ZRA surpasses 2024/25 tax collection target
ZANZIBAR: THE Zanzibar Revenue Authority (ZRA) has announced a strong performance in tax collections for the financial year 2024/2025, surpassing its annual target and registering significant year-on-year growth.
According to ZRA Commissioner General Mr Said Athumani Kiondo, the Authority collected a total of 861.88bn/-, exceeding the projected target of 845.98bn/-. The collections represent a performance rate of 101.88 percent.
This year’s performance marks an increase of 143.12bn/- from the previous year’s total of 718.76bn/-, reflecting a growth rate of 19.91 per cent.
He told journalists that in June 2025 alone, ZRA collected 63.67bn/- against a target of 56.65bn/-, achieving 112.4 per cent of the goal. “This marks a 30.22 per cent increase compared to June 2024, when collections stood at 48.90bn/-.
He added that from April to June, this year, the total collection reached 194.10bn/-, surpassing the estimated 188.16bn/-, marking 103.16 per cent performance compared to the same period in the previous year where 159.28bn/- was collected. He said the performance represents a 21.87 per cent growth in revenue collection.
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The ZRA attributed the improved performance to various factors, including improved economic activities between Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania, supported by national policies under President Samia Suluhu Hassan and increased investment in infrastructure and economic programmes by the government of Zanzibar under President Hussein Mwinyi.
“Strengthened collaboration between ZRA, businesses and other stakeholders, which encouraged more voluntary tax compliance and expansion of electronic receipt systems and integration of hotel billing systems into the digital tax infrastructure, are among reasons for the good performance,” he explained.
He added that continued investment in digital platforms such as ZIDRAS and VFMS systems have simplified tax payments and enhanced taxpayer education, monitoring and outreach efforts.
Looking ahead, the taxman said ZRA has set a more ambitious target of 1.257tri/- for the 2025/2026 financial year and that key strategies to achieve the target include expansion of taxpayer base through a nationwide registration drive, including informal businesses such as “AirBnB”-style accommodations.
He mentioned other strategies as introducing a tax penalty waiver programme for taxpayers with outstanding debts, intensifying tax education and voluntary compliance campaigns.
He said the authority will also ensure staff professionalism and improved taxpayer services, strengthening collaboration with business communities and trade groups.
The ZRA boss expressed appreciation to taxpayers and the public at large for their commitment to voluntary taxpaying, which has enabled the authority to record good performance.
