By Ruth Chayinda
The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has set an ambitious target to collect K185 billion in taxes for the 2026 fiscal year.
ZRA Commissioner General Dingani Banda revealed that the largest contributor to the projected revenue will be Value Added Tax (VAT), expected to generate K54.4 billion, followed by Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) and company tax.
Speaking at a symposium on the 2026 national budget, Mr. Banda stated that Zambia’s tax-to-GDP ratio is projected to rise to 20%, up from the current average of 18.3%.
He also highlighted that the revenue contribution to the national budget has steadily increased—from 55% in 2020 to 71.7% in 2025, and is expected to reach 73.1% in 2026.
With Zambia’s economic growth forecasted at 6.4%, Mr. Banda expressed optimism that this momentum will positively impact tax revenue mobilization, enabling the government to meet its development goals.
ZNBC