TRA is supposed to collect taxes professionally, not by force.

The Minister of Information, Communication and Information Technology Hon. Nape Nnauye and Senior Executive of TRA and the Ministry of Finance in a group photo with Executives from various institutions that won the Best Taxpayer Award 2022.

By Rajabu Msangi

Minister of Information, Communication and Information Technology Hon. Nape Nnauye asked the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) to collect tax by using professionalism and not by using force.

Minister Nape said this during the award ceremony for the best taxpayers in 2021/2022 in Dar es Salaam.

"Many said that if we close the task force, we will not be successful in revenue collection, but here I am announcing that we have been able to collect taxes without using force," said Minister Nape.

In addition, he said the government will continue to cooperate with businesses that pay taxes voluntarily without coercion and will ensure that it reduces the challenges they face.

"The behavior of threats to traders is not right, and this behavior is done by small TRA people, now these small people should not smear the good work done by TRA and these awards will increase the motivation for others to pay taxes honestly and on time." said Minister Nape

Meanwhile, Minister Nape has instructed TRA to collaborate with the Tanzania Investment Center (TIC) to provide education to businessmen on investment opportunities in the country.

And the Chief Commissioner of TRA Alphayo Kidata said, the awarding of the awards has taken into account various factors including the maintenance of the taxpayer's records, voluntary and timely tax payment as well as good cooperation during tax collection.