TRA Commissioner General (CG) Alphayo Kidata told a news conference in Dar es Salaam that the increase in revenue collection was a sustainable plan of the Fifth Phase Government to exceed revenue collection target every month.
According to him, since the beginning of the 2015/2016 fiscal year in July, last year, the taxman had managed to collect 9.88tri/-, which is equal to 99 per cent against the set target of 9.98tri/- in a period of nine months.
“The increment in revenue collection is a result of powerful supervision, close followup, proper projections of tax revenue as well as sealing loop-holes for tax evaders in all ports, coastal areas of the Indian Ocean and in all borders, among other areas,’’ said the TRA chief. Since the Fifth Phase Government came to power, there has been a notable improvement in tax collection each month.
In November 2015, TRA collected 1.3tri/- after the government expressed its desire to up revenue collection figures. In December 2015, TRA surpassed its target after collecting 1.4 tri/, while in January and February the tax watchdog collected 1.08tri/- and 1.04tri/- respectively.
This year’s revenue collections are above the amount of revenue that was collected between December 2014 and March 2015.
In December 2014, TRA collected 1.08tri/-, January 840.4bn/-, February 769.6bn/- and March 1.04tri/-. On March 23, the Minister for Finance and Planning, Dr Philip Mpango, said TRA expected to collect more than 1.4 trillion/- in taxes and non-tax revenue last month. However, the figures released yesterday, indicate that only 1.32trl/- was collected.
In January, Dr Mpango expressed optimism that the government would collect 2tri/- in revenue per month in the coming days and slowly but steadily reduce donor dependence.
With President John Magufuli’s initiative to widen the country’s tax base to increase revenue collection, economic pundits are of the view that the country will be able to run its business and development projects without depending on funds from donors who have often tagged conditions to their dish-outs.
Dr Magufuli has repeatedly expressed optimism that he aspires to see his government working hard, tirelessly and in whatever means for the nation to prosper and get away from donor dependence, citing abundant natural resources that the country has been endowed with.
On Monday, the TRA CG asked patriotic Tanzanians to volunteer information on businesspeople who were evading tax, adding that the information provided would remain secret and that cash prizes would be provided to people who would volunteer that information.
“I also want to warn people who are smuggling in the country various products without paying requisite taxes to stop immediately before they are netted in the ongoing crackdowns on tax evaders countrywide,’’ said Mr Kidata, adding that those who would be found to have evaded tax ‘’would face the music.’
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