Tax collection above TRA target in Kagera

 The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) in Kagera  Region has surpassed its revenue collection target for the period between July last year and February this year by collecting 24.5bn/- instead of 21.1bn/-.

 

Speaking to journalists here yesterday, TRA Regional Manager Adam Ntoga said that the revenue was collected from custom duties and levies that helped the tax watchdog to surpass its target by  110.6 percent.

 

“We aimed to collect 11.5bn/- from levies but we managed to get 12.3bn/- equivalent to 106.7 percent, while we obtained 12.2bn/- from custom duties equivalent to 114.84 percent instead of 10.6bn/-,” Ntonga said.

 

Ntoga mentioned factors behind the successful collection of revenue as collection of accumulated debts and verification which was conducted to expose traders who were paying less than the required amount by the law.

 

He, however, outlined some of the challenges as the huge size of the region which has many entry points, leakage of information related to arrest of smugglers and some citizens keeping smuggled goods in their homes.

 

He noted that TRA in collaboration with security organs is well organised to arrest and take legal action against smugglers.

 

According to a  TRA report issued in January this year, the tax watchdog made a record by collecting 1.4trl/- in December last year.

 

TRA Acting Commissioner General, Alphayo Kidata, attributed the good performance to having in place proper strategies. Kidata said between July and December last year, TRA collected 6.4tr/- against a target of 6.6tr/- for five months to December 2015, showing that the overall performance was below target.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN