October 29, 2021 | Dodoma, Tanzania
A team of local PEP researchers held a national policy conference to show how involving local leaders in property tax collection can increase compliance.
October 29, 2021 – A team of local PEP researchers held an online national policy conference to share their recommendations for increasing property tax compliance in Tanzania.
The team brought together around 30 policy stakeholders and advisors, academics, and representatives of civil society for the event. The key policy stakeholders in attendance included representatives of the Ministry of Finance and Planning, of several national parliamentary committees—including the Budget Committee and Local Authorities Accounts Committee—and the Tanzania Revenue Authority.
The PEP team presented findings and recommendations from their PEP project investigating ways to increase tax compliance in Tanzania.
The team explained how involving local leaders (Mjumbe) increases property tax compliance more than reminder text messages alone and means that taxpayer databases can be optimised and updated.
The team’s findings were well-received with agreement that strategic partnership is needed between central government, tax authorities and local governments to act on the team’s recommendations and increase property tax collection.
Representatives of the Public Accounts Committee stated their eagerness to use the team’s findings for parliamentary decision-making.
Journalists from national television channels, radio stations, and newspapers also reported from the event.
The research team organized the event with financial and advisory support from PEP.