a valid email address and phone number.

Registering on your phone: Tax Online is a website, so the steps below are identical in a mobile browser such as Chrome. Use Wi-Fi rather than mobile data for the document upload step, and have your documents already saved on the phone as PDF or JPG before you start, because the session times out if you leave it idle. If the portal hangs or your login fails, see our ZRA portal guide for the common fixes.

Step 2: Log In and Select Registration

After logging in, navigate to Taxpayer Registration in the main menu. Select “New TPIN Registration”.

Step 3: Choose Taxpayer Type

Select the type of taxpayer:

• Individual — for personal TPIN
• Non-Individual — for companies, partnerships, trusts, NGOs

Step 4: Complete the Registration Form

Fill in all required fields:

For individuals:

• Full name (as it appears on NRC/passport)
• Date of birth
• NRC number or passport number
• Residential address
• Contact details (phone, email)
• Source of income (employment, business, rental, etc.)

For companies:

• Company name (as registered with PACRA)
• PACRA registration number
• Date of incorporation
• Registered office address
• Business activity description
• Director details (names, NRC/passport numbers)
• Estimated annual turnover

Step 5: Upload Supporting Documents

Upload scanned copies of all required documents. Accepted formats are PDF, JPG, or PNG. Each file should be under 5MB.

Step 6: Submit and Await Approval

Review your application and click Submit. ZRA will review your application and supporting documents. You will receive an SMS and email notification when your TPIN is approved.

Processing time: 1–3 business days for online applications.

Step 7: Download Your TPIN Certificate

Once approved, log into the portal, navigate to My Registrations, and download your TPIN certificate. This document confirms your TPIN number and registered tax types.

Already Registered? How to Find a Forgotten TPIN

If you have registered before but cannot remember your TPIN, do not apply again. The quickest route is the TPIN search on the Tax Online portal, which needs no login: enter your NRC number (individuals) or PACRA registration number (companies) and the portal returns the TPIN. Any ZRA office can also look it up on presentation of your NRC or passport.

Every method, including searching a company TPIN and downloading the TPIN certificate PDF, is covered in our dedicated ZRA TPIN search using NRC guide.

TPIN for Foreign Nationals

Foreign nationals can obtain a TPIN in Zambia. The process is identical to the individual registration, with these differences:

• Use your passport number instead of NRC
• You may need to provide a Zambian immigration permit or letter from your employer
• If registering for business purposes, a PACRA company registration for your entity is required first
• Foreign company branches must register with PACRA before applying for a corporate TPIN

Note for investors: If you are establishing a company in Zambia as a foreign national, the typical sequence is: PACRA registration first → corporate TPIN → bank account → PAYE/VAT registration. M&J handles this entire sequence as part of our company registration service.

After TPIN: What to Register Next

Getting your TPIN is step one. Depending on your business, you will also need to register for:

All of these registrations require your TPIN number. See our PAYE Rates Guide for the complete 2026 tax band breakdown.