For any small business owner in Zimbabwe registered for Value Added Tax (VAT), the word “fiscalisation” has likely become a source of considerable stress. The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) is actively enforcing compliance, requiring businesses to issue official fiscal invoices. Failure to comply can result in significant daily penalties, putting immense pressure on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Traditionally, meeting these requirements has been an expensive and complicated affair. It often involves purchasing specialised hardware like fiscal printers, which can cost upwards of US$500, and hiring IT consultants for another US$250 or more just to connect your systems to ZIMRA’s. For a small shop or a budding entrepreneur, these upfront costs are often prohibitive.

However, a locally developed solution is offering a radically different approach. A Bulawayo-based platform called RoundIHMP is providing a complete, cloud-based virtual fiscalisation service for just US$10 per month. It promises to make ZIMRA compliance accessible, affordable, and straightforward, without the need for any special hardware or technical expertise.

What is Fiscalisation and Why Does it Matter?

Before we look at the solution, it is important to understand the problem. What exactly is a fiscalised invoice?

In simple terms, it is more than just a standard receipt. A fiscalised invoice is a secure, digital record of a transaction that is registered directly with ZIMRA in real-time. To be compliant, each invoice or receipt must contain three key elements:

1. A QR Code: A scannable square code that contains the transaction details.
2. A ZIMRA Verification Code: A unique code generated by ZIMRA’s system to confirm the transaction has been recorded.
3. A Digital Signature: This ensures the invoice is authentic and has not been tampered with.

This system allows ZIMRA to have a complete and transparent view of all sales made by a VAT-registered company, drastically reducing tax evasion. As we have discussed before in our guide to navigating business regulations in Zimbabwe, staying on the right side of the tax authority is crucial for long-term survival. The challenge for most has not been the will to comply, but the means.

How RoundIHMP Works: A Virtual Fiscal Device

RoundIHMP—short for Round Internal Hub Management Portal—is a Software as a Service (SaaS) platform. This means it is a fully online system that you access through your web browser, much like you would access your email. There is no software to install and no special hardware to buy.

The platform connects directly to ZIMRA’s Fiscal Device Gateway using what is known as an Application Programming Interface (API). This is a secure channel that allows RoundIHMP to communicate with ZIMRA’s servers instantly.

When a business owner creates an invoice on the platform, RoundIHMP automatically sends the details to ZIMRA, receives the necessary verification codes and digital signature, and embeds them into the final document along with a QR code. The business can then print the compliant invoice or send it to the customer via email or WhatsApp.

The core features include:

• ZIMRA-Compliant Invoicing: Generate fiscal invoices, receipts, credit notes, and debit notes that meet all legal requirements.
• Automated Reporting: Generate daily and monthly sales reports, which can be downloaded in PDF or CSV formats. These reports break down sales by payment type (cash, mobile money, card) and show the total VAT collected, simplifying bookkeeping and tax returns.
• Multi-User Access: Business owners can create separate login accounts for their staff, allowing employees to issue invoices or run reports without sharing sensitive credentials.
• Accessibility: Because it is web-based, you can manage your business from any internet-connected device, whether it is a smartphone, tablet, or laptop.

A Solution Born from Personal Experience

One of the most compelling aspects of RoundIHMP is its origin story. It was not created by a large corporation, but by Thamsanqa Bhala, a self-taught developer and former small business owner. A trained electrician by profession, Bhala became frustrated with the tools available to him while running a children’s publication company.

I was supplying retail stores and from own personal experience of carrying around five different books… and me failing to manage my business properly because I did not have the necessary tools,” Bhala explained. He found established accounting software like Pastel to be expensive and overly complex for the needs of a small operation.

Driven by this frustration, he taught himself to code using online resources and began building a tool to solve his own problems. The platform grew organically, with features added based on the needs of other entrepreneurs. The fiscalisation module was launched more recently in response to ZIMRA’s compliance drive, and it has quickly become the platform’s main attraction.

The Real Value: Cost and Simplicity

The primary appeal of RoundIHMP lies in its clear value proposition. For a flat fee of US$10 per month (billed as US$30 quarterly), a business gains access to a full fiscalisation system.

Let us compare the two approaches:

Feature	Traditional Fiscalisation	RoundIHMP (Virtual Fiscalisation)
Upfront Cost	US$750+ (Hardware + Consultant)	US$0
Monthly Cost	Varies (Maintenance, Support)	US$10 (All-inclusive)
Hardware Needed	Fiscal Printer / Device	None (Uses any computer/phone)
Setup Time	Days or weeks	Within 12-24 hours
Technical Skill	Requires professional installation	None (Designed for ease of use)

This model effectively removes the financial and technical barriers that have kept many small businesses from becoming compliant.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Do I need to buy any special hardware or a fiscal printer?
No. RoundIHMP is a completely cloud-based system. You can access it and issue fiscal documents from any device with an internet browser, such as your existing smartphone, laptop, or tablet. You only need a regular printer if you wish to provide physical copies of invoices.

2. Is the system difficult to set up and use?
The platform is designed for users who are not technology experts. The sign-up process is straightforward, and your account can be ready for issuing fiscal documents within 24 hours. The interface is user-friendly and focuses on core functions like creating invoices and generating reports.

3. The platform seems to be run by a small team. Is my business data secure and is the service stable?
This is a valid concern for any business relying on a third-party service. Since RoundIHMP is cloud-based, your data is not stored on your local computer, protecting it from hardware failure or theft. Furthermore, because every fiscal transaction is registered with ZIMRA, the tax authority itself holds a secure, official record of all your sales, providing an inherent backup. The founder’s business model is focused on sustainable, practical growth rather than high-risk ventures.

4. Can my employees use the system at the same time?
Yes. The platform supports multi-user access, which is included in the monthly fee. You can create separate accounts for your team members so they can log in and perform their duties from different locations simultaneously.

5. What happens when ZIMRA changes its requirements?
Because RoundIHMP is a centralised cloud service, any updates required to maintain compliance with ZIMRA’s regulations are handled by the platform’s developer. These updates are rolled out automatically to all users at no extra cost, ensuring your business remains compliant.

Conclusion

For too long, when it came to fiscalisation, the cost and complexity of compliance have placed an unfair burden on the smallest players in the economy. RoundIHMP appears to be a practical, no-frills solution to this very real problem. It offers a pathway to full ZIMRA compliance that is not only affordable but also simple to adopt. For any VAT-registered SME currently struggling with the high costs of traditional fiscal devices, this US$10-a-month service is certainly an option worth serious consideration. It demonstrates that with the right approach, compliance does not have to be a barrier to business growth.