Guide · 2026
SME Tax Compliance in Tanzania — Don't Get Fined
Tanzanian SMEs face seven major tax obligations: VAT, PAYE, NSSF, NHIF, SDL, WCF, and corporate income tax. Each has its own forms, deadlines, and penalties. Here's the 2026 cheat sheet to avoid fines.
By Tawala Team · April 2026 · 6 min read
Monthly obligations
VAT return + payment by the 20th of following month (if VAT-registered). PAYE return + payment by the 7th. NSSF return + payment by month-end. NHIF, SDL, WCF on similar cycles.
Annual obligations
Corporate income tax filed by the deadline TRA sets each year (typically 6 months after fiscal year-end). Audited financial statements required for limited companies above certain thresholds.
Automate it
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