Tanzania Revenue Authority Launches 200 Trade Facilitation Desks to Support Traders

The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has launched a Trade Facilitation Desk to support the growth and development of trade across the country.

The launch took place on August 16, 2025, at the Chief Kingalu Main Market in Morogoro and was officiated by TRA Commissioner General Yusuph Juma Mwenda.

The initiative follows directives from President Samia Suluhu Hassan aimed at promoting business and supporting entrepreneurs.

According to TRA, the desks will begin operations on August 19, 2025, and will be available nationwide, with 200 desks already established.

The desks are designed to identify traders, address challenges affecting business operations, and provide support for entrepreneurs to expand their businesses.

TRA Commissioner General Mwenda said the desks are not intended for tax collection but to strengthen the role of traders in the economy.

“The aim of the desk is not to collect taxes, but to identify traders, support their growth, and address the challenges they face in their business activities,” Mwenda stated.

He further explained that the desks will serve as platforms for receiving feedback and suggestions from traders to improve the country’s business environment. “This is not a desk to squeeze money from traders but to help them grow. We want to see every entrepreneur realizing their business dreams,” he added.

The initiative also follows government measures to ease business operations, including a directive by President Hassan to reduce the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate from 18% to 16% for traders using digital payment systems such as mobile money or bank transfers.

The Chairman of the Tanzania Business Community in Morogoro Region, Ally Mamba, welcomed the move, noting that the desks will contribute significantly to business growth.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Small Traders (Machinga) in Morogoro Region, Faustine Francis, said the desks would help small traders gain official recognition and facilitate their transition into large-scale entrepreneurship.

The launch of the Trade Facilitation Desks forms part of the government’s broader efforts to create an enabling business environment, particularly for the informal sector, and to ensure sustainable contributions from traders to Tanzania’s national economy.