Agencies

Tanzania Revenue Authority customs

Last checked 24 October 2026 · 9 sources

Short answer

The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) runs customs through its Customs and Excise Department and the Tanzania Customs Integrated System (TANCIS), which covers Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar ^1,9. Goods are cleared under the East African Community Customs Management Act ¹. Importers and exporters must use a licensed clearing and forwarding agent, who lodges declarations in TANCIS ^1,4. TRA licenses agents, bonded warehouses, transporters and inland container depots ². Tanzania told the WTO that an enhanced TANCIS with the single window launched in January 2025 ⁵.

Agency: Tanzania Revenue Authority, Customs and Excise Department ⁹
Customs law: East African Community Customs Management Act ^1,2
Clearance system: TANCIS, for Mainland and Zanzibar ¹
Single window: TeSWS within enhanced TANCIS, launched January 2025 ⁵
Agent licence fees: US$50 application fee, US$400 licence fee ²
Head office: 28 Edward Sokoine Drive, Dar es Salaam, +255 22 2116453 ²

What TRA customs does

TRA clears imports and exports, assesses duties and taxes, and supervises cargo at terminals ^1,4. At a January 2026 meeting with Customs and Excise officers, Commissioner General Yusuph Mwenda described their duties as protecting borders and national security, preventing smuggling and collecting taxes, as reported by William Lwanji of Daily News ⁹. Mwenda said customs collections rose from 800 billion to 1.2 trillion shillings. The report did not give the period ⁹.

TRA's regulations library lists the East African Community Customs Management Regulations 2010 and the Tanzania Revenue Authority (Customs Processing Fee) Regulations, 2026 (GN 158D) ⁷.

TANCIS and the single window

Agents lodge declarations and all supporting documents in TANCIS. TRA urges lodging at least 7 days before goods arrive. TANCIS rejects incomplete declarations or those with weak descriptions ¹.

In its WTO trade facilitation notification, Tanzania said the enhanced TANCIS, which includes the Tanzania Electronic Single Window System (TeSWS), launched in January 2025. It said 40 regulatory authorities were onboarded and all agents use the TeSWS portal ⁵. Other government departments still use the portal, not system-to-system links. The WTO agreed a final implementation date of 30 December 2028 ⁵.

Import and export steps

Import: the importer appoints a licensed clearing and forwarding agent and gives it the invoice, packing list, transport document and permits ¹.
Import: the agent lodges the declaration in TANCIS, ideally 7 days before arrival ¹.
Export: the agent uploads documents and agency permits to TANCIS, and other government departments approve or reject permits ⁴.
Export: TRA assesses any export duty, supervises container stuffing with other agencies and approves the loading declaration ⁴.
Export: the terminal sends carry-in and loading reports to TRA, and TRA approves the export manifest ⁴.

Customs licences issued by TRA

TRA pages give two different periods. TRA's customs licencing page, which carries no date and was read on 24 October 2026, says all licences are valid for twelve months from the date of issue. It names the law as the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2023 ². TRA's clearing and forwarding agents page, which carries no date, is headed with the list of 2024 licensed agents and was read on 24 October 2026, says licences are valid for a calendar year, 1 January to 31 December. It names the law as the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004 ³. TRA's import procedures page cites the 2004 Act as well ¹.

Licence	Key requirement	Bond or fee
Customs clearing agent ²	Two qualified clearance staff, EACFFPC holder at interview ²	TZS 100,000,000 bond, US$50 application, US$400 licence ²
Private bonded warehouse ²	At least 1,000 sqm ²	Bond at least TZS 500,000,000 ²
General bonded warehouse ²	At least 2,000 sqm ²	Bond at least TZS 1,000,000,000 ²
Manufacture under bond ²	TBS-approved formulae and industrial licence ²	Bond at least TZS 2,000,000,000 ²
Transporter under customs control ²	LATRA carrier licence ²	US$200 per carrying unit, bond TZS 10,000,000 or TZS 50,000,000 ²
Inland container depot ²	At least 30 km from port, 40,000 sqm ²	CB2 TZS 500,000,000 and CB13 TZS 2,000,000,000 ²

One stop border posts

TRA lists eight working one stop border posts, all using the juxtaposed model: Holili, Sirari, Namanga and Horohoro with Kenya, Mutukula with Uganda, Kabanga with Burundi, Rusumo with Rwanda, and Tunduma with Zambia ⁶. Users stop once for exit and entry, and inspections are joint ⁶.

Audit notes

TRA reported on 31 March 2026 that the CAG report for 2024/2025 named TRA as the main contributor to revenue results and said it exceeded its targets ⁸. TRA's post did not list any audit findings on customs systems ⁸.

Common questions

Do I need a clearing agent to import into Tanzania?

Yes. TRA requires importers to appoint a licensed clearing and forwarding agent ¹.

What system does TRA use for customs?

The Tanzania Customs Integrated System (TANCIS), with the single window built into the enhanced version ^1,5.

How much is a TRA customs agent licence?

A US$50 non-refundable application fee and a US$400 licence fee after passing the interview, plus a TZS 100,000,000 bond ².

How long is a TRA customs licence valid?

TRA pages differ. The customs licencing page says twelve months from issue ². The agents page, headed with the 2024 list, says 1 January to 31 December ³.

Where are Tanzania's one stop border posts?

Holili, Sirari, Namanga, Horohoro, Mutukula, Kabanga, Rusumo and Tunduma ⁶.

Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@tanzaniatradesystems.com.

Sources

TANCIS: the Tanzania Customs Integrated System
What TANCIS does, who runs it, when it started, what it replaced, which systems it links to and what the CAG found about its integration.
Tanzania Electronic Single Window System (TeSWS)
The status of TeSWS by phase, the WTO deadline, agencies and agents onboarded, the donor, and how it relates to TANCIS and the Zanzibar single window.
Customs agent licence for clearing and forwarding in Tanzania
TRA requirements, fees and bond for a customs clearing agent licence in Tanzania, with renewal rules, the interview and the licence period.
How customs clearance works in Tanzania
The steps to clear imported goods in Tanzania, from appointing a licensed agent and lodging in TANCIS to paying port charges and collecting cargo.
The EAC Customs Management Act, 2004 and Tanzania
The East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004 as used by TRA: key sections, editions, and the 2019 and 2025 amendments.
One stop border posts in Tanzania: law, locations and procedures
How Tanzania's one stop border posts work: the EAC One Stop Border Posts Act 2016, the 2017 Regulations, exit before entry, control zones and each post.