Taxpayers who participated in the Tax symposium held on May 8, 2025, in Dar es Salaam, organized by the Institute of Tax Administration (ITA), expressed their appreciation for the event, noting that it provided a valuable platform to extensively discuss the challenges they face and to suggest ways to broaden the tax base.

Speaking at different times, the taxpayers, including the Chairman of the Kariakoo Business Community, Mr. Sevelin Mushi, said the Tax symposium continues to enhance tax education and offers taxpayers the opportunity to share their ideas on how to expand the tax net and improve the tax payment environment.

“For example, in our Kariakoo area, there are many good businesspeople, but their education level is only up to primary school. If they are well educated on tax matters, they can become good taxpayers and ambassadors to others. I thank the TRA Commissioner General Mr. Yusuph Juma Mwenda who has reached out to us several times. I urge you from the Institute of Tax Administration to also visit us,” said Sevelin Mushi.

The President of the Tanzania Freight Forwarders Association (TAFFA), Mr. Edward Urio, said the Tax symposium will help create more tax ambassadors through the education provided, which will further help widen the tax base.

The President of the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF), Ms. Angelina Ngalula, also contributed by suggesting the implementation of a special campaign to register all businesspeople in the country for free. This campaign would involve TRA, OSHA, BRELA, and local government authorities and would provide all necessary permits at no cost, enabling identification and future follow-up, eventually bringing them into the tax system.

Ms. Ngalula also emphasized the need for continuous tax education so that it becomes a cultural norm in Tanzania, similar to other countries where issuing a receipt is done automatically without being asked because the seller recognizes it as their responsibility.

Earlier, while opening the conference, the Deputy Minister in the President’s Office for Planning and Investment, Hon. Stanislaus Nyongo, said through this Tax symposium, the TRA aims to increase public understanding of the importance of paying taxes, which will help to broaden the tax base.

Hon. Nyongo noted that the Tax symposium is timely as the TRA is currently implementing strategies to expand the tax base and promote voluntary tax compliance.

For his part, the Commissioner General of the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), Mr. Yusuph Juma Mwenda, stated that the Tax symposium was organized to gather opinions and recommendations from taxpayers, which will help improve tax policies and enhance a favorable tax payment environment in the country.

He said the input from stakeholders who participated in the Tax symposium will be seriously considered, recognizing that one of TRA’s responsibilities is to enable a conducive business and investment environment.

Mr. Mwenda thanked all the taxpayers who participated and urged them to become good ambassadors for TRA.