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By Deus Ngowi
Moshi — KILIMANJARO Region traders have officially filed complaints to the Regional Secretariat against Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and Moshi Municipal Council (MMC) over handling of their business.
Among other things, the traders through a special committee formed to coordinate the matter, have complained of a 100 per cent tax increase.
In a document released by the Secretary to the Committee, Mr Boniface Mariki, they say there is no reason given for such a huge increase slapped on them by the end of March this year.
The committee comprising of nine people said traders incur high costs by being forced to use tax consultants to compute their accounts. "In most occasions they collude with TRA officials to set very high tax rates," the traders said.
The committee is formed by Patrick Shirima who is Tanzania Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA) regional chairman, Ms Elizabeth Minde, Ms Dismas Dede and Mr Ibrahimu Shayo.
Others are Mr Henry Mosha, Mr Patrick Boisafi, Mr Frank Lesirium, Mr Chris Shayo and Mr Mariki who is TCCIA Kilimanjaro Regional Executive Officer.
The members said it is difficult to get receipts in traditional goods such as stones, murram, sand and coarse aggregate but TRA officials force contractors to show them the receipts.
TRA is also accused of blaming contractors for not paying taxes while the fact is that at some periods the contractors find themselves without construction work, therefore are not supposed to pay taxes.
Other complaints over TRA and BMTL is against use of Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFD) that get damaged often and once that happens traders have to report the matter to TRA while repair costs are between 75,000/- and 370,000/-.
The committee that was formed when traders met with Kilimanjaro RC, Mr Leonidas Gama pointed out that EFD annual service is done at a huge cost of 400,000/- but sometimes they fail to produce receipts properly due to poor network.
The traders also complained of TRA using agents (Majembe Auction Mart) who mistreat traders and use force in possessing vehicles, something that depict TRA as an institution that does not value human beings.
They also expressed their concern that TRA lags behind in auditing, as it works on accounts on business done three years back and it is possible that some documents would not be available.
TRA officials are also said to enter in shops and force to open cash drawers to count money available on the pretext that they are not contented with reports they get from traders.
There is also disagreement on goods bought on credit, as payment could be delayed but TRA officials take such information to be false.
