2. (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires- “adjustment event”- (a) in relation a supply mentioned in paragraph (b) means- supply, other to than a a cancellation of the supply; (i) (ii) an alteration in the consideration for the supply; (iii) the return of the thing supplied or part thereof to the supplier; or (iv) a variation of, or alteration to, all or part of the supply and which has the effect that the supply becomes or ceases to be a taxable supply; and (b) in relation to a taxable supply of a voucher, means the giving of the voucher in full or part payment for a supply that is exempt; or zero rated; “agent” means a person who acts on behalf of another person in business; transport “ancillary services” means stevedoring cargo customs and storage of transported goods or goods to be services, lashing and securing services, inspection services, documentation, container handling services the transported; preparation of “association of persons” means a partnership, trust or body organized, established or recognized as such in Mainland Tanzania, and does not include a company; formed, persons of 7 No. 5 The Value Added Tax Act 2014 Cap. 399 “Commissioner General” means the Commissioner the Tanzania Revenue Authority the Tanzania Revenue such under General of appointed as Authority Act; guest a hotel, motel “commercial accommodation” means accommodation in a building including part of a building or a group inn, of buildings operated as lodge, boarding house, cottage, similar establishment, or on sites developed for use as camping sites, where regularly or normally provided for a periodic charge, or other term accommodation occupation the by individual’s main residence; house, apartment offered person hostel, or for other lodging is serviced short than as Cap. 212 “company” has the same meaning ascribed to it under the Companies Act; “connected persons” means- (a) two persons, if the relationship between them is such that one person can reasonably be act expected to the the other, or both persons can intention of reasonably be expected to act in accordance with the intentions of a third person; accordance with in (b) in the case of an individual, the individual and- the husband or wife of the individual; the husband or wife of a relative of the individual; (i) (ii) (iii) a relative of the individual’s husband or wife; (iv) the husband or wife of a relative of the individual’s husband or wife; and (v) a relative of the individual; 8 No. 5 The Value Added Tax Act 2014 (c) a partnership and a partner in the partnership, if the partners, either alone or together with other persons who are related to the partner, controls ten percent or more of the rights to income or capital of the partnership; (d) a company and a shareholder in the company, if the shareholder, directly or indirectly, either alone or together with persons who are connected with the shareholder, controls ten percent or more of the voting power in the company or to distributions of income or capital by the company; the rights (e) a if company, company and a another person, directly or indirectly, either alone or together with persons who are connected with the person who controls ten percent or more the rights to of distributions of income or capital in both of them; and the shareholding rights, or (f) a person acting in the capacity of trustee of a trust and an individual who is or may be a beneficiary of that trust or, in the case of an individual whose relative is or may be a beneficiary of the trust; (g) a person who is in control of another person if the former is legally or operationally in a position to exercise restraint or direction over the latter; “document” means a statement including an account, assessment, book, certificate, claim, note, notice, order, record, return or ruling kept either in paper form or electronic form; in writing, 9 No. 5 The Value Added Tax Act 2014 “economic activity” means- (a) an activity carried on continuously or regularly by a person, which involves or is intended to involve the services, or supply of goods, immovable property, including- (i) an activity carried on in the form of a business, profession, vocation, trade, manufacture, or undertaking of any kind, whether or not the activity is undertaken for profit; or (ii) a supply of property by way of lease, hire, license, or similar arrangement; (b) a one-off adventure or concern in the nature of a trade; and (c) anything done of during the commencement of an or economic activity as defined under (a) or (b) of this definition provided that ''economic activity” does not include- or in termination respect employer; or (i) the activities of providing services by employee to (ii) activities performed as a director of a company, except where the director accepts such office in carrying on an economic activity, in which case those services shall be regarded as being supplied in the course or furtherance of that economic activity; provision the of “entertainment” means food, beverages, amusement, recreation or hospitality of any kind; “exempt” in relation to a supply or import, means a supply or import that is specified as exempt under this Act or a supply of a right or option to receive a supply that will be exempt; 10 No. 5 The Value Added Tax Act 2014 “export” in relation to a supply of goods, means the removal of goods from a place in Mainland Tanzania to a place outside the United Republic, and in the absence of proof to the