Tanzania VAT Rates 2026
Tanzania levies Value Added Tax as VAT (Kodi ya Ongezeko la Thamani). The standard rate is 18%, applied to most goods and services. Tanzania applies a single flat rate with no reduced rates.
Current rates — 2026
| Type | Rate | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 18% | Most goods and services |
| Zero-rated | 0% | Exports, certain agricultural and fishery inputs |
Registration and filing
| Registration threshold | TZS 200,000,000Annual turnover (~USD 75,000); lower threshold for professional service providers |
| Tax authority | Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) |
| Filing frequency | Monthly returns, due by the 20th of the following month |
Access rates via API
The TaxID API returns current VAT and GST rates for 200+ countries and territories. Use the /api/v1/rates/TZ endpoint to get Tanzania data programmatically. Responses are cached for 24 hours.
curl http://localhost:3000/api/v1/rates/TZ
# No authentication required for rate lookups
# Response:
# { "country_code": "TZ", "tax_type": "vat",
# "standard_rate": 18, "reduced_rates": [0],
# "currency": "TZS", "last_updated": "2026-06-12" }Fetching the rate in code
// Fetch current Tanzania VAT rates (no auth required)
const rates = await fetch('http://localhost:3000/api/v1/rates/TZ').then(r => r.json());
// → { standard_rate: 18, reduced_rates: [0],
// currency: 'TZS' }
applyRate(rates.standard_rate);About Tanzania VAT
Tanzania charges 18% VAT on the mainland, while semi-autonomous Zanzibar administers its own separate VAT law at the same rate — invoices and registrations do not carry across, a trap for businesses operating on both sides. The 2015 VAT Act trimmed a notoriously long exemption list, though agriculture and tourism carve-outs keep returning in annual finance acts. Non-resident providers of digital services must register under a simplified regime introduced in 2022.
VAT in Tanzania is administered by the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA).
Sources: PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries · Tanzania Revenue Authority (accessed Jun 2026)
Rate history
- 2015New VAT Act consolidated exemptions; 18% rate retained
Frequently asked questions
What is the VAT rate in Tanzania in 2026?
18% on the Tanzanian mainland; Zanzibar levies its own separate 18% VAT under island law.
Does Zanzibar have its own VAT?
Yes — Zanzibar administers a separate VAT system, so mainland registration and input credits do not extend to Zanzibar transactions.
Related concepts and guides: