THE Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has collected 21.20trn /- in eight-months from July 2024 to February 2025, achieving 104 percent results on the 20.42trn/- target.

Yusuf Mwenda, the TRA commissioner general, said here yesterday that this achievement is a 17 percent growth from 18.06trn/- collected in the same period during fiscal 2023/24.
 The revenue collected is an increase of 9.28trn/-, a phenomenal 78 percent increase from 11.92trn/- for July 2020 to February 2021, he said, noting that TRA have ensured timely disbursement of tax refunds.

Earlier, in the eight months from July 2020 to February 2021, tax refunds amounted to 92.37bn/-, and four years later the refunds have grown to 1.17trn/-, he said when briefing journalists on the agency’s achievements in the past four years.

Voluntary compliance has increased among taxpayers, he said, noting that year-on-year increase in revenue collection reflects achievements in various sectors of the economy during the past four years.

TRA has cooperated with business associations to build relationships and find solutions to business and tax challenges facing entrepreneurs, he said, noting that meetings with taxpayers have been held at all levels.

Large, medium and small taxpayers have been reached out in all regions to address various challenges and minimize complaints, thus strengthening cooperation between TRA and taxpayers, he stated.
 TRA has selected Thursdays to try and resolve taxpayer challenges, he said, citing turnout of taxpayers on the day to meet TRA officials in all regions to address tax inconveniences.
 TRA was similarly working with various branches of government, religious leaders and various social groups, including leaders of popular sports like soccer, even with various artists, he said.
 In the past four years, TRA took action against employees who breach ethics by firing 14 officials, demoting six others, reducing salaries for 12 staff members and issuing 22 letters of caution, he stated.
 The penalties were intended to heighten integrity among TRA officials and take legal action against the few who violate public service ethics, thus increasing efficiency in the execution of its duties, he said.
 Digital transformation has diminished the need for taxpayers to visit TRA offices to complete registration, payments and submissions, he said, pointing at an electronic submission system for PAYE (Pay-As-You-Earn), corporate tax (CIT), withholding tax (WHT), plus the skills development levy (SDL).
 An internal revenue administration system (IDRAS) started operating mid last month, while an enhancement of the customs system (TANCIS) was launched on January 20, making customs services more efficient and easier for stakeholders, he said.
 In four years, TRA filed 77 tax evasion cases in various courts and recovered the lost tax revenue, identified revenue leakage points and took appropriate action against noted offenders, increasing accountability and contributing to more government revenue, he said.
 Tax evasion tactics identified include smuggling across borders, ghost receipts for EFD, counterfeit electronic tax stamps, dumping of transit goods, abuse of tax exemptions and undervaluation of imported goods, he explained.
 A total of 135,027 applicants for 1,596 job openings that TRA recently announced have been received, with guidelines on the recruitment process expected next week, he added.