The Minister for Finance of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Ambassador Khamis Mussa Omar, has laid the foundation stone for the construction of a new Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) office in Kizimkazi, Zanzibar, as part of efforts to bring tax services closer to taxpayers and improve service delivery.
Speaking during the foundation stone-laying ceremony on August 13, 2026, Ambassador Omar said the new office will serve residents of Kizimkazi and Paje, enabling them to access tax services closer to their communities and reducing the need to travel long distances in search of services.
He commended TRA for its continued efforts to strengthen domestic revenue collection and surpass government targets, noting that the country’s development is largely driven by taxes paid by citizens. In July 2026, TRA was set a revenue collection target of Sh3.0 trillion but collected Sh3.245 trillion, equivalent to 109 percent of the target, with revenue growing by 21 percent.
Ambassador Omar emphasized that tax collection is an important driver of economic growth and urged Tanzanians to take pride in paying taxes, saying that doing so contributes directly to the development of the nation.
The TRA Commissioner General Yusuph Juma Mwenda said the Authority has put in place a strategy to further expand its presence across the country by bringing tax services closer to taxpayers. He said TRA plans to construct a total of 49 offices nationwide during the 2026/2027 financial year.
Mr. Mwenda emphasized the expansion is intended to save taxpayers’ time and enable them to devote more time to their economic activities. He reaffirmed TRA’s commitment to providing quality services to all taxpayers fairly and without discrimination.
He further warned that TRA will continue taking action against individuals and businesses involved in tax evasion, while urging members of the public to report those who deliberately evade paying taxes.