TANZANIA: 23 SHOPS CLOSED DOWN OVER NON-USE OF EFDs

TRA Director of Education and Taxpayer Services, Mr Richard Kayombo.

As shops in Kariakoo, Dar es Salaam, remained closed for the third consecutive day yesterday following protests by some traders over the use of electronic fiscal devices (EFDs), the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has closed down 23 shops in Namanga area, Kinondoni municipality, after failing to comply with the use of the gadgets.

Closure of the shops in the area is an outcome of an ongoing campaign launched by TRA, in collaboration with the police, several days ago to inspect the use of EFDs countrywide in the wake of opposition by traders to use the machines.

Speaking on Wednesday in Dar es Salaam, TRA Director of Education and Taxpayer Services, Mr Richard Kayombo, said the inspection campaign was ongoing across the country under the close supervision of TRA commissioners and the police, adding that until on Wednesday 23 shops had been closed down in Namanga area in Kinondoni municipality for failure to use the devices.

"Use of the gadgets is a legal requirement and therefore the traders across the country have no choice but to use them," he said, warning that stern measures would be taken against non-compliance.

Mr Kayombo also said that most traders were misinformed or misled that the use of the devices was very costly, saying the gadgets were in fact beneficial to the traders because they helped them keep accurate records of their transactions, besides issuing valid receipts to their customers.

"Most traders complain that the EFDs are very costly and inconvenient, both of which are not true. The devices are meant to help the traders keep accurate records of their transactions as well as issuing valid receipt to customers," he clarified.

He added that the ongoing protest by traders in Kariakoo and elsewhere was due to measures being taken by TRA, including closure of some shops after the owners failed to comply with the use of the gadgets.

He said since closure of 11 non-compliant shops in Kariakoo some traders had been approaching TRA asking them to forgive the culprits and allow them open their businesses.

Mr Kayombo, however, said no culprit would be forgiven, warning that the police were closely monitoring the protest by some traders in Kariakoo in order to identify and take legal measures against those mobilising others to join the protest.

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