Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has collected taxes amounting to 3.778 trillion/- between July and October, this year, translating to 97.6 per cent of the collection target of 3.872 trillion/- during the period.
The Commissioner General (CG) of TRA, Mr Rished Bade, told journalists that the authority was set to intensify tax collections countrywide to keep up with the pace and directives of President John Magufuli.
During the current fiscal year, the tax collector is tasked to raise 12.3tri/- for the Treasury coffers to implement recurrent and development projects countrywide. According to Mr Bade, a total of 849.5bn/- was collected in July against the target of 854.9bn/-, equivalent to 99.4 per cent.
In August, TRA surpassed the goal by 101.5 per cent after it managed to raise 890.5bn/-, up from the target of 876.9bn/-. “In September, a total of 1.067tri/- was realised, representing 91.7 per cent of 1.163tri/- which was set as a target for the month,” the chief taxman said during the news conference.
There was a slight slump in October as 970.08bn/- was collected against the target of 976.44bn/- and this means that 99.3 per cent of revenues targeted for the month was collected. “The trend of revenue collections was approved by the TRA’s board of directors during a meeting held on November 10, this year,” he explained.
Mr Bade attributed the achievement on improved tax collections to deliberate strategies by the authority including signing of performance contracts between the CG and the Minister for Finance.
“Performance contracts were as well entered between the CG and heads of departments who also tasked their subordinates to sign the documents which specify targets to be met by all employees,” he stated.
He called upon all tax payers to comply with the laws and regulations of the land by voluntarily remitting taxes to the authority. In another development, the TRA boss said he expected no further scuffles between the government and traders in regard to the use of Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFDs) in collecting taxes.
“The special committee between traders and TRA is finalising talks on the issue to enable smooth operation of the exercise,” he explained.
Mr Bade said the authority has been working to curb tax evasion by some unscrupulous traders using illegal routes to import commodities.
He mentioned Bagamoyo in Coast Region as among areas where cases of smuggling are rampant through unofficial ports, stressing that the authority has its eyes ‘wide-open’ to nab dishonest traders.
Culled from Daily News
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