contrary, the following are sufficient evidence that the goods have been so exported- (a) evidence of the consignment or delivery of the goods to an address outside the United Republic; or (b) evidence of the delivery of the goods to the ship, a owner, charterer, or operator of transport aircraft engaged the for purpose of carrying the goods outside the United Republic; “fair market value of supply” means- other means international transport or in of (a) the consideration the supply would fetch in freely made an open market between persons who are not connected; or transaction (b) where it is not possible to determine an amount under paragraph (a), the fair market value which a similar supply would fetch in transaction freely made an connected, between persons who are not adjusted to take account of the differences between such supply and the actual supply. open market Cap. 417 “finance lease” means a lease that treated as a finance lease under the Financial Leasing Act, but does not include a hire purchase agreement; is “financial services” means services of- (a) granting, negotiating, and dealing with loans, credit, credit guarantees, and security for money, including management of loans, credit, or credit 11 No. 5 The Value Added Tax Act 2014 13 guarantees by the grantor; (b) transactions concerning money deposit, current accounts, payments, transfers, debts, cheques or negotiable instruments, other than debt collection or debt factoring; (c) transactions relating to financial derivatives, forward contracts, options to acquire financial instruments and similar arrangements; (d) transactions relating to shares, stocks, bonds, and include custody other securities, but does not services; (e) transactions involving granting or transferring in a scheme whereby ownership of an interest provision is made for the payment or granting of benefits by a benefit fund, provident fund, pension fund, retirement annuity fund, preservation fund, or similar fund; (f) transactions involving the provision of, or transfer life insurance in of ownership of a h e a l t h o r contract or respect of the provision such contract; and reinsurance of (g) making payment or collection of an amount of interest, principal, dividend, or other amount in respect of any share, debt security, equity security, participatory security, credit contract, contract of life insurance, or futures contract, (h) foreign exchange transactions, including the supply of foreign drafts and international money orders, but does not include supply of the services of arranging for or facilitating any of the services specified under paragraphs (a) to (h); 12 No. 5 The Value Added Tax Act 2014 “fixed place” in relation to the carrying on of an economic activity, means a place at or through which the activity is carried on, being- (a) a place of management; (b) a branch, office, factory, or workshop; (c) a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry, or any other place of extraction of natural resources; or or construction (d) a site or building installation project; kinds all “goods” means tangible moveable property, excluding shares, stocks, securities, or money; of “government entity” means- (a) the Government of a Ministry, Department, or Agency of Government; the United Republic or that (b) a statutory body, authority, or enterprise owned the the Government by of or operated United Republic; or (c) a local government authority; “import” means bringing or to be brought from outside the United Republic into Mainland Tanzania; causing goods “imported services” means taxable person if services supplied to a the supply of the services is not made in the United Republic as determined under this Act; “immovable property” includes- (a) an interest in or right over land; (b) a personal right to call for or be granted an interest in or right over land; (c) a to right occupy other contractual right exercisable over or in relation to land; land any or (d) the provision of accommodation; or 13 No. 5 The Value Added Tax Act 2014 (e) a right or option to acquire anything mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d); Cap.332 “income tax” has the meaning ascribed to it under the Income Tax Act; (a) value “input tax” in relation to a taxable person, means- imposed on a taxable added tax supply made to the person, including value added tax payable by the person on a taxable supply of imported services; and (b) value added tax imposed on a taxable import of goods by the person; and charged tax (c) input law governing administration of value added tax applicable in Tanzania Zanzibar; “input tax credit” in relation to a taxable person, means under the “international means assistance agreement” a credit allowed for input tax incurred by the person; an agreement between the Government of the United Republic and a foreign government or a public the provision of international organisation for financial, or administrative the United Republic; humanitarian, technical, assistance to ancillary transport than services” means transport the services, “international of other services transporting passengers or goods by road, rail, water, or air- (a) from a place outside the United Republic to another place outside the United Republic; (b) from a place outside the United Republic to a place in Mainland Tanzania; or (c) from a place in Mainland Tanzania to a place outside the United Republic; “Minister” means the Minister responsible for finance; “money” means- 14 