By Alfred Zacharia
East African revenue authorities opened a five-day meeting in Dar es Salaam on Monday to address key challenges and reforms aimed at strengthening the region’s tax systems and boosting domestic revenue collection.
The gathering marks the 100th session of the East African Revenue Authorities Technical Committee (EARATC), a regional forum that brings together tax officials from Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Speaking at the opening, EARATC Chair Beatus Nchoka said the meeting would focus on harmonizing tax infrastructure, tackling smuggling, streamlining cargo management, and enhancing compliance through technology-driven reforms.
“Regional economies are evolving, and our tax systems must evolve with them,” Nchoka said, noting that the committee would explore the use of artificial intelligence and data analytics to detect tax evasion, improve taxpayer services, and close revenue leakages.
Nchoka also highlighted the need to simplify tax procedures for the informal sector, a major source of untapped revenue, and to strengthen capacity among tax administrators through training and career development programs.
Tanzania Revenue Authority Commissioner General Yusuph Mwenda, who attended the opening, welcomed the forum for fostering dialogue but warned that persistent challenges continue to undermine progress.
“Discriminatory fiscal measures, widespread tax evasion, and uneven tax rates across borders have kept the region’s tax-to-GDP ratios below those of peer developing economies,” Mwenda said.
He also cited declining voluntary compliance, system complexity, and corruption within revenue administrations as key obstacles.
Mwenda called for harmonization of domestic taxes, stronger enforcement in the digital economy, and innovations that rebuild trust with taxpayers.
“Business comes first and taxation comes second,” he said, urging practical solutions that ease the cost of doing business while strengthening the revenue base.
The EARATC meeting is expected to issue recommendations to guide East African revenue authorities on advancing tax harmonization, improving compliance, and leveraging technology to increase domestic resource mobilization.
