The Stamp Duty Act CAP 189(R.E.

2019)

CHAPTER 189
________

THE STAMP DUTY ACT

________________

[PRINCIPAL LEGISLATION]

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Section Title
PART I
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS

1. Short title.
2. Interpretation.
3. Commissioners.
4. Stamp Duty Officers.

PART II
STAMP DUTIES
(a) Instruments Chargeable with Stamp Duty

5. Instruments specified in the Schedule chargeable.

6. Several instruments used in a single transaction.
7. Instruments relating to several distinct matters.
8. Instruments coming within several descriptions in the Schedule.

(b) Composition of Duties

9. Composition of duty on receipts.
10. Composition on the basis of specific sum.
11. Agreement to compound duty on cheques.
12. Terms implied in composition agreement.
13. Power to compound duties.
14. Moneys due under composition agreement to be Government debt.
15. Power of Commissioner to estimate duty payable.

(c) Exemptions
16. Minister may exempt chargeable instrument.
17. Commissioner-General may accept fixed sum in lieu of duty on instrument.

(d) Stamps and Mode of Using Them

18. Duties, how to be paid.
19. Where adhesive stamps used.
20. Instruments stamped with impressed stamps, how to be written.
21. Only one instrument to be on same stamp.
22. Instrument written contrary to section 19 or 20 deemed unstamped.
23. Certificate denoting duty or exemption.
24. Provisions as to duplicates and counterparts.

(e) Time When Instruments Must be Stamped

25. Instruments executed in Tanzania.
26. Instruments executed outside Tanzania.
27. Bills, cheques and notes drawn outside Tanzania.
28. Special provisions for any particular class of instruments.

(f) Valuation of Stamp Duty

29. Conversion of amount expressed in foreign currencies.
30. Stock and marketable securities, how to be valued.
31. Effect of statement of rate of exchange or average price.
32. Instruments reserving interest.
33. Duty on mortgages of marketable securities.
34. Duty on transfer in consideration of debt, or subject to future payment, etc.
35. Valuation in case of annuity, etc.
36. Claims under certain instruments limited by value of stamp.
37. Facts affecting duty to be set forth in instrument.
38. Direction as to duty in case of certain conveyances.
39. Duty in case of certain contracts and agreements.
40. Transfers between associated corporations.

(g) Persons Liable to Pay Duty

41. Duties, by whom payable.
42. Obligation to give receipt in certain cases.

PART III
ADJUDICATION OF STAMP DUTY

43. Adjudication.
44. Certificate by Stamp Duty Officer.

PART IV
INSTRUMENTS NOT DULY STAMPED

45. Examination and impounding of instrument.

46. Special provision as to unstamped receipts.
47. Instruments not duly stamped inadmissible in evidence.
48. Instruments impounded, how dealt with.
49. Stamp Duty Officer may refund penalty paid under section 48(1).
50. Stamp Duty Officer may stamp instruments impounded.
51. Instruments unduly stamped by accident.
52. Endorsement of instruments on which duty has been paid under sections 47, 50 and 51.
53. Proceedings under this Part not to bar prosecution.
54. Persons paying duty or penalty may recover same in certain cases.
55. Power of Commissioners to refund penalty or excess duty in certain cases.
56. Non-liability for loss of instruments sent under section 48.
57. Power of payer to stamp bills, promissory notes and cheques received by him
unstamped.
58. Appeals to the Tax Revenue Appeals Board.
59. Instruments tendered in primary courts.

PART V
ALLOWANCES FOR STAMPS

60. Allowances for spoiled stamps.

61. Application for relief under section 60, when to be made.

2
62. Allowance by Commissioners and Commissioner-General.
63. Allowance for misused stamps.
64. Allowance for spoiled or misused stamps, how to be made.
65. Allowance for stamps not required for use.
66. Allowance on renewal of certain debentures.

PART VI
REFERENCE AND REVISION

67. Control of Commissioners.

68. Statement of case by Commissioners to Tax Revenue Appeals Board.
69. Power of Tax Revenue Appeals Board to call for further particulars as to the case stated.
70. Procedure in disposing of case stated.
71. Statement of case by other courts to High Court.
72. Revision of certain decisions of courts regarding the sufficiency of stamps.

PART VII
OFFENCES

73. Offences relating to stamp duty.

74. Where offence is committed by body corporate.
75. Liability of employer or principal.
76. Commissioner-General may compound offence.
77. Burden of proof.

