The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has collected Tsh 10.65 trillion in the first quarter of the 2026/2027 financial year, surpassing its target of Tsh 9.91 trillion by 7.49%. This represents an 18.81% increase compared to Tsh 8.96 trillion collected during the same period in the 2025/2026 financial year. The revenue authority attributed the growth to enhanced tax collection efforts and improved compliance.
In addition to its revenue collection achievements, TRA has completed investigations into 130 tax evasion cases valued at Tsh 331.15 billion. The authority managed to collect Tsh 44.74 billion from these cases. TRA emphasized its commitment to taking legal and disciplinary actions against individuals and businesses involved in tax evasion, smuggling, and other malpractices that deprive the government of revenue.
TRA has intensified its border control operations, conducting 1,185 surveillance operations to monitor the smuggling of goods. These operations resulted in the seizure of contraband worth Tsh 12.72 billion and the recovery of Tsh 5.34 billion in unpaid taxes. Furthermore, the authority inspected 47,773 cargo vehicles and containers, identifying 197 cases of fraud and collecting an additional Tsh 79.68 billion in revenue.
To enhance discipline and accountability within the authority, TRA has provided training to 1,028 staff members to improve their skills in tax law enforcement and revenue collection. The training aims to equip staff with the necessary expertise to effectively manage tax compliance and revenue collection. TRA has also taken disciplinary actions against nine staff members found to have engaged in various forms of misconduct.
In the area of tax disputes, TRA reported that it had resolved 10 cases valued at Tsh 7.78 billion that were pending in court. The authority stated that this effort aims to promote fairness in tax enforcement and create a more secure business environment for investment and trade. By resolving these disputes, TRA seeks to build trust with taxpayers and improve overall tax compliance.
TRA has reiterated its commitment to strengthening its revenue collection systems, controlling smuggling and tax evasion, and promoting accountability among its staff. The authority aims to ensure that the government receives the revenue it is entitled to, while also fostering a fair and transparent tax environment. To achieve this, TRA will continue to implement measures to prevent tax evasion and promote tax compliance.
According to TRA Commissioner General, Yusuph Juma Mwenda, the authority has made significant progress in its efforts to improve revenue collection and enforcement. He emphasized that TRA will continue to take a proactive approach to addressing tax evasion and other forms of misconduct, while also providing support to compliant taxpayers. By doing so, TRA aims to contribute to Tanzania's economic growth and development.
Key points
- TRA collected Tsh 10.65 trillion in Q1 of 2026/2027, exceeding its target by 7.49%.
- The authority completed investigations into 130 tax evasion cases valued at Tsh 331.15 billion.
- TRA has taken disciplinary actions against nine staff members found to have engaged in various forms of misconduct.
