According to TRA Commissioner for Domestic Revenues Elijah Mwandumbya, the move aims at facilitating smooth and timely supply of the machines to traders as part of sustainable strategies to boost revenue collection.
Mr Mwandumbya was here at the weekend, accompanying the Deputy Minister for Finance Dr Ashatu Kijaji who among other activities, she officiated at the opening of TRA Kakonko Branch.
The branch opening here is part of the government strategies to ensure all remote and isolated areas are served under financial inclusion programme and support the business community in the areas to pay revenues as required.
"We have now decided to take over the supply of EFD machines instead of relying on private sales and distribution agents whom we had contracted for the job. The eight years we have used them have taught us a lesson," Mr Mwandumbya said.
Initially, TRA contracted 11 sales agents countrywide but reports have it that inadequate sale services have compelled the revenue collection agency to take over the task by itself, he said.
Already, TRA has procured 5,000 gadgets from Incotex Company in Bulgaria and the consignment is scheduled for delivery anytime, with Mr Mwandumbya saying the machines will sell at lower prices of between 340,000/- and 370,000/-.
The new measure will enable registered eligible business operators to conveniently access the machines and use them for all sales and ultimately expedite tax compliance by traders.
Mr Mwandumbya said his department was ready to provide services to all underserved and remote areas like Kakonko, adding that TRA with over 5,000 workforce, 2,400 of whom under the Domestic Revenue Department will work hard to reach all taxpayers countrywide.
For Kakonko District, he said, TRA officers will be visiting from Kibondo District on every Friday for services, including provision of tax education and site visits.
"So we urge the business community in Kakonko District to seize this opportunity and visit our office for prompt services and education provision, especially on effective use of EFDs to reduce operational inconveniences in tax payment," he directed.
Speaking to the 'Daily News' shortly after opening the branch, Dr Kijaji said TRA is duty-bound to ensure taxpayers were timely and expediently served instead of them incurring costs and time to travel to pay taxes.
She said the government promised to ensure timely collection of every cent from the taxpayers across the country and TRA has to meet the collection targets.
The deputy minister remained optimistic on the industrialisation drive, saying the government has for the past one year dished out 39bn/- to support small-scale farmers, particularly cotton growers, to produce enough raw materials for the ambitious initiative.
"Besides the government disbursement, TIB Corporate Bank also released over 40bn/- to stimulate production of raw materials that will be critically needed by the over 3,000 industries that have been initiated so far," she said.
While urban centres are relatively well served with TRA, Dr Kijaji underscored the need for the authority to launch special drive to reach and serve all peripheral areas like Kakonko.
Daily News
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