THE Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has announced plans to reach out to religious leaders across the country for a special tax education engagement.

Yusuph Mwenda, the TRA commissioner general, stated this intention at a meeting with Mufti Abubakar Zubeir, the chief sheikh, when he paid a courtesy call at his offices in Dar es Salaami yesterday. 

This engagement will help them educate their congregants about the importance of paying taxes, he said, with the two leaders agreeing on voluntary compliance with tax obligations.

Tax funds constitute the foundation for all development activities, he asserted, noting that they also agreed to collaborate in promoting voluntary compliance and education. 

The revenue czar praised the chief sheikh for efforts in educating his followers on tax matters and ensuring their compliance, through various institutions.

He said that although the Muslim Council of Tanzania is a religious institution, it carries out activities that require it to pay taxes. 

"What we are doing for BAKWATA, we will extend to other institutions,’ he said, underlining that paying taxes is similar to an act of faith, thus religious institutions should encourage tax payment. 

Denominational followers have a responsibility to pay taxes, he said, insisting that TRA will be fair to everyone—those who should pay taxes will do so, and those who should not will not be pressured, he declared. 

TRA believes that using religious platforms to spread tax education to communities will have a positive impact, as religious leaders have large audiences who listen to them, he said. 

"The benefits of taxes are numerous. Today, people receive medical treatment thanks to taxes, children are educated through taxes and the country's development is driven by taxes," he emphasised. 

To achieve this educational goal, a team of experts from TRA and the council will develop a strategic plan and start implementing it when finalised, he said. 

TRA will collaborate with BAKWATA to ensure that tax payment education reaches a large number of Muslims by working closely with their leaders across the country, he said. 

Mufti Zubeir expressed satisfaction with the TRA CEO for seeking out the council, to discuss strategies to expand the scope of tax payments.

It is vital for TRA to provide education to religious leaders as this would better equip them to inform their congregants about tax matters, he added.