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Value Added Tax, (VAT Act No. 7 of 2005)
Malawi Revenue Authorityxxxxxxx
Under S 7(2) VAT is charged on supply of goods and services where the supply is taxable supply and made by a taxable person in the course of his or he business.
A taxable person is a person required for VAT under section 11.
Under S 7(1)
The Act provides for two different rates namely:
The goods and service in Section 21 of the VAT Act and in the Second Schedule of the same act can be exported, shipped, manufactured or imported at the rate of zero.
The list of zero rate is as follows:
1. Export of taxable goods and services
2. Goods shipped as stores on aircraft and vessels leaving the territory of Malawi.
3. Pharmaceutical Products and Medical Services
Zero rating covers pharmaceutical products under Customs Tariff Headings 3001.10.00 to
3006.60.00.
4. Fertilizers
Zero rating covers fertilizers under Customs Tariff Headings 3101.00.00 to 3105.90.00.
5. Sheath Contraceptives (Condoms)
Zero rating covers condoms under Customs Tariff Heading 4014.10.00.
The goods and services in Section 20 of the VAT Act and in the First Schedule of the same act can be imported, produced or provided without surtax.
The exempted list is as follows:
1. Live animals
Exemption covers live animals under Customs Tariff Headings 0102.10.00 to 0106.00.00
2. Animal products
Exemption covers –
a. meat and edible meat offals in raw form under Customs Tariff Headings 0201.10.00 to
0210.90.00.
b. fish and crustaceans molluses and other acquatic invertebrates under Customs Tariff Headings
0301.91.00 to 0307.99.00.
c. dairy produce birds eggs, natural honey, edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere
specified or included under Customs Tariff Headings 0401.10.00, 0401.20.00, 0401.30.00,
0407.00.10 to 0407.00.90 and 0409.00.00 and
d. products of animals origin not elsewhere specified or included under Customs Tariff Headings
0501.00.00 to 0511.99.00.
3. Vegetable products in raw state
Exemption covers-
a. live trees and other plants, bulbs, roots and the like under Customs Tariff Headings 0601.10.00
to 0602.40.00, but excluding cut flowers and ornamental foliage under Customs Tariff Headings
0603.10.00 to 0604.99.00.
b. edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers under Customs Tariff Headings 0701.10.00 to
0714.90.00.
c. edible fruit and nuts, peel of citrus fruits or melons under Customs Tariff Headings 0801.11.00 to
0805.90.00, 0807.11.00 to 0807.20.00, and 0809.10.00 to o814.00.00.
d. coffee and tea under Customs Tariff Headings 0901.11.00, 0901.12.00, 0902.10.00 and
0902.20.00
e. cereals under Customs Tariff Headings 1001.10.00 to 1008.90.00.
f. products of the milling industry, malt starches, inulin and wheat glutten under Customs Tariff
Headings 1102.10.00 to 1107.20.00;
g. oil seeds and oleaginous fruit, miscellaneous grains seeds and fruit, industrial or medicinal plants,
straw and folder under Customs Tariff Headings 1201.00.00 to 1214.90.00, but excluding
products under Customs Tariff Headings 1208.10.00, 1208.90.00 and 12.10.10.00 to
1210.20.00.
4. WaterExemption covers non-mineral or aerated water without additives (tap of well) under Customs Tariff Heading 2201.90.00
5. Residues and waste from food industriesExemption covers residues and waste under Customs Tariff Headings 2301.10.00 to 2301.20.00 and 2304.00.00 to 2306.90.00
6. Petroleum productsExemption covers petroleum oils under Customs Tariff Headings 2710.00.11 to 2710.00.20 and 2710.00.41 to 2710.00.50.
7. Miscellaneous chemical products
Exemption covers insecticides, fungicides and herbicides under Customs Tariff Headings 3808.10.00 to 3808.90.00.
8. Printed Matter – books and newspapers
Exemption covers printed books and newspapers under Customs Tariff Headings 4901.10.00 to 4903.00.00, 4905.10.00 to 4905.99.00, and 4907.00.90
9. Other Furnishing Articles
Exemption covers mosquito and sand-fly nets under Customs Tariff Headings 6304.91.10, 6304.92.10, 6304.93.10 and 6304.99.10
10. Coin
Exemption covers “other coins” under Customs Tariff Heading 7118.90.00.
11. Mechanical appliances (whether or not hand-operated) for projecting, dispersing or spraying liquids or powders.
Exemption covers pumps for agricultural or horticultural use and mechanical appliances under Customs Tariff Headings 8413.20.00, 8413.81.10 and 8413.82.10 to 8424.81.00.
12. Vehicles, other than railway, trainway rolling stockExemption covers tractors, ambulances and goods carrying vehicles under Customs Tariff Headings 8701.10.00 to 8701.90.00, 8703.90.20.
13. Medical Equipment
Exemption covers optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking instruments and apparatus under Customs Tariff Headings 9001.10.00 to 9001.40.90, 9001.50.10, 9001.90.10 to 9001.90.20, 9002.19.10, 9004.90.10 and 9018.11.000 to 9023.00.00.
14. Educational services
15. Banking and Insurance services
16. Postal services
17. Funeral services
Exemption includes provision of vehicles, coffins, wreaths and tombstones.
18. Transport of exports.
Exemption covers petroleum oils under Customs Tariff Headings 2710.00.11 to 2710.00.20 and 2710.00.41 to 2710.00.50.
7. Miscellaneous chemical products
Exemption covers insecticides, fungicides and herbicides under Customs Tariff Headings 3808.10.00 to 3808.90.00.
8. Printed Matter – books and newspapers
Exemption covers printed books and newspapers under Customs Tariff Headings 4901.10.00 to 4903.00.00, 4905.10.00 to 4905.99.00, and 4907.00.90
9. Other Furnishing Articles
Exemption covers mosquito and sand-fly nets under Customs Tariff Headings 6304.91.10, 6304.92.10, 6304.93.10 and 6304.99.10
10. Coin
Exemption covers “other coins” under Customs Tariff Heading 7118.90.00.
11. Mechanical appliances (whether or not hand-operated) for projecting, dispersing or spraying liquids or powders.
Exemption covers pumps for agricultural or horticultural use and mechanical appliances under Customs Tariff Headings 8413.20.00, 8413.81.10 and 8413.82.10 to 8424.81.00.
12. Vehicles, other than railway, trainway rolling stock
Exemption covers tractors, ambulances and goods carrying vehicles under Customs Tariff Headings 8701.10.00 to 8701.90.00, 8703.90.20.
13. Medical EquipmentExemption covers optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking instruments and apparatus under Customs Tariff Headings 9001.10.00 to 9001.40.90, 9001.50.10, 9001.90.10 to 9001.90.20, 9002.19.10, 9004.90.10 and 9018.11.000 to 9023.00.00.
14. Educational services
15. Banking and Insurance services
16. Postal services
17. Funeral services
Exemption includes provision of vehicles, coffins, wreaths and tombstones.
18. Transport of exports.