As SafariBookings partners with tour operators around the world, we are required to comply with the tax regulations of the countries where our operators are based. Besides this, many governments have introduced rules for nonresident digital service providers, which we are required to adhere to.
This means that, in some countries, we are legally required to collect and remit taxes such as VAT and/or digital service levies. These taxes are paid in full to the respective tax authorities by SafariBookings. In each case, our Partnership Agreement allows us to pass on any applicable local taxes by including them in our invoices.
Our goal is to ensure transparency, protect our operators, and maintain full compliance with local laws. To support you, we provide country-specific information explaining:
Which taxes SafariBookings is required to pay in your country.
How these taxes affect our invoices to you.
What actions you can take to minimize any potential negative impact on your business.
Below, you’ll find details for each country where local tax regulations apply. Other countries may be subject to tax regulations in the future. You will be notified accordingly in such cases.
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Tanzanian tax laws
Tanzanian tour operators with a yearly turnover of over 200 million Tanzanian Shillings are subject to VAT by the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA).
For Zanzibar, tour operators with an annual turnover of over 100 million Tanzanian shillings are subject to VAT registration with the Zanzibar Revenue Authority (ZRA).
However, in certain situations, it is possible to voluntarily register for VAT, even if your turnover is below this threshold. Please contact the TRA/ZRA or your tax advisor to discuss the best options for your business.
How this affects our invoices to you
Reverse VAT applies. This means that SafariBookings does not charge VAT for Tanzanian operators, but rather you are responsible for accounting for VAT with the TRA.
However, all tour operators with a head office in Tanzania are required to have a VAT registration to be able to add funds on SafariBookings. This includes a digital copy of your VAT Certificate (example), VAT Registration Number (VRN), and Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN).
How to add your VAT details
1. From your Dashboard, click the 'Billing' tab.
2. Choose the 'Billing Profile' tab.
3. Scroll down until you find the heading, 'Value Added Tax (VAT)'.
4. Input your TIN and VRN numbers in the spaces provided.
5. Upload a copy of your VAT certificate.
The details will then be verified (this may take up to a few days) after which you can continue doing business on SafariBookings. -
Kenyan tax laws
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) requires nonresident digital service providers, such as SafariBookings, to collect VAT & SEP tax and then pay both taxes directly to the KRA. Our Partnership Agreement stipulates that any local taxes SafariBookings is required to pay will be added to our charges. Please be assured that these additional tax charges are not kept by SafariBookings; they are paid in full to the KRA.
To ensure compliance with the KRA, SafariBookings adds 16% Value Added Tax (VAT) and 3% Significant Economic Presence (SEP) tax to all invoices.
How this affects our invoices to you
To help you cover most or all of these new tax costs, we automatically adjust the added marketing budget on your tour rates from 10% to 12%. This adjustment is designed to pass the cost of these taxes on to the traveler, minimizing the financial impact on your business.
Here is how it works with a practical example:
- Your tour rate: $2,000pp
- 12% marketing budget: + $240pp (10% to cover marketing costs and 2% to cover tax costs)
- New selling rate on SafariBookings: $2,240When travelers book this tour, the additional $240 revenue is yours to keep. It will cover most or all of SafariBookings’ advertising costs (approx. $200 in this example) plus the KRA taxes on those costs (approx. $40).
If your business is able to reclaim VAT or if you prefer not to pass these costs on to travelers, you can opt out of this feature by emailing us at support@safaribookings.com. -
South African tax laws
To comply with South African Revenue Service (SARS) regulations, all South African tour operators are required to provide a valid VAT registration number in order for their company to use the SafariBookings advertising services.
We understand that some operators may not yet meet the mandatory ZAR 1 million yearly turnover threshold for VAT registration. If this applies to you, please be aware that you have the option to voluntarily register for a VAT registration number with SARS. Taking this step now will allow you to continue your advertising efforts on our platform in the future.
How this affects our invoices to you
Reverse VAT applies. This means that SafariBookings does not charge VAT for South African operators, but rather you are responsible for accounting for VAT with SARS.
To be able to add funds on SafariBookings, all South African tour operators need to provide a valid Value Added Tax (VAT) registration number.
How to add your VAT details
1. From your Dashboard, click the 'Billing' tab.
2. Choose the 'Billing Profile' tab.
3. Scroll down until you find the heading, 'Value Added Tax (VAT)'.
4. Input your VAT number in the space provided.
These details will then be verified using SARS's database.
Ugandan tax laws
Companies in Uganda with a yearly turnover exceeding UGX 150 million Uganda Shillings (or UGX 37.5 million quarterly) are subject to VAT by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).
Voluntary registration below this amount is possible, too.
How this affects our invoices to you
Reverse VAT applies. This means that SafariBookings does not charge VAT for Ugandan operators, but rather you are responsible for accounting for VAT with the URA.
However, all tour operators with a head office in Uganda are required to have a VAT registration to be able to add funds on SafariBookings. This includes your Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) as well as a digital copy of your URA Certificate of Registration (example)
How to add your VAT details
1. From your Dashboard, click the 'Billing' tab.
2. Choose the 'Billing Profile' tab.
3. Scroll down until you find the heading, 'Value Added Tax (VAT)'.
4. Input your TIN number in the space provided.
5. Upload a copy of your VAT certificate.
The details will then be verified (this may take up to five working days), after which you can continue doing business on SafariBookings.
The details will then be verified (this may take up to five working days), after which you can continue doing business on SafariBookings.