TRA Kilimanjaro collects record Sh263 billion

Moshi. The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has collected a record Sh263.1 billion during 2022/23 financial year, slightly above the target.

Despite the record collections, the taxman said it is losing substantial revenue through illegally imported goods through ‘panya’ routes on the Kenyan border.

Announcing this here on Monday, the regional TRA manager, James Jilala, said the earnings accounted for 102 percent of Sh257.8 billion target projected for2022/23.

Mr Jilala attributed the record collections for the past fiscal year to increased awareness on the part of the taxpayers, some of whom tended to smuggle in goods without paying taxes.

However, he said a lot of revenues was lost through illegal imports, especially through the illegal import routes at Chekereni and Kahe areas in Moshi district.

“Some unfaithful business people continue to illegally bring in goods without following the right procedures leading to loss of revenues,” he said.

According to him, TRA has projected to collect Sh240 billion during the 2023/24 financial year and that in the first four months (July to October), it had collected about Sh70 billion.

Unveiling a tax collection report, the Moshi District Commissioner, Kisare Makori, called for action against tax evaders, especially smugglers of goods.

According to him, smuggling in of goods through the Kenyan border continue to hinder tax collection efforts in the entire Kilimanjaro region.

Smuggling is more notorious in Rombo District where, he said, had at least 376 illegal routes on the long Kenyan border where traders cross at will. 

The district administrator called on the shop owners to consistently issue out Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFD) receipts to people buying goods from their outlets.