A Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) is issued by the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to confirm you are in good standing with all your tax obligations. You will need one for government tenders, licence renewals, work or residence permits, and many bank loans [Administered under the tax Acts by ZRA].
Before you apply, make sure you are eligible: all your tax returns (Income Tax, PAYE, VAT, Turnover Tax as applicable) must be filed, all payments must be made, and your TPIN must be active with current details. The most common reason applications fail is an unfiled return or unpaid balance, so file even a nil return if you have no income.
To apply online, go to TaxOnline at portal.zra.org.zm, log in, and navigate to e-Services, then Tax Clearance Certificate application. Select the tax types you want included, complete the questionnaire, upload any requested documents (such as proof of filed returns and payment, or financial statements if asked), and tick the declaration box. Once approved, you can download your certificate. Confirm whether any fee applies by checking the official ZRA portal.
Your certificate is valid for one calendar year, so renew it before it expires.