TANZANIA Revenue Authority (TRA) has urged stakeholders in the financial sub-sector to expose those who evade paying tax, saying they were a burden to its clients.

Speaking on "tax payer's responsibility" during a training conducted in Temeke Municipality in Dar es Salaam , TRA Regional Officer in Temeke, Mr Lovel Mwanyi said paying tax was everyone's responsibility and those deliberately avoiding it should not be spared."Tax paying need not be done with duress, it is an obligation to facilitate provision of public services," said Mr Mwanyi.

He said TRA would educate the public from time to time in order to create harmony between tax officers and the clients.He urged customers to request a TRA receipt whenever buying a product from the shop, as this means the seller cannot avoid paying tax.

"It is the right of buyers to get a receipt. Once you are caught with goods that have no receipts, you risk paying a penalty of 3m/-," stressed Mr Mwanyi.An accountant at Temeke Municipality, Ms Rhoida Swila, said to pay tax voluntarily was a fulfilment of one of the requirements of the national constitution.

She advised the clients to respect TRA property tax collectors whenever they are approached. Property tax will be collected by TRA officers who will display special identification from the Municipality," she said.A participant, Mr John Balagambi advised TRA to challenge the government on proper utilization of taxes in improving social services.

"This will inspire the general public to pay tax on time and with a positive attitude," said Mr Balagumbi when giving his views.Regional Manager in Temeke Tax Region, Mr Victor Msuya, advised tax payers to consult TRA offices when in need of services, to avoid a possibility of falling into the trap of conmen.