The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) is in the final stages of starting to receive taxpayer information from other countries, a move that will enable it to crack down on those who hide their information abroad in order to evade taxes.

This was revealed during a joint meeting between the TRA Commissioner General, Mr. Yusuph Juma Mwenda, and auditors from the Global Forum led by the Tax Policy Advisor, Mr. Puneet Gulati. The meeting focused on transparency and the exchange of tax information and was held at the TRA offices in Dar es Salaam on January 23, 2026.

During the meeting, Commissioner General Mwenda stated that joining the international system for the automatic exchange of information without obstacles will help TRA clamp down on large companies that conceal their information outside the country for the purpose of tax evasion, thereby saving revenue lost through such practices.

He said that once TRA begins receiving this information, it will help increase transparency, prevent international tax evasion, and boost revenue collection.

“What we want is to meet the criteria for receiving information automatically without having to request it, so that we can use that information to ensure every company pays the tax it is supposed to, and to enable us to act fairly within the tax administration system. Our goal is to have met these criteria before the end of 2026,” said Mwenda.

He added that they aim to establish a tax system that ensures everyone pays the tax they are legally required to pay, both domestic and foreign taxpayers, a move that will bring fairness, increase tax collections, and strengthen the national economy.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Large Taxpayers, Mr. Michael Muhoja, said that they want everyone to pay tax where the income is generated by tracking their information, and once TRA enters into this arrangement, it will be able to collect more tax and promote fairness.

On his part, the Global Forum Tax Policy Advisor, Mr. Puneet Gulati, said he expects Tanzania to continue making progress by following the guidelines and recommendations provided in order to meet the criteria for receiving international information automatically.

He said they expect TRA to receive substantial information that will assist it in its operations and pledged continued cooperation until success is achieved, noting that Tanzania is already a member of the Global Forum, having joined in 2025, and is among the 160 member countries of the organization.

The team of auditors has been in the country meeting representatives from various government and private institutions from both Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, who are key stakeholders in the implementation of international standards for the exchange of tax information.

Some of these stakeholders include the Tanzania Revenue Authority, the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Tanzania, the Financial Intelligence Unit, the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency, the Registration and Insolvency Agency, the Ministry of Finance Zanzibar, the Zanzibar Business Registration Authority, the Zanzibar Revenue Authority, the Zanzibar Waqf and Trust Commission, the Office of the Attorney General Zanzibar, representatives of banks, accountants and auditors, as well as representatives of lawyers.