When you send money using your EcoCash USD wallet, the cost is a mix of a private service fee and a mandatory government tax.

For a Registered Customer, sending any amount between $5.00 and $500 attracts a total fee of 3.30%. This is made up of a 1.30% EcoCash Tariff and a 2% IMT Tax. If you send less than $5.00, the transaction is cheaper because the 2% IMT Tax is waived, leaving you with just the 1.30% EcoCash fee.

For Cash-Out (Withdrawals), there is a flat 1.70% fee, but no government tax applies to this step. Cash-In (Deposits) remain completely free. If you are Unregistered, you will face a much higher flat fee of 5% for any transfer of $5 or more.

What Mthuli Ncube Said (2026 Budget Context) In his recent budget presentations and ministerial statements, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube defended these digital taxes using three main arguments:

Capturing the Informal Sector: The Minister has consistently stated that the 2% IMT Tax is the most effective way for the government to collect revenue from the "shadow economy." Since many people do not pay formal income tax, the transaction tax ensures everyone contributes to the national purse.

The New 15% Digital Service Tax (DST): As of January 1, 2026, a new 15% withholding tax was introduced on foreign digital services. Minister Ncube explained that this targets "escaped revenue" from giants like Netflix, Starlink, and Amazon. He argued that local companies are taxed heavily while foreign ones previously operated tax-free, creating "unfair competition" for Zimbabwean businesses.

Revenue Mobilization vs. Digital Growth: While acknowledging that these taxes are a burden, the Minister maintained that they are vital for "fiscal sustainability" and funding national infrastructure. He has pushed back against claims of "double taxation," suggesting that the taxes are necessary to modernize the economy and reduce the budget deficit.

Pro-Tip for Saving Because the 2% IMT Tax only kicks in at $5.00, sending $4.99 or less is technically much cheaper than sending exactly $5.00. Additionally, paying for ZESA, Airtime, or EcoSure remains zero-rated, meaning you pay $0.00 in fees and taxes for those specific services.