Airtel Money levies by country: the dated ledger
On Airtel, a big part of the cost — and of how it changes — is government tax, not Airtel. These levies change by budget year, so we date and source them row by row (Acts and regulators).
🇿🇲 Zambia: the levy raised on 1 January 2026
Zambia's mobile-money transaction levy comes from the Mobile Money Transaction Levy Act No. 25 of 2024 (effective 1 January 2025), then Amendment No. 22 of 2025 (effective 1 January 2026), which replaces the schedule. It is P2P-only, sender-paid, a fixed amount per band — withdrawals and merchant payments excluded.
| Band (ZMW) | Levy 2025 | Levy from 1 Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| K 0 – 150 | K 0.16 | K 0.32 |
| K 150 – 300 | K 0.20 | K 0.40 |
| K 300 – 500 | K 0.40 | K 0.80 |
| K 500 – 1,000 | K 1.00 | K 2.00 |
| K 1,000 – 3,000 | K 1.60 | K 4.00 |
| K 3,000 – 5,000 | K 2.00 | K 7.50 |
| K 5,000 – 10,000 | K 3.00 | K 8.00 |
The telling example: a K5,000 send falls in the 3,000–5,000 band → state levy K7.50 (from 2026). Airtel's own transfer fee for that band (Airtel-to-Airtel) is K3.00 (official Airtel Zambia tariff, effective 7 Sep 2024). In other words: the state levy (K7.50) EXCEEDS Airtel's own fee (K3.00).
Primary sources: Act No. 25 of 2024 and Amendment No. 22 of 2025 (zambialii.org / parliament.gov.zm, schedules read in full); official Airtel Zambia tariff poster. Verified 7 July 2026. The above-10,000 K band does not appear as printed in the amended schedule — to verify.
The rest of the ledger, dated
🇺🇬 Uganda
0.5% excise on the value of cash withdrawals (from the 2018 climb-down: the 1%-on-all-transactions became 0.5%-on-withdrawals), plus a 15% excise on the operator FEE — this is NOT VAT (Uganda's VAT is 18%). Retained in the 2026/27 budget (a proposed cut to 0.25% was dropped). Source: Excise Duty Act / Amendment 2024 (URA, parliament.go.ug).
🇹🇿 Tanzania
The 'tozo' electronic-money transaction levy applies to mobile-money transfers and withdrawals, capped at TZS 2,000 per transaction, effective 1 October 2022 (reduced from TZS 4,000). Fees also bear 18% VAT and excise historically. Source: Electronic Money Transaction Levy Regulations 2022 (tanzlii). Re-verify vs Finance Act 2025 for 2026.
🇰🇪 Kenya
15% excise on mobile-money transfer FEES (raised from 12%, Finance Act 2023, effective 1 July 2023), plus a separate 20% excise on bank→mobile transfers. Applies to Airtel Money. Source: Finance Act 2023.
🇲🇼 Malawi
New: a 0.05% levy on the sender for mobile-money transfers above K100,000, announced by the MRA (2025/26 mid-year budget, ~January 2026). No dedicated mobile-money levy existed before — verify against the primary MRA text. Source: MRA (nyasatimes, itweb) — verify.
🇳🇬 Nigeria (SmartCash)
Airtel operates in Nigeria as SmartCash PSB. The ₦50 Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) applies once to electronic transfers of at least ₦10,000 (Finance Act 2020; fintech/PSB enforcement from ~Dec 2024). Source: Finance Act 2020 / FIRS.
🌍 Rwanda, DR Congo, Gabon, Chad, Niger, Madagascar, Seychelles
No specific Airtel mobile-money levy was confirmed on these markets in this pass — so we don't assert one. The cost there is the operator fee (see the country page), with no confirmed state surcharge.
Frequently asked questions
How much did Zambia's Airtel Money levy rise?
Per the Acts (Act No. 25 of 2024, then Amendment No. 22 of 2025 effective 1 January 2026), the levy rose by band from about 2× to 3.75×: the 3,000–5,000 K band went from K2.00 to K7.50. On a K5,000 send, the K7.50 state levy exceeds Airtel's own K3.00 fee for that band.
Does Zambia's levy apply to withdrawals?
No. The Act limits it to person-to-person (P2P) transfers, paid by the sender, as a fixed amount per band. Cash withdrawals and merchant payments are NOT subject to the levy (they keep the operator fee only).
What is Uganda's mobile-money tax?
Two layers: a 0.5% excise on the VALUE of cash withdrawals (from the 2018 climb-down, when the 1%-on-all-transactions became 0.5%-on-withdrawals), plus a 15% excise on the operator FEE (this is not VAT — Uganda's VAT is 18%). Retained in the 2026/27 budget.
Why does the same Airtel Money cost differently by country?
Because the fiscal stack changes country to country — and Airtel's markets are the most volatile. A national budget can raise, cut or cap a tax from one year to the next: Zambia raised sharply in 2026, Uganda stacks withdrawal + fee, Tanzania caps at TZS 2,000. That's why we date every row.