Frequently Asked Questions

To appoint a clearing agent, visit the ZRA Customs Portal at
https://portal-customs.zra.org.zm

Select Customs Portal App, then sign in using the same credentials you use for TaxOnline.

Once successfully logged in:

1. Click on Customs Licensing.

2. On the left-hand side, under Agent Management, select Consignee Request.

3. Click Appoint Agent(s).

4. Select and appoint the agent of your choice.

Required documents typically include the commercial invoice, packing list, and any necessary permits or licenses, bill of lading for consigment transported by sea, airway bill for air cargo and road manifest for road transported cargo.

An HS Code is an international product classification code used to determine duty and tax rates for imported goods.

A tax computation is a detailed breakdown showing how customs duties and taxes are calculated on imported goods. It outlines the customs value of the goods, applicable duty rates, VAT, and any other statutory charges payable to the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA).  At Fastline Clearing and Forwarding Limited, we provide clients with a clear tax computation before goods are shipped to ensure full transparency and accurate budgeting.

Import duties and taxes in Zambia are calculated using the formula:

Duty or Tax = Value for Duty Purposes × Duty or Tax Rate

The Value for Duty Purposes (VDP) usually includes the cost of goods, insurance, and freight (CIF). Other applicable charges may also be added to this value to determine the total amount payable to the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) for imported goods.

Yes. We provide advance duty and tax estimates once we receive the invoice and product details.

Yes, we handle customs clearance at all major borders in Zambia and maintain a strategic physical presence at each border post. Our fully equipped offices are staffed by an experienced and professional workforce, whose expertise allows us to deliver high-quality and unique customs clearing services, consistently meeting and exceeding our customers’ expectations.

A Release Order is confirmation that customs formalities are complete and cargo can dispatched to the consignee.

Standard clearance may take up to 48hrs for imports and 24hrs for exports if documents are correct and there are no inspections. Sometime less than this if consignment is precleared.

We extremely encourage preclearance/preregistration of entries as this effectively save time more especially to those imports that doesn’t require customs physical verification.

Yes. We arrange delivery from port, airport, or border to your final destination.

This is tax imposed on selected goods that either have negative externalities or are considered luxury items. These include alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, selected motor vehicles, cosmetics, and similar goods.

Yes, but Specific procedures do apply where goods are temporarily exported out of Zambia to be returned. This may be for purposes such as:

• for further processing; and
•  for repair or returning in an unaltered state (For exports sent for repair on return, duty is payable based on cost of repairs).