Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has opened a new Taxpayer Service Centre in Masaki, Dar es Salaam, in a move aimed at bringing services closer to traders and strengthening government revenue collection.
The centre is expected to simplify registration, payment, and access to tax education for business operators in upscale suburbs of Masaki, Oysterbay, and Msasani.
These areas host intense commercial activity and significant private sector investment.
Speaking at the launch, the TRA Commissioner General, Mr Yusuph Mwenda, said the centre forms part of a wider strategy to improve service delivery, expand the tax base, and enhance tax equity in high-income and upper-middle-income zones.
He stressed the importance of digital systems in simplifying services and reducing compliance costs for taxpayers.
“We are committed to seeing tax rates decline. But this cannot happen without expanding the tax base. Everyone who is required to pay tax must do so in line with the law and according to their income,” he said.
Mr Mwenda said the opening of the Masaki centre would ensure that all eligible taxpayers meet their obligations while receiving improved services.
He added that TRA plans to establish similar strategic centres in high-traffic commercial areas across all regions.
He urged traders with outstanding tax liabilities to visit TRA offices directly to seek solutions, instead of relying on brokers operating in the streets.
He warned that some brokers have been misleading traders by claiming they can erase tax debts, which he described as impossible.
“Tax debts do not disappear. They only end when you pay them or successfully challenge them in court. Anything else is deception,” he said.
He added that traders who attempt shortcuts through intermediaries only waste time and risk paying double, in the form of tax arrears and penalties.
“I want to tell traders nationwide that tax debts are only resolved in two ways. Either you pay, or you challenge them in court and win. Outside that, you will be deceived. And if discovered, you will pay both the tax and a fine,” he said.
Mr Mwenda advised traders facing tax challenges to seek professional guidance from TRA officers or use registered tax consultants, instead of unqualified intermediaries.
He said proper tax administration ensures fairness, where those with lower incomes pay less and those with higher incomes contribute more.
He also dismissed perceptions that large businesses do not pay their fair share of taxes.
He said the establishment of the Masaki centre demonstrated that large taxpayers are equally accountable.
The Commissioner General said TRA aims to establish 71 such service centres nationwide to reach all categories of taxpayers and encourage voluntary compliance through education and convenience.
He further urged traders to use the Integrated Domestic Revenue Administration System (IDRAS), which allows taxpayers to access services remotely without visiting TRA offices.
“The system operates 24 hours. You can apply for refunds, seek tax relief, submit letters, or request clarifications. It has transformed tax administration in the country,” he said.
He encouraged taxpayers experiencing challenges with the system to seek assistance from TRA offices across the country.
Mr Mwenda commended taxpayers in Kinondoni District for their voluntary compliance, which he said had significantly improved revenue performance in the area.
He also praised TRA staff for their professionalism, assuring traders that officers at the Masaki centre possess the expertise required to offer quality service.
On her part, the Kinondoni District Administrative Secretary, Ms Warda Obathany, said the district faces numerous land disputes arising from transactions involving land and buildings.
She urged TRA to closely monitor such transactions to ensure proper tax collection.
She said her office stands ready to cooperate fully with TRA to enhance revenue collection, noting that taxes play a critical role in funding water projects, electricity supply, road infrastructure, and health services across the country.