PART VIII
COLLECTION AND RECOVERY OF STAMP DUTY

78. Appointment and duties of agent.

79. Deceased persons.
80. Collection of stamp duty from person leaving or having left the United Republic.
81. Collection of duty from guarantor.
82. Collection of stamp duty by distraint.
83. Security on property for unpaid duty.
84. Collection of stamp duty from shipowner.

PART IX
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

85. Power of inspection.

86. Regulations.

PART X
REPEAL AND SAVINGS

87. [Definition of R.L. Cap. 189.]

88. [Repeal of R.L. Cap. 189.]
89. Savings.
90. [Transitional provisions.]

____
SCHEDULE
_____

3
 CHAPTER 189

THE STAMP DUTY ACT

An Act to provide for stamp duty and for related matters.

[1st July, 1972]

[S.1]

Acts Nos:
20 of 1972
9 of 1977
12 of 1979
25 of 1980
8 and 16 of 1983
15 of 1985
10 of 1986
6 and 10 of 1987
9 of 1988
13 of 1989
18 of 1991
16 of 1992
3 and 10 of 1993
16 of 1994
13 of 1996
24 of 1997
8 of 1998
15 of 2000
10 of 2002
18 of 2002
15 of 2003
15of 2004
13 of 2005
6 of 2006
14 of 2009

PART I

PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS

Short title 1. This Act may be cited as the Stamp Duty Act.

Interpretation 2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires–

Acts Nos. 10 "banker" includes a bank and any person acting as a banker;
of 1993; 16 of "bill of exchange" means a bill of exchange as defined by the Bills of
1994 Exchange Act and includes a draft, order, cheque, letter of credit,
Cap. 215 and any other document, entitling or purporting to entitle any
14 of 2009 person, whether named therein or not, to payment by any other
person of, or to draw upon any other person for, any sum of money;
"bill of lading" means any instrument signed by the owner or master of a
ship or vessel or by the agent of the owner, which states that certain

4
 specified goods have been shipped upon a particular ship or vessel
and which purports to set out the terms on which such goods have
been delivered to and received by the ship or vessel, and includes
the document commonly known as "through bill of lading" but does
not include a mate's receipt;
"bond" includes –
(a) any instrument whereby a person obliges himself to pay
money to another, on condition that the obligation shall be
void if a specified act is performed, or is not performed, as
the case may be;
(b) any instrument (other than a bill of exchange or promissory
note) attested by a witness and not payable to order or
bearer, whereby a person obliges himself to pay money to
another; and
(c) any instrument so attested, whereby a person obliges
himself to deliver grain or other agricultural produce to
another;
"chargeable" means, as applied to an instrument executed or first executed
after the commencement of this Act, chargeable under this Act, and,
as applied to any other instrument, chargeable under the written law
in force in Tanzania when such instrument was executed, or where
several persons executed the instrument at different times, first
executed;
"cheque" means a bill of exchange drawn on a specified banker and not
expressed to be payable otherwise than on demand;
"Commissioners" means the Commissioners of Stamp Duty appointed under
the provisions of section 3;
“Commissioner General” means the Commissioner-General appointed under
Cap. 399 section 16 of the Tanzania Revenue Authority Act;
"composition agreement" means an agreement entered into pursuant to the
provisions of sections 9, 10 or 11;
"compounded duty" means any stamp duty payable under a composition
agreement, and includes any sum payable pursuant to an order under
section 13 and also includes any additional compounded duty or any
penalty payable or failure to pay compounded duty or additional
compounded duty on due date;
"Conveyance" includes a conveyance on sale and every instrument by which
property, whether movable or immovable is transferred inter vivos
and which is not otherwise specifically provided for by the Schedule
hereto; and also a decree or order for, or having the effect of an
order, for foreclosure;
"duly stamped", as applied to an instrument, means that the instrument bears
an adhesive or impressed stamp of not less than the proper amount
and that such stamp has been affixed or used in accordance with the
law for the time being in force in Mainland Tanzania;
"executed" and "execution" used with reference to instruments, means
"signed" and "signature";
"Government" means the Government of the United Republic;
"impressed stamp" includes –
(a) labels affixed and impressed by a proper officer;
(b) stamps embossed or engraved on stamped paper;
(c) adhesive stamps over-embossed;
Act No. 14 of "instrument" includes every document by which any right or liability is, or

