Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has said the greatest reward she hopes to leave behind after completing her term in office is a strong, professional and trusted Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) that collects taxes with integrity while supporting the country’s journey towards self-reliance.
Speaking on Wednesday, July 1, during the inaugural Presidential Awards for Best Taxpayers and celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of the Tanzania Revenue Authority, the President said the institution’s future success would depend on maintaining public confidence through fairness, professionalism and respect for taxpayers.
She said the authority’s achievements over the past three decades demonstrated Tanzania’s ability to build a robust domestic revenue system capable of financing national development.
President Samia stressed that tax collection should never come at the expense of legitimate businesses, urging TRA to administer tax laws fairly while continuing to improve services to taxpayers.
“Trust creates trust. If TRA serves taxpayers fairly, respectfully and professionally, taxpayers will, in turn, develop greater confidence in both the authority and the government,” she said.
She described tax payment as an act of patriotism and national service, adding that the responsibility of citizens to pay taxes must be matched by the government’s obligation to ensure public funds are managed transparently and used to improve the lives of Tanzanians.
The President reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving the business environment by supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, simplifying tax administration and expanding the use of modern technology to make compliance easier and more efficient.
The Tanzania Revenue Authority was established under the Tanzania Revenue Authority Act of 1995 and began operations on July 1, 1996.
It was created to unify tax administration and strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation, becoming one of the government’s principal institutions for financing public services and infrastructure.
Finance Minister Khamis Mussa Omar said the authority’s 30-year journey reflected Tanzania’s continued reforms to strengthen domestic resource mobilisation.
He said TRA had become a cornerstone of financing social services and development projects, noting that the tax system must continue evolving alongside economic growth and changing business practices to improve efficiency and broaden the country’s tax base.
TRA Commissioner General, Yusuph Mwenda, announced that the authority collected Sh37.957 trillion during the 2025/26 financial year against a target of Sh36.66 trillion, achieving 103.4 percent of its annual goal.
He attributed the strong performance to close cooperation between taxpayers and the authority, adding that TRA would continue investing in digital systems, expanding the taxpayer base and improving the business environment to encourage voluntary compliance.
Mr Mwenda also thanked President Samia for elevating the annual taxpayer recognition event into the Presidential Awards for Best Taxpayers, describing the move as a powerful acknowledgement of taxpayers’ contribution to national development.
He further expressed appreciation to the President for approving the establishment of TRA United Sports Club, saying the football team had enjoyed an impressive debut season by finishing fifth among 16 clubs in the Tanzania Premier League.
According to Mr Mwenda, the club has strengthened public engagement and helped promote voluntary tax compliance through sport, while demonstrating the authority’s broader commitment to community development.
This year’s celebrations formed the climax of a series of activities organised to commemorate TRA’s 30th anniversary under the theme highlighting three decades of revenue administration, taxpayer partnership and a self-reliant Tanzania.
