Tanzania: Traders on strike and unfair tax assessments

Tanzanian streets, June 2024 Photo: @Alleastafrica

---

June 27, 2024 Time: 8:32 p.m.

The government on Monday halted an inspection exercise of receipts from Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFDs) for tax collection managed by the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), pending a review of the tax collection system.

Traders across Tanzania’s six regions on Thursday closed their shops and went on strike over what they called unfair tax assessments by revenue authorities.

Related:
Tanzania: East Africa Petroleum Conference and Exhibition

The traders’ strike began on Monday in Kariakoo, a busy commercial centre in the port city of Dar es Salaam, and later spread to Mbeya, Mwanza, Dodoma, Mtwara and Arusha regions.

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa met with leaders of trade associations in Dodoma, Tanzania’s capital, on Wednesday, but no official statement was issued following the negotiations.

The government on Monday halted an inspection exercise of receipts from Electronic Tax Devices (EFDs) for tax collection managed by the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), pending a review of the tax collection system.

The decision to stop the inspection of EFD receipts was taken at a meeting of ministers responsible for finance, trade and planning and heads of traders’ associations and regulatory agencies held in Dar es Salaam.

Rashid Mhina, a shop owner at Kariakoo Mall, said traders were forced to close their shops to communicate with authorities over the hostile tax demands.

“TRA officials are implementing hostile measures while collecting returns, affecting the development of their business,” he said.

On Monday, MPs urged the government to provide concrete responses to the ongoing traders’ strike, saying the situation posed risks to the country’s economy.

Author: OSG

Source: Aljazeera-DW

EN THIS NOTE: