Calculate the total cost of importing a vehicle or goods into Zimbabwe. Includes ZIMRA duty, surtax, VAT and all levies.
When you import goods into Zimbabwe, ZIMRA (Zimbabwe Revenue Authority) charges several layers of tax based on the CIF value — which is the Cost of the goods + Insurance + Freight to the port of entry (usually Beitbridge, Forbes, or Harare Airport).
The total landing cost is calculated as follows:
Duty on vehicles varies by engine capacity, fuel type, and vehicle age. Below are the standard rates for common categories:
| Engine Size | Duty Rate | Surtax Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 cc | 40% | 20% |
| 1,501 – 2,000 cc | 40% | 25% |
| 2,001 – 2,500 cc | 40% | 25% |
| 2,501 – 3,000 cc | 40% | 30% |
| Over 3,000 cc | 60% | 35% |
| Engine Size | Carbon Tax (USD) |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 cc | $150 |
| 1,501 – 2,000 cc | $250 |
| 2,001 – 2,500 cc | $350 |
| 2,501 – 3,000 cc | $500 |
| Over 3,000 cc | $750 |
| Category | Typical Duty | Typical Surtax |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics (phones, laptops) | 25% | 10% |
| Clothing & Textiles | 40% | 15% |
| Furniture & Household | 40% | 10% |
| Food & Beverages | 25% | 10% |
| Machinery & Equipment | 0–15% | 0–10% |
| Cosmetics & Personal Care | 40% | 15% |
| Building Materials | 15% | 10% |
| Vehicle Spare Parts | 40% | 20% |
If you're bringing goods into Zimbabwe for personal use (not for resale), ZIMRA allows a duty-free rebate of up to $300 USD per person per trip. Goods above this threshold are subject to duty at the applicable rates.
For a full list of duty rates by product category, see our ZIMRA duty rates 2026 reference page.
It depends on the engine size and CIF value. For example, a 2,000cc diesel car with a CIF of $5,000 would pay approximately $3,488 in total duties (40% duty + 25% surtax + 15.5% VAT + $250 carbon tax), making the total landing cost around $8,488. See worked examples for popular car models or read our complete guide to importing from Japan.
CIF stands for Cost, Insurance, and Freight. It's the total value of the goods at the point of entry into Zimbabwe — including the purchase price, shipping costs, and insurance.
Yes, but vehicles older than 10 years may face additional scrutiny from ZIMRA and require a roadworthiness certificate. Duty rates may also be applied on a ZIMRA-assessed value rather than your declared CIF if it appears too low.
Yes, ZIMRA allows a personal rebate of up to $300 USD per person per trip for goods brought in for personal use. Anything above $300 is subject to duty at the applicable rates.
Yes, electric and hybrid vehicles typically receive a duty concession of about 50% off the standard rate to encourage adoption of cleaner vehicles.
ZIMRA uses the transaction value (what you actually paid) plus insurance and freight. However, they can apply a "ZIMRA value" if they determine the declared value is unreasonably low compared to market prices.