ZRA TPIN: How to Register, Search by NRC and Download Your Certificate

Need a TPIN for a job, a bank account or a tender? You can apply online to the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) in about ten minutes, and it costs nothing. If you think you already have one, look it up with your NRC first, because a second TPIN causes problems later.

Below: how to search for your TPIN, how to register for a new one, and how to download your TPIN certificate. Steps checked against ZRA's website in October 2026.

What is a TPIN and who needs one?

A TPIN (Taxpayer Identification Number) is the number ZRA uses to identify you for every tax. It stays the same for life, so you only ever need one.

You'll be asked for it when you:

• start a job, so your employer can deduct PAYE in Zambia in your name
• open a business bank account or register a business with PACRA
• apply for a ZRA tax clearance certificate, supply a government office or bid for a tender
• import goods, clear a vehicle at customs or register for Smart Invoice

Companies, partnerships, NGOs, churches and clubs need their own TPIN, separate from the owner's personal one.

How to check your TPIN using your NRC

Many people already have a TPIN from a past job or a bank account and don't know it. Check before you register.

1. Type zra.org.zm into your browser yourself. Don't use a link from WhatsApp or Facebook; fake ZRA pages circulate.
2. Under Registrations, open Taxpayer Search. It's free and you don't need to log in.
3. Enter your NRC number with its slashes, like 123456/78/1. You can also search by TPIN, taxpayer name or business registration number.
4. Press Search Taxpayer. If a TPIN exists, the result shows the TPIN, the name it's registered in, the registration date, its status and the taxes it covers.

If nothing comes up, try the search with your name. If that's empty too, you don't have a TPIN yet, and you can register for one.

Don't register twice. A second TPIN in your name leads to trouble with bank checks and tax clearance later. If the search finds your old TPIN but you've lost the login, ask ZRA to reset it rather than starting again.

How to register for a TPIN online (individuals)

Have a clear photo or scan of your NRC (both sides) ready before you start. It's the only document ZRA's registration FAQ asks individuals for. The portal logs you out if you leave it idle, so don't stop halfway to find documents.

1. Go to zra.org.zm and click Get a TPIN under Registrations. This opens ZRA TaxOnline.
2. Type the captcha code and click Proceed.
3. Choose your taxpayer type: Individual for yourself, or Non-Individual for a company or organisation.
4. Fill in your details exactly as they appear on your NRC: names, date of birth and NRC number. Add your address, phone number and email address.
5. Say why you're registering, for example employment or a small business.
6. Upload your NRC copy and submit.
7. Wait for ZRA to approve it. Your TPIN and login details come by SMS and email, so use a phone number and email address you check.

Foreign nationals register the same way with a passport instead of an NRC.

Registering a business

How a business gets its TPIN depends on when and how it was registered, according to ZRA's business registration requirements:

If you're starting a small business under your own name, our guide to PACRA business name registration covers that step and its fees.

How to download your TPIN certificate

Your TPIN certificate is the PDF that shows your TPIN, name and registration date. Banks, employers and tender committees often ask for it.

1. Log in to ZRA TaxOnline with your TPIN and password.
2. Open your registration details from the menu.
3. Download the TPIN certificate and save it as a PDF.
4. Keep a copy in your email or cloud storage, so you can send it from your phone.

If you can't log in, use Forgot Your Password? on the login page. It sends a reset to the phone or email ZRA has for you. If those details are old, take your NRC to any ZRA office. Staff can update them, look up your TPIN and print the certificate.

TPIN online or at a ZRA office?

ZRA's head office is on Kalambo Road in Lusaka, and there are offices in the other provincial towns. The call centre on 4111 can tell you which is nearest.

Mistakes that cause TPIN problems

• Paying someone to register you. Registration, searches and certificates are all free from ZRA. Anyone charging you for a TPIN is selling something you can do yourself in ten minutes.
• A name that doesn't match your NRC. Use the exact spelling and order on your NRC. A mismatch can stop your bank or employer from verifying you.
• An email or number you'll lose. Your login and password resets go there. Using a friend's email or a cyber café's address locks you out later.
• Registering again because you forgot. Search by NRC first. Two TPINs make tax clearance harder.
• Fake ZRA links. Type the address yourself. ZRA won't ask for your password by SMS, WhatsApp or phone.

Once you have your TPIN, you can earn and file properly: see what NAPSA lets you withdraw early, or, if you sell to businesses, how ZRA Smart Invoice works.

Frequently asked questions

How many digits is a TPIN in Zambia?

Ten. A TPIN is a 10-digit number, and it's different from your NRC number. You'll see it on your TPIN certificate, on payslips where your employer deducts PAYE, and in the Taxpayer Search result.

Can I get a TPIN on my phone?

Yes. The ZRA TaxOnline website works in a phone browser, and ZRA also has a mobile app. You'll need a photo of your NRC to upload. Use Wi-Fi or a stable connection, because the portal times out if the upload stalls.

How much does a TPIN cost in Zambia?

Nothing. Registering for a TPIN, searching for it and downloading the certificate are free online and at ZRA offices.

How long does it take to get a TPIN?

Online registrations are usually approved within a few working days, and the TPIN arrives by SMS and email. At a ZRA office with your original NRC, it's often done the same day.

I registered a company with PACRA. Do I still need to apply?

Not if it was registered from 2020 onwards. ZRA creates the company TPIN when PACRA registration is complete and sends the login details to the company's email. Log in to finish the registration. Companies registered before 2020 need to visit a ZRA office.

Can I find someone else's TPIN?

You can confirm whether a person or business is registered by searching ZRA's Taxpayer Search by name or business registration number. Suppliers use this to check a TPIN on an invoice is real.