No. 5 The Value Added Tax Act 2014 (a) any coin or paper currency that is legal tender in the United Republic or another country; (b) a negotiable instrument used or circulated, or intended for use or circulation, as currency of the United Republic or another country; (c) a medium of exchange, promissory note, bank draft, postal order, money order, or similar instrument; or (d) any payment for supply by way of credit card or debit card or crediting or debiting an account, include a collector’s piece or, a and shall not coin medal, paper money, collected as antique; “net amount” in relation to a tax period, means the amount calculated under section 71; “non-profit organisation” means a charitable or religious organization established and functions solely for- (a) the relief of poverty or distress of the public; (b) the general public of health, provision education or water; and (c) the supply of religious services; “output tax” in relation to a taxable person, means value added tax payable by the person in respect of- (a) a taxable supply made; and (b) a taxable supply of imported services acquired; “partnership” means two or more persons carrying on an economic activity; “person” means- (a) an individual; (b) a company; (c) an association of persons; (d) a Government entity, whether or not that entity is ordinarily treated as a separate person; (e) a foreign government or a political sub of a foreign Government; (f) a non government organisation; or 15 No. 5 The Value Added Tax Act 2014 17 (g) a public international organisation; “prepaid telecommunications product” means a phone recharge card, or any other telecommunication prepayment for card, prepaid card, form of services; “progressive or periodic supply” means- (a) a supply made progressively or periodically under an agreement, arrangement or law that provides for progressive or periodic payments; (b) a supply by way of lease, hire, license or other right to use property, including a supply under a finance lease; or (c) a supply made directly in the construction, major reconstruction, or extension of a building or engineering work; “registered person” means a person registered for “registration value added tax under this Act; means threshold” prescribed under section 28(4); the amount “relative of an individual” means a brother, sister, ancestor or lineal descendant of the individual; “residential premises” means (a) any garage, an area occupied or designed to be occupied and capable of being occupied as a residence, and includes- storage space associated with the premises, so long as that space is of a type commonly considered to be part of is such residential premises; and b) any land that reasonably attributable to the premises, space, other or (b) but does not that premises accommodation; include any premises or part of to provide commercial is used “resident” means an individual whose permanent home is in Mainland Tanzania; 16 No. 5 The Value Added Tax Act 2014 Cap.212 “resident company” means a or in Tanzania of compliance under the Companies Act or centre of management is Mainland Tanzania; company incorporated certificate its in issued with control and the the trust whose majority of “resident trusts” means members of trustees are residents of Mainland Tanzania or the place of management and control of the trust is in Mainland Tanzania; “resident association of persons” means an association of persons other than a trust- (a) formed in Mainland Tanzania; or (b) its place of management and control is in Mainland Tanzania. “resident Government entity” means a Government as owner, immovable entity with residence in Mainland Tanzania; “sale” means a transfer of the right to dispose of goods or including property exchange or barter, and shall not include an offer or exposure of goods or immovable property for sale; “services” means goods, immovable property or money including but not limited to- (a) a provision of information or advice; (b) a grant, assignment, termination, or surrender anything that not is of a right; (c) the making available of a facility, opportunity, or advantage; (d) an entry into an agreement to refrain from or tolerate an activity, a situation, or the doing of an act; and (e) an issue, transfer, or surrender of a license, authorization, permit, certificate, concession, or similar right; 17 No. 5 The Value Added Tax Act 2014 “service directly related to land” means service- (a) physically rendered on land; (b) of experts and estate agents relating to specific land; or (c) relating to construction work undertaken or to be undertaken on specific land; “supply” means any kind of supply whatsoever; “tax decision” has the same meaning as ascribed in include a the Tax Administration Act and shall decision referred to under section 90; “tax fraction” means the amount out of tax calculated in accordance with the following formula- R ______ 100 + R “tax invoice” means a document where “R” is the rate of value added tax specified in section 5; issued in accordance with section 86 and regulations made under this Act; “tax period” means a calendar month, beginning at the start of the first day of the month and ending at the last day of the month; “taxable import” means an import of goods, other than an exempt import; “taxable person” means a registered person or a person who is required to be registered for value added tax under this Act; “taxable supply” means- (a) a supply, other than an exempt supply, that is made in Mainland