5
2009 s.18 purports to be, created, transferred, limited, extended, extinguished
or recorded in a paper or electronic form;
"instrument of partition" means any instrument whereby co-owners of any
property divide or agree to divide such property in severalty, and
includes also a final order for effecting a partition passed by an civil
court and an award by a arbitrator directing a partition;
"lease" means a lease of immovable property, and includes also–
(a) a certificate of occupancy;
(b) a grant for a term of the right to use and enjoy any
easement, profit à prendre, or incorporeal right;
(c) any instrument by which tolls of any description are let;
(d) any writing on an application for a lease intended to signify
that the application is granted;
"marine policy" means any insurance (including reinsurance) made upon
any ship or vessel (whether for marine or inland navigation) or upon
the machinery, tackle or furniture of any ship or vessel, or upon any
goods, merchandise, or property of any description whatever on
board of any ship or vessel, or upon the freight of, or any other
interest which may be lawfully insured in, or relating to, any ship or
vessel and includes any insurance of goods, merchandise or
property for any transit which includes not only a sea risk, but also
any other risk incidental to the transit insured from the
commencement of the transit to the ultimate destination covered by
the insurance, and where any person, in consideration of any money
paid or to be paid for additional freight or otherwise, agrees to take
upon himself any risk attending goods, merchandise or property of
any description whatsoever while on board of any ship or vessel, or
engages to indemnify the owner of any such goods, merchandise or
property from any risk, loss or damage, such agreement or
engagement shall be deemed to be a contract for marine insurance;
"Minister" means the Minister responsible for finance;
"mortgage deed" includes every instrument whereby for the purpose of
securing money advanced, or to be advanced, by way of loan, or an
existing or future debt, or the performance of an engagement, one
person transfers, or creates, to or in favour of another, a right over
Cap. 334 or in respect of specified property, and for the purposes of this Act
includes a charge under the Land Registration Act;
"paper" includes vellum, parchment, or any other material on which an
instrument may be written;
"person with whom a composition agreement has been entered into"
includes such person's personal representatives, assigns and
attorneys;
"policy of insurance" includes –
(a) a policy of insurance upon any life or lives or upon any
event or contingency relating to or depending upon any life
or lives;
(b) a policy of insurance against accident,
and for the purposes of this Act "a policy of insurance against accident or an
accident policy" means a policy of insurance for any payment agreed to be
made upon the death of any person only from accident or violence or
otherwise than from a natural cause, or as compensation for personal injury,
or during the sickness of any person, or his incapacity from personal injury,
or by way of indemnity against loss or damage to any property, and includes

6
 any notice or advertisement in a newspaper or other publication which
purports to insure the payment of money upon the death of, or injury to, or
sickness or incapacity of, or loss or damage to, property of the holder or
bearer of the newspaper or publication containing the notice or
advertisement only from accident or violence or otherwise than from natural
cause;
"power of attorney" includes any instrument empowering a specific person
to act for and in the name of the person executing it;
"promissory note" means a promissory note as defined by the Bills of
Cap. 215 Exchange Act *; it also includes a note promising the payment of
any sum of money out of any particular fund which may or may not
be available, or upon any condition or contingency which may or
may not be performed or happen;
"proper officer" in relation to any function means the Commissioner-
General, a Commissioner or a Stamp Duty Officer upon whom such
function is conferred or to whom such function has been delegated
under this Act, and where such function has not been specifically
conferred upon any of such persons, the Commissioner-General or a
Stamp Duty Officer;
"receipt" includes any note, memorandum or writing–
(a) whereby any money, or any bill of exchange, cheque, or
promissory note is acknowledged to have been received; or
(b) whereby any other movable property is acknowledged to
have been received in satisfaction of a debt; or
(c) commonly known as "cash sale" and given to any person
making any payment or giving any bill of exchange, cheque
or promissory note; or
(d) whereby any debt or demand, or any part of a debt or
demand, is acknowledged to have been satisfied or
discharged; or
(e) which signifies or imports an acknowledgement of any debt
or demand, whether the same is or is not signed with the
name of any person;
"specified country" means any country which the Minister may, by notice in
the Gazette, declare to be a specified country for the purposes of the
Act or of such provision of this Act as may be specified in such
order;
"settlement" means any non-testamentary disposition in writing of movable
or immovable property made–
(a) in consideration of marriage;
(b) for the purpose of distributing property of the settlor among
his family or those whom he desires to provide, or for the
purpose of providing for some person dependent on him; or
(c) for any religious or charitable purpose, and includes an
agreement in writing to make such a disposition, and, where
any such disposition has not been made in writing, any
instrument recording, whether by way of declaration of trust
or otherwise, the terms of any of such disposition;
"Stamp Duty Officer" means a Stamp Duty Officer appointed under section
4;
"tribute agreement" means any instrument by which the holder of a claim or
mining lease agrees to allow another person to work the claim or
lease, or part thereof, in return for a proportion of the value of

7
 production or profits of working.

