Tanzania

Tanzania Revenue Authority

Website: http://www.tra.go.tz/ 

Address: 28 Edward Sokoine Drive,11105 Mchafukoge, Ilala CBD, P.O.Box 11491, Dar es salaam, Tanzania 

Call center: 0800 750 075 

Tanzania's Ministry of Finance

Website: http://www.mof.go.tz/ 

Address: 1 Madaraka Street, 11468 Dar es salaam, Tanzania 

Phone: +255 22 2111174-6

Fax: +255 22 2110326

Tanzania is a large country situated in Eastern Africa, bordered by Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and the Indian Ocean. The country is a member of the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States, African Union, East African Community, International Chamber of Commerce, World Trade Organization and other international organizations.

Tariffs

Tanzania is a member of the East African Community and as a result rules of origin, import prohibitions, and trade regulations have been harmonized through the EAC. 

Tanzania applies the EAC common external tariff on imports from non-EAC countries. Import tariffs are levied at an ad-valorem rate on the cost, insurance and freight value of goods at the point of entry to the EAC customs union. 

Tariffs on textiles, apparel and footwear vary from 0 to 50 %.

There is a VAT of 18% on the sale price of locally produced goods and services, and on the customs-duty inclusive c.i.f. value of imports. In addition to customs tariffs, certain imports are also subject to a destination inspection fee of 1.2 percent on the f.o.b. value. 

Product certification, labelling and packaging

The Tanzania Bureau of Standards regulates all standard issues in the country. Product certification and licensing follow international accepted norms.

Tanzania follows international (ISO) standards for labeling and marking of imports and does not impose special requirements.

Methods of quoting and payment

Tanzania is largely a cash economy and it is the most popular way to conduct business. Cheques take seven to 14 days to clear through the central banks national payments system and electronic clearing house. For transactions between parties in different cities or regions, direct payments through commercial bank accounts in the form of wire transfers and SWIFT are very common.

Cheques are not acceptable for payments above TSH 10 million, but should be made through electronic transfer. The shillingi is Tanzania currency in Swahili language, and in English the shilling sign is TSH. Documentary credits such as letters of credit (LC’s), documentary collections and drafts are widely used for international trade. Cash with order, cash in advance or prepayment are preferred by local traders. Credit accounts are not common in Tanzania.

Documentary requirements

To assure Tanzanian consumers of the safety and quality of imported goods they buy and to protect manufacturers from unfair competition, the TBS has implemented guidelines called the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) to the Standards Programme. The programme requires that all goods exported to Tanzania need a Certificate of Conformity in order to clear customs.

Product Data Sheet and/or Product Description specifying the product’s intended use is mandatory.

Pro-forma invoice

A pro-forma invoice is mandatory; a Pre-Arrival Declaration can be submitted, if available. All labelling of packaging of imports shall be as per the TBS approved Standards. All goods must have 75 per cent shelf life remaining on arrival.

Sources:

http://www.tra.go.tz/index.php/import-procedure 

http://www.tra.go.tz/index.php/export-procedures 

http://web.ita.doc.gov/tacgi/overseasnew.nsf/alldata/Tanzania