Practical guide

How to connect Zemam to Egyptian e-invoicing (ETA)

E-invoicing isn't just a legal obligation — it's a step that has to be done right the first time. That's why Zemam has broken it down into simple steps: you'll be able to test everything before the real submission, and issue your first invoice with confidence and no problems.

Before we start... just get 3 things ready

  • Activate your account on the ETA e-invoicing system via the Egyptian Tax Authority portal.
  • Keep the connection credentials ready: a Client ID and Client Secret from your taxpayer control panel.
  • The e-signature certificate (ITIDA token), for when you move to production.

The steps — from first setup... to your first accepted invoice

  1. 1

    Open the e-invoicing settings

    All the connection settings live on a single screen inside Zemam. From the very first moment, you'll see a readiness indicator that tells you exactly what's done and what's still missing before you can submit.

    Readiness: 71%Item codes (12)UoM mappings (3)
    Readiness: 100%All requirements complete — e-invoicing documents can be created
    The readiness bar mid-setup — telling you exactly what's missing
  2. 2

    Start with the test environment

    Test everything in Zemam at your own pace, without anything being registered officially — because Zemam supports two environments: a test environment and a production environment.

  3. 3

    Enter your company's details

    Enter your company's basic details — the tax registration number, the establishment name, and the activity code. You can search for the activity code by name, and Zemam pulls it directly from the Tax Authority's directory. Then enter your establishment's address exactly as officially registered, to make sure the data matches.

  4. 4

    Branch codes

    Enter each branch's Tax Authority code once in Zemam, and it will be used automatically on every invoice issued from that branch — ensuring accurate data and avoiding errors during submission.

  5. 5

    Map your items (the most important step)

    Enter all your items and make sure each one is linked to a GS1 or EGS code. In Zemam, you can generate EGS codes automatically with a single click.

    Chips hot 50g

    SKU-1042

    EGS
    EG-100200300-SKU-1042

    Mineral water 1.5L

    SKU-1043

    GS1
    6221031954023

    Imported coffee 250g

    SKU-1044

    EGS
    EGS
    Item mapping — the EGS button generates the code in one click
  6. 6

    Map your units of measure

    Whether you work in pieces, kilos, cartons, or other units, Zemam maps each one to its code approved by the Tax Authority.

  7. 7

    Credentials from the taxpayer control panel

    Here you'll add the connection credentials from your taxpayer control panel on the Egyptian Tax Authority website (Client ID, Client Secret), and Zemam will test the connection and tell you whether it's working before you send anything.

    Client ID *

    4f8a1c2e-••••-••••-a9d3

    Client Secret *

    ••••••••••••••••
    Test connection Connection successful
    Portal credentials + the test-connection button
  8. 8

    Try your first invoice

    Confirm and send your first invoice, and Zemam will show you the Tax Authority's response — accepted or rejected — along with the rejection reason, so you can easily identify the problem and fix it.

    INV-000041Invoice
    Validated by ETA
    INV-000042Invoice
    Submitted — validating
    INV-000040Credit note
    Rejected (fixable)

    Customer “Al-Nour Co.” is a business but has no tax ID

    The Submissions tab — each document's status, with rejection reasons in Arabic
  9. 9

    Move to production

    Once the testing phase is done, it's time to sign with your e-signature certificate (ITIDA token). Zemam connects to it directly from your device — safer, since the token stays with you.

  10. 10

    Enable auto-submit and relax

    Enable “auto-submit on confirm” — a feature Zemam gives you so that every time you confirm an invoice, it automatically joins the submission queue on its own. If there's a sales return, a credit note linked to the original invoice appears automatically.

Why is connecting from Zemam so convenient?

A complete notification system that alerts you whenever any operation is completed inside the system.

Live, real-time status for every document, with rejection reasons shown clearly.

More secure, since your e-signature certificate stays with you.

Frequently asked questions

Is the data in the system the same as what's sent to the Tax Authority?

Yes. Zemam's accounting is built on Egyptian VAT from the ground up (tax after discount), and every invoice goes out to the authority with exactly the same numbers as in your books. There's no “one version for the authority and one for the system”.

What about end-consumer (B2C) invoices?

Zemam applies the EGP 25,000 threshold automatically — when an invoice reaches it, it asks for the buyer's national ID before submission, per the authority's requirements.

Want someone to walk you through the setup, step by step?

Talk to us and we'll help you connect your establishment — from the Egyptian Tax Authority portal to your first accepted invoice.

Note: the platform's requirements and deadlines are updated by the Tax Authority from time to time — always check the authority's latest decisions or consult your accountant.