Tanzania by a taxable person in the course or furtherance of an economic activity carried out by that person; or 18 No. 5 (b) a supply of The Value Added Tax Act 2014 imported services to a taxable person who is the purchaser and acquires the services in the course of an economic activity if had the supply been made in Mainland Tanzania by a taxable person in the course of furtherance of an economic activity- (i) it would have been taxable at a rate other than zero; and (ii) the purchaser would not have been entitled to a credit for ninety percent or more of the been value imposed on the supply; added tax that would have “telecommunication a service voice mail, signals, writing, service” means of any description provided by a company by means of any transmission, emission or reception of signs, images and sounds or intelligible information of any nature, by wire, optical, visual or other electromagnetic means or systems, including- (a) voice, audio text services, video text services, radio paging and other emerging telecommunication services; (b) fixed telephone services including provision of access to and use of the public switched or the non-switched transmission and switching of voice, data and video, telephone service to and from national and international destinations; inbound and telephone outbound services, network data for (c) cellular mobile telephone services including provision of access to and use of the switched or non-switched networks transmission of voice, data, video and value inbound added outbound and services, roaming services to and from national and international destinations; for 19 No. 5 The Value Added Tax Act 2014 (d) carrier for services provision including of wired, optical fibre or wireless facilities and any other technology to originate, terminate or interconnection, transit calls, charging settlement or termination of domestic or international calls, charging for jointly used facilities including pole attachments, charging the exclusive use of circuits, a leased for circuit a speech circuit, data circuit or a telegraph circuit; link including dedicated or a (e) provision of call management services for a forwarding, fee including call waiting, call caller call display, call return, call screen, call blocking, automatic call-back, call answer, voice mail, voice menus and video conferencing; identification, multi calling, (f) private network services including provision any of wired, other electronic communication link between specified points for the exclusive use of the client; optical technologies fibre, wireless or of (g) data transmission services including provision of access to wired or wireless facilities and services specifically designed for efficient transmission of data; and (h) communication telegraph, telecommunication service; through telex facsimile, and pager, other “telecommunications service provider” means a person licensed Communications Regulatory Authority or an equivalent foreign body to provide telecommunication services; Tanzania by the 20 No. 5 The Value Added Tax Act 2014 “time of supply” means- (a) in relation to a supply of goods, the time at are delivered or made the goods which available; (c) in (b) in relation to a supply of services the time at which the services are rendered, provided, or performed; relation immovable property, the earlier time at which the property is- (i) created, transferred, assigned, granted, supply or of to a otherwise supplied to the customer; or (ii) delivered or made available; “trust” means a person acting in the capacity of trustee or trustees of a particular trust estate; “trust estate” means property held by a person or persons acting as trustee for a settlement, trust or estate; “value added tax” means the tax imposed on taxable supplies or taxable imports, and includes an interest, fine or penalty pay able in accordance with the provisions of this Act; liability to pay tax under this Act, is provided; “value added tax return” means a return that a taxable the person Commissioner General, required information concerning that person, or other person’s file in which required with to is “voucher” means a stamp, token, coupon, or similar article, including an article issued electronically, which can be for immovable supplies prepaid property, telecommunications not include a postage stamp; redeemed by the holder services, includes goods, and product, does and or of a 21 No. 5 The Value Added Tax Act 2014 (a) value added tax imposed under in “Zanzibar input tax” in relation to a taxable person, means- the value added Tanzania Zanzibar on a taxable supply made to that taxable person; and law applicable tax (b) value added tax imposed under the value added tax law applicable in Tanzania Zanzibar on a taxable import of goods by the person; and “zero-rated” in relation to a supply or import, means: (a) a supply or import that is specified as zero- rated under this Act; or (b) a supply of a right or option to receive a supply that shall be zero-rated pursuant to the provisions of this Act. (2) For the purposes of this Act, goods shall be classified by reference to the tariff numbers set out in Annex 1 to the Protocol on the Establishment of the East African Community Customs Union and in interpreting that annex, the general rules of interpretation set out therein, shall apply. PART II IMPOSITION OF VALUE ADDED TAX (a) Imposition and Exemptions Imposition of value added tax Person liable to pay value added tax