Commissioners 3. The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, appoint not less than
two and not more than five public officers to be Commissioners for Stamp
Duty.

Stamp Duty 4. The Commissioner-General may, by notice in the Gazette,

Officers appoint such number of public officers as he may deem fit to be Stamp Duty
Act No.6 Officers for the purposes of this Act and may, by such order or any
of 2006 subsequent order, delegate to a Stamp Duty Officer all or any of his
s.28 functions or the functions of the Commissioners.

PART II
STAMP DUTIES
(a) Instruments Chargeable with Stamp Duty

Instruments 5.-(1) Every instrument specified in the Schedule to this Act and
specified in the which–
Schedule (a) is executed in Tanzania Mainland; or
chargeable (b) if executed outside Tanzania Mainland, relates to any
Acts Nos. 16 property in Tanzania Mainland or to any matter or thing to
of 1994 s. 62; be performed or done in Mainland Tanzania,
13 of 1996 s. shall be chargeable with duty of the amount specified or calculated in the
48 manner specified in that Schedule in relation to such instrument:
Provided that–
(i) before calculating the stamp duty payable in accordance
with article 51 of the Schedule to this Act on a receipt
Cap.148 issued by the manufacturer of locally manufactured goods
which are chargeable to Value Added Tax in accordance
Cap.147 with the Value Added Tax Act or to Excise Duty pursuant
to the Excise (Management and Tariff) Act the whole of the
Value Added Tax and the Excise duty shall be deducted
from the gross sum;
(ii) no duty shall be chargeable in respect of any instrument
executed by, or on behalf of, or in favour of the
Government in cases where, had this paragraph not been
enacted, the Government would be liable to pay the duty
chargeable in respect of such instrument;
(iii) no duty shall be chargeable in respect of any instrument
which is exempt from stamp duty by virtue of any provision
of this Act or of an order made under section 16 or section
17 or by virtue of any other written law;
(iv) a bill of exchange, cheque or promissory note drawn or
made in a specified country and accepted or paid or
presented for acceptance or payment, or endorsed,
transferred or otherwise negotiated, in Tanzania Mainland,
and which has previously been duly stamped in the
specified country in which it was drawn or made shall be
deemed to be duly stamped for the purposes of this Act;
(v) no power, warrant or letter of attorney granted or to be
granted by the Postmaster General, nor any power, warrant
or letter of attorney given by a depositor in the savings bank
to any other person, authorising him to make any deposit of

8
 any sum of money in the savings bank on behalf of the said
depositor or to sign any document or instrument required by
the rules or regulations of the savings bank to be signed on
making such deposit or to receive back any sum of money
deposited in the savings bank, or the interest arising there
from, nor any receipt nor any entry in any book of receipts
for money deposited in the savings bank, nor for any money
received by any depositor, his executors or administrators,
assigns, attorneys or agents, from the funds thereof, nor any
draft or order nor any appointment of any agent, nor any
certificate, or other instrument or document whatsoever
Act No. 6 of required or authorised to be given, issued, signed, made or
2006. produced in pursuance of the Bank of Tanzania Act or of
any rules made there under, shall be subject to, or be
charged with any stamp duty or duties whatsoever;
(vi) where a company incorporated in Tanzania Mainland
acquires all the undertaking in Tanzania Mainland of a
company incorporated outside Tanzania Mainland no duty
shall be payable on any conveyance or transfer to such
Company of any of the property comprised in such
undertaking at the time of such acquisition.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (v) of subsection (1).
"savings bank" means the Savings Bank established by the Tanzania Postal
Cap. 301 Bank Act.
(3) The Minister may by notice published in the Gazette, add to,
vary or amend the Schedule.

