ZIMRA fiscalisation,
made simple.
A plain-English guide for store owners: from requesting your test device to making test sales, closing the day and going live with ZIMRA.
What is fiscalisation?
When a sale is fiscalised, it is sent to ZIMRA over the internet the moment it is made. ZIMRA sends back a verification code, and MiniPOS prints that code on the receipt together with a QR code. Your customer can scan the QR code to confirm the receipt is genuine.
Your journey, step by step
- Request test details from ZIMRA. Your store connects to ZIMRA directly as an in-house, server-to-server user, so there is no supplier involved. Email ZIMRA with your business name, TIN, VAT number (if registered) and contact person, and ask for a test device and the new device registration datasheet.
- Complete the datasheet. Fill in one row for your device: your TIN, business name, trade location and contact details. Leave the serial number blank, because ZIMRA assigns it. Use Model name: Server and Supplier: Self (Server to Server).
- Register the test device. ZIMRA replies with your serial number, Device ID and activation key. In MiniPOS go to Settings, Tax (ZIMRA), Fiscalisation, tap Register ZIMRA device and set Environment to Test.
- Add products and make test sales. Give each product a ZIMRA tax class (standard rated, zero rated or exempt) and an HS code, then run the test scenarios ZIMRA asks for.
- Test credit and debit notes. Void a sale to send a credit note, or issue a debit note when a customer must pay more on an invoice already issued.
- Close the day with a Z report. Close the fiscal day every day. ZIMRA does not allow a fiscal day to stay open longer than 24 hours.
- Tell ZIMRA and get approved. Email ZIMRA that testing is complete and ask for approval to go live, with your Device ID, test dates, receipt numbers and photos of the receipts and Z report.
- Go live. Remove the test device, register the live device with Environment set to Live, and make one small live sale to check the receipt.
Credit notes and debit notes
| Note | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Credit note | To cancel a sale. Go to Reports, tap the sale, tap Void and enter a reason. Stock is restored. A sale can only be voided once. |
| Debit note | When a customer must pay more, for example a delivery fee or a price correction. Only one debit note is allowed per invoice, and a sale with a debit note cannot be voided. |
X reports and Z reports
| X report | Z report | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A snapshot of the day so far | The official end-of-day report |
| Closes the day? | No, read-only | Yes, it closes the fiscal day |
| When | Any time, such as a shift change | Once at the end of every trading day |
HS codes
An HS code is the international number that classifies a product, and ZIMRA expects one on each item. Use 8 digits where you can, and 4 digits are accepted. Set a real code on every goods product, and do not rely on the default services code for goods. The tax class depends on the law and not on the HS code, so confirm it with ZIMRA or your accountant.
Certificate renewal
Your device has a ZIMRA certificate that expires. MiniPOS shows the expiry date and warns you 30 days before. Renew before it expires, because an expired certificate cannot be renewed and you would need a new activation key from ZIMRA.
Download the full guide
The complete guide includes the email template for ZIMRA, the datasheet columns, a table of common HS headings and a list of error messages with what to do.
Open the ZIMRA Fiscalisation Guide (PDF)
Common questions
Do I need a fiscal device to fiscalise sales with MiniPOS?
No. MiniPOS connects to ZIMRA directly as an in-house, server-to-server solution, so no physical fiscal device is needed.
Can I test before going live?
Yes. You first register a test device in Test mode. Nothing you do in Test affects real tax records.
What happens if the internet drops while I am selling?
If ZIMRA cannot be reached, the sale is blocked and nothing is saved. Check your internet and try again.
How often must I close the fiscal day?
Every day. ZIMRA does not allow a fiscal day to stay open longer than 24 hours.
Where do I get help?
Email [email protected] and we will guide you through every step.
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