Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has launched a new website and an upgraded version of the Tanzania Customs Integrated System (TANCIS), designed to streamline cargo clearance at ports, airports and border posts.
During the official launch in Dar es Salaam today, January 20, 2025, TRA Board Chairman, Mr Mussa Abas Uledi, said the upgraded TANCIS would reduce physical interactions between TRA officers and taxpayers, as all processes would be conducted online.
The new website would also make it easier for users to access information.
Mr Uledi noted that the improved TANCIS system would boost TRA’s revenue collection, particularly in the customs sector, as it ensures fair and accurate assessment of taxes.
The system is now integrated with 36 other institutional systems, and Mr Uledi urged the connected agencies to ensure seamless data exchange for optimal functionality.
Addressing concerns over service delivery, Mr Uledi pointed out that several stakeholders had raised complaints about the need for in-person interactions.
The new system, he asserted, would eliminate this need, making Tanzanian ports and border posts more efficient, and elevating service standards in the region.
Earlier, TRA Commissioner General, Mr Yusuph Juma Mwenda, emphasised that the enhanced TANCIS system would address user needs while improving operational efficiency within the customs division.
He explained that the system would significantly reduce the time taken to track goods entering the country, allowing traders to access multiple agencies simultaneously without leaving their offices.
Mr Mwenda added that TANCIS would ensure equity in tax payments, enabling all users to determine exactly what they owe, thereby enhancing tax compliance.
He revealed that the system’s development cost over Sh100 billion, but its benefits would far outweigh the investment, promising a transformative shift in operational performance.
On the new TRA website, Mr Mwenda noted that taxpayers would now be able to directly communicate with the Authority, with prompt responses to their inquiries.
TRA’s director for Taxpayer services and Education, Mr Richard Kayombo, explained that the revamped website offers a broader range of services than its predecessor.
It has been linked to other government institutions, ensuring that users can access relevant information more efficiently.
The Commissioner for Customs, Mr Juma Hassan Bakari, said the upgraded TANCIS system would revolutionise cargo clearance at both ports and airports, marking a significant shift in customs operations.
Stakeholders in the TANCIS system, led by the President of the Tanzania Freight Forwarders Association, Mr Edward Urio, welcomed the launch.
He confirmed that the system had been developed with their active participation, addressing long-standing concerns and simplifying their daily operations.
The launch of these innovations marks a significant step towards modernising Tanzania’s customs services, ensuring more efficient, transparent, and accessible processes for all stakeholders involved.