Several 6.-(1) Where, in the case of any sale, mortgage or settlement,

instruments several instruments are employed for completing the transaction (whether
used in a executed at the same time or at different times) the principal instrument only
single shall be chargeable with the duty prescribed in the Schedule to this Act for
transaction the conveyance, mortgage or settlement, as the case may be, and each of the
Act No. 18 of other instruments shall be chargeable with a duty of one thousand five
2002 s. 48 hundred shillings instead of the duty (if any) prescribed for it in that
Schedule.
(2) The parties may determine for themselves which of the
instruments so employed shall, for the purposes of subsection (1) of this
section, be deemed to be the principal instrument:
Provided that the duty chargeable on the instrument so determined
shall be the highest duty which would be chargeable in respect of any of
such instrument so employed.
(3) Any instrument modifying the terms of a mortgage in respect of
the reduction of principal or raising or reducing the rate of interest or
varying the term for the repayment of principal shall be chargeable as an
agreement.
(4) Where upon receipt of a payment, both a cash sale and a receipt
is issued, only one of such instruments shall be chargeable with duty.

Instruments 7. Any instrument comprising or relating to several distinct matters

relating to shall be chargeable with the aggregate amount of the duties with which
several distinct separate instruments, each comprising or relating to one of such matters,
matters would be chargeable under this Act.

9
Instruments 8. Subject to section 7 an instrument so framed as to come within
coming within two or more of the descriptions in the Schedule to this Act shall, where the
several duties chargeable there under are different, be chargeable only with the
descriptions in highest of such duties:
the Schedule
Provided that nothing in this Act contained shall render chargeable
with duty exceeding ten shillings a counterpart or duplicate of any
instrument chargeable with duty and in respect of which the proper duty has
been paid.

(b) Composition of Duties

9. [Repealed Act No. 15 of 2004].

10. [Repealed Act No. 15 of 2004].

Agreement to 11.-(1) The Commissioner-General may by agreement with any

compound banker provide for the composition of the duty payable on any cheque
duty on drawn on such banker on a cheque form issued or adopted by such banker or
cheques any other chargeable instrument issued, given or received by such banker.
Act No.6
of 2006
s.28
(2) Such agreement shall be in such form and for such duration and
Act No.6 shall contain such terms and conditions as the Commissioner-General may
of 2006 think proper.
s.28
(3) During the continuance in force of any composition agreement
under this section any cheque or other chargeable instrument to which the
agreement relates shall be deemed to be properly stamped.

Terms implied 12. It shall be an implied term of every composition agreement

in composition entered into under this Act that–
agreement (a) if in consequence of any amendment of this Act or in
Act No.6 consequence of this Act being repealed and replaced–
of 2006 (i) any duty payable on the chargeable instruments or
s.28 any category of such instruments to which the
agreement relates is raised;
(ii) any category of instruments which were not
chargeable when the agreement was entered into
become chargeable and by virtue of the provisions
of the agreement will remain exempt,
the Commissioner-General shall be entitled to terminate the
agreement unless the person with whom it is entered into
agrees to such amendment or variation thereof as the
Commissioner-General may direct;
(b) the proper officer shall be entitled, by notice in writing, to
terminate an agreement in the event of contravention by the
person with whom it is entered of any of its terms or of any
provision of this Act or of regulations made there under.

Power to 13. The Commissioner-General may, by order, provide for the

compound composition or consolidation of duties in the case of issue by any body

10
duties corporate of debentures, bonds or other securities.
Act No.6
of 2006
s.28

Moneys due 14. Any sum of money due under a composition agreement, or an
under order under section 13 whether by way of compounded duty, additional
composition compounded duty or penalty shall be a debt due to the United Republic and,
agreement to without prejudice to the provisions of section 58, may be recovered by a suit
be by the Commissioner-General or any person authorised by him in that
Government behalf.
debt
Act No.6
of 2006
s.28
“Moneys 14. Any sum of money due under a composition agreement, or an
due under order under section 13 whether by way of compounded duty, additional
composition compounded duty or penalty shall be a debt due to the United Republic and
agreement to recovered as duty or tax under the provisions of this Act or the Tax
be Government Administration Act.
debt”
section 150 of the
Tax
Administration
Act, 2014
15. [Repealed Act No. 15 of 2004].

(c) Exemptions

Minister may 16.-(1) The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, exempt any
exempt chargeable instrument, or any category, class or description of such
chargeable instruments, from stamp duty.
instrument
(2) Where an order under subsection (1) is expressed to have
retrospective effect, any instrument specified in the order or, as the case may
be, any instrument of the category, class or description specified in the
order, and given, issued or executed on or after the date specified in the
order shall be deemed not to have been a chargeable instrument.

