Why are you overtaxing me? Diamond locks horns with TRA

Wasafi Classic Baby (WCB) boss Diamond Platinumz is not amused at how the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has been collecting revenue from his shows and label.

An issue that came to the fore after Diamond, flanked by Jux and other stars, visited a stand ran by TRA in Iringa, 261 kilometres south of Dodoma.

In a heated 20 minute recording, Diamond lamented that TRA has been milking him dry with taxes on every show despite his label remitting returns after every financial year.  

He claimed that he was being double taxed and unfairly treated and demanded clarification from TRA on why it insists on remissions from permits, posters and banners on top of what local municipalities demand.

“Sisi ni Wasafi, kila mwisho wa mwaka tunalipa kodi zetu sawia na wenzetu… Kuna sehemu tuelienda tukaambiwa poster moja ya A4 lazima tulipie Sh135 (Tsh3000) kwa siku. Show sitangazi alafu watu waje leo. Nikiweka siku tatu poster moja yaja Sh405 (Tsh9000),” lamented Diamond.

Revealing that the overtaxed event was in Kahama, Diamond’s PA exclaimed that they refused to pay.

“Tulipiga karibu wiki mbili hio ikaja karibu millioni tisaini na kitu na tuanauliza je kuna mtu anaweza lipa hii kwa kila show? Hatukulipa,” he added.

A representative at the stand, however, noted that the incidents might have been occasioned by rogue officers and reiterated that they would look into the matter.

“Itabidi tufuatilie. Atakapokua pale kwenye concert tuaangalia ni nani aliye kwenda pale akakusanya kitu. Kwa sababu TRA hatuwezi fanya kitu hicho.Tunategemea mapato yake ya mwaka kutokana na hesabu yake kwa sababu net profit yake ndiyo itakayokatwa asilimia thelathini.

“Kwa mapato yake toa matumizi ambayo yanakubalika kisheria na kilichobaki atatupa mahesabu. Sisi tunaweza chukua yale mahesabu au tunaweza kurudi nyuma kuangalia kama ni kweli alipata na alitumia hiki? Lakini hatuwezi kuwa kila anapofanya tunakata,” she said.