Fiscal Day and Z-Report in Plain English
Published · Last checked 18 October 2026 · 4 min read
If you fiscalise, two terms come up every day: the fiscal day and the Z-report. They sound technical, but the idea is the same as cashing up at closing time. Here is what they mean and how to make closing smooth.
What is a fiscal day?
A fiscal day is one trading session on a fiscal device. It opens when you start trading and closes when you finish. Every receipt, credit note and debit note issued in between belongs to that day.
Each till (each registered fiscal device) has its own fiscal day. A shop with three tills closes three fiscal days.
ZIMRA sets a maximum length for each fiscal day on your device. The till must warn you a few hours before that limit and stop issuing receipts once it is reached, so close the day in time.
What is a Z-report?
The Z-report is the summary produced when you close the fiscal day. Think of it as the till's end-of-day statement to ZIMRA. It typically shows:
- Total sales for the day, split by VAT rate (standard, zero-rated, exempt)
- The VAT on those sales
- Totals of credit notes and debit notes
- Totals by payment method (cash, card, EcoCash and others) and by currency
- The number of documents issued
Once the day is closed and the Z-report is produced, that day's numbers are locked.
Why ZIMRA cares
ZIMRA's system checks the Z-report against the individual receipts it received. The day will not close if receipts are missing, if any receipt has a major error, or if the totals don't match. A day that won't close is an early warning that something did not reach ZIMRA correctly.
ZIMRA also expects you to prepare daily, monthly and annual reports of sales and VAT, and to keep your records for six years.
A simple end-of-day routine
- Finish all sales and any refunds for the day on the till.
- Check for unsent receipts. If the internet was down, make sure the queued receipts have gone through.
- Count the cash in each currency and compare with the till's totals.
- Close the fiscal day and let the Z-report generate.
- Check the Z-report against your cash-up. Note and explain any difference.
- File it. Keep the Z-report digitally or on paper with the day's cash-up sheet.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Day won't close | Receipts not yet sent to ZIMRA | Restore the connection, let queued receipts send, try again |
| Z-report total differs from cash | Unrecorded refund or a sale rung up wrong | Issue the missing credit note; never adjust the cash to match |
| Forgot to close yesterday | Staff left without closing | Close it first thing; set a daily reminder |
| VAT on Z-report looks wrong | Wrong VAT rate on some products | Fix the product setup (standard rate is 15.5% in 2026) |
| Still stuck after fixes | A problem the till cannot correct itself | Your device supplier or a ZIMRA officer can close the day manually; contact them |
How TaxComply helps
TaxComply closes each till's fiscal day for you, shows the Z-report next to the cash-up, and warns you before closing if any receipt has not reached ZIMRA. Businesses across Zimbabwe use it to close every till cleanly, every night. Get started at taxcomply.co.zw or email sales@taxcomply.co.zw to talk to our team.
Related: Power cut or no network: what to do
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to close the fiscal day if I made no sales?
You only open a fiscal day when you trade. If you did open one, close it.
What is the difference between an X-report and a Z-report?
On many tills, an X-report is a mid-day snapshot that does not close anything. The Z-report closes the day.
How long must I keep Z-reports?
Keep your fiscal records, including Z-reports, for six years.
Close every till cleanly
Fiscal days closed for you, Z-reports beside the cash-up, and a warning before anything is missed.