Commissioner- 17.-(1) Where in relation to any transaction or a series of

General may transactions any person is required to give, issue or execute a number of
exempt fixed chargeable instruments, the Commissioner-General may, upon payment by
sum in lieu of such person of such sum of money as the Commissioner-General may
duty on direct, exempt, by order under his hand, all such instruments from stamp
instrument duty.
Act No.6 (2) Any sum of money paid under subsection (1) shall be deemed to
of 2006 be compounded duty in respect of the instruments to which such order
s.28 relates.

(d) Stamps and Mode of using them

Duties, how to 18. Except as is otherwise expressly provided in this Act the duty
be paid with which any instrument is chargeable shall be paid, and such payment
shall be indicated on such instrument, by means of a stamp or stamps in

11
 such manner as may be prescribed.

Where 19.-(1) Where any chargeable instrument is stamped with an

adhesive adhesive stamp, every person executing the instrument or attesting the
stamps used execution of the instrument by any other person, shall cancel the stamp,
unless at the time of such execution or, as the case may be, attestation, the
stamp had been properly cancelled by any other person who executed the
instrument or attested its execution.
(2) A stamp shall be deemed to have been properly cancelled for the
purposes of subsection (1) only if it has been cancelled by a person who is
required by that subsection to cancel it, by writing his name or initials
thereon or by affixing on such instrument his seal in such manner that part
of the seal is visible on the stamp or in such other manner as may be
prescribed, so that in no case can such stamp be used for any other
instrument or otherwise.
(3) Where a chargeable instrument has been stamped by affixing
thereon an adhesive stamp, such instrument shall, for the purposes of this
Act, be deemed not to have been properly stamped if such adhesive stamp
has not been cancelled as is required by this section.

Instruments 20. Every instrument written upon paper stamped with an

stamped with impressed stamp shall be written in such manner that the stamp may appear
impressed on the face of the instrument and cannot be used for or applied to any other
stamps, how to instrument.
be written

Only one 21. No second instrument chargeable with duty shall be written
instrument to upon a piece of stamped paper upon which an instrument chargeable with
be on same duty has already been written:
stamp
Provided that nothing in this section shall prevent any endorsement
which is duly stamped or is not chargeable with duty being made upon any
instrument for the purpose of transferring any right created or evidenced
thereby or of acknowledging the receipt of any money or goods the payment
or delivery of which is secured thereby.

Instrument 22. Every instrument written in contravention of section 18 or

written section 19 shall be deemed to be unstamped.
contrary to
section 19 or
20 deemed
unstamped

Certificate 23.-(1) Where the duty with which an instrument is chargeable, or

denoting duty its exemption from duty, depends in any manner upon the duty actually paid
or exemption in respect of another instrument the payment of such last mentioned duty
shall, if application is made to a Stamp Duty Officer for that purpose, and on
production of both the instruments, be denoted upon such first-mentioned
instrument by endorsement under the hand of a proper officer or in such
other manner (if any) as may be prescribed.
(2) Where a Stamp Duty Officer is satisfied that any instrument is,
for any reason whatsoever, exempt from stamp duty, he may on application
made in that behalf and upon receipt of the prescribed fee, endorse the

12
 instrument with a certificate signed by him and certifying that the instrument
is so exempt.

Provisions as 24. The duplicate or counterpart of an instrument chargeable with

to duplicates duty (except the counterpart of an instrument chargeable as a lease, such
and counterpart not being executed parts by or on behalf of any lessor or
counterparts grantor) shall be deemed not to be duly stamped unless it is stamped as an
original instrument or unless it appears by some stamp impressed thereon or
by certificate given by a proper officer that the full and proper duty has been
paid upon the original instrument of which it is the duplicate or counterpart.

(e) Time When Instruments Must Be Stamped

Instruments 25. All chargeable instruments executed by any person in Tanzania

executed in Mainland shall be stamped within thirty days of execution:
Tanzania
Provided that–
(a) where any such instrument is brought to a proper officer for
adjudication under section 42 of this Act within such thirty
days, the period from the presentation of the instrument to
the proper officer until the notification to the person who
presented it of the decision of the proper officer, shall be
excluded in computing the said period of thirty days; and
(b) every receipt, acknowledgement of a debt, promissory note
and bill of exchange shall be stamped on the date of
execution or the date of the instrument, whichever shall be
the earlier date.

Instruments 26. Every chargeable instrument executed out of Tanzania

executed Mainland shall be stamped within thirty days of its first arrival in Tanzania
outside Mainland:
Tanzania Provided that–
(a) where any such instrument