Mtwara RC urges TRA to create tax-friendly environment

Mtwara. Mtwara Regional Commissioner, Ahmed Abass Ahmed, has urged the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) office to create a tax-friendly environment for business people and investors in the region.

The RC made the call on Monday during the official launch of the TRA campaign dubbed ‘Tuwajibike’ (Lets be responsible) in Mtwara.

“Revenue collections shouldn't be done by force, proper understanding of how revenues contribute to national development would enable traders to pay tax willingly,” said the RC.

“We expect that your work should attract traders and investors to our region instead of making them close their businesses as it was in the past.”

TRA regional Manager, Elirehema Kimambo said the sensitization campaign aimed at creating public awareness on Electronic Fiscal Device (EFD) receipts.

He said traders in the region were not issuing electronic receipts at the required level.

“Another challenge in the issuance of receipts is the fact that some traders lower the prices of commodities or services they provide, and some traders issue EFD receipts which neither show the taxpayer's identification number (TIN) nor the buyer's name or use a single receipt to escort multiple cargoes,” said Kimambo.

The chairman of the business community in Mtwara, Hamza Licheta, urged traders to issue proper receipts.

He said traders need a clear understanding of taxes and their contributions to the implementation of various national development projects.

Licheta said more than 160 businesses have closed in Mtwara due to various reasons, including unfriendly tax environment.