ZIMBABWEANS have told the government they are overtaxing them, with a new survey showing that about nine out of 10 citizens say the tax burden no longer matches their ability to pay. The call comes ahead of the 2026 National Budget presentation this week.
In a Zimbabwe Tax Perception Survey 2025, conducted by Zimbabwe Taxpayers Platform (Zitap), half of those surveyed found the tax filing process under the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) to be difficult.
They said taxes continue to rise even as the government’s transparency remains weak.
The survey notes that citizens want fewer and lower taxes overall, arguing that high tax rates and the proliferation of levies are stifling disposable incomes and business growth.
More than half of those surveyed believe formal businesses shoulder the heaviest tax burden, while nearly eight in 10 say informal traders evade tax, leaving compliant taxpayers feeling unfairly targeted.
“The survey reveals that, matching previous findings from the Afrobarometer in 2021, many Zimbabweans generally agree that the government must tax citizens to provide public goods and services, and with it, also expect more transparency and accountability in public finance management. The majority reported that tax compliance is difficult and think that ‘just a few’ others are tax compliant,” Zitap said.
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Respondents said the quantum and rates of taxes were too high in Zimbabwe. They prefer paying fewer and lower taxes, arguing that with more transparency and accountability within government, the necessary public
services would be sufficiently funded.”
Zitap said while the majority, 58%, fully support the government’s right to collect taxes, more than half, 54%, of the respondents find tax filing in Zimbabwe either somewhat not easy or not easy at all.
Taxpayers have long pointed to a growing list of taxes, fees and levies they said have deepened the sense of over-taxation. They say the government has become more aggressive in revenue collection efforts, which do not cater to the informal sector.
Their frustration is heightened by an economy where 76,1% of activity is informal. However, the government targets over US$7 billion in tax from the 23,9% formal sector, increasing pressure on tax-compliant firms.
Some of the taxes include pay as you earn, value added tax and Intermediated Money Transfer Tax, heavy business compliance costs and sector-specific charges.
“Individual tax burden: A super majority, almost nine out of ten people (88%) of respondents say the tax burden does not match their ability to pay; Tax burden distribution: More than half (53%) say that formal businesses pay more taxes than other groups, while slightly below half (46%) think that ordinary people pay more taxes. Only one out of 10 people (1%) thinks that informal traders pay more taxes,” Zitap said.
“Tax evasion: The majority, almost eight out of 10 people (79%), say that informal traders evade taxes more than other groups; Social/political bias in tax administration: The majority, almost eight out of ten people (78%), believe one’s social or political status influences the amount of taxes they pay.”
The reduction of taxes is one of the key areas taxpayers will be looking to in the upcoming 2026 National Budget expected on Thursday.
The survey supports this, as the majority, almost six out of 10 respondents, concur that the lowering of taxes is the “main” tax reform needed.
However, Zitap said eight out of 10 respondents reported that it was difficult to influence taxation laws or policies, with 46% of respondents having attended budget consultations.
“Public knowledge of revenue use: The majority, almost nine out of 10 (88%), say citizens have very little information about how public revenue is used; Government fiscal transparency: The majority, six out of ten people (60%), indicate that the government exercises very little transparency with public finance,” Zitap said.
“Revenue monitoring: A similar six in ten people (60%) say it is difficult to monitor public expenditure; Tax revenue use: Almost seven out of ten (69%) say the government does not use public revenue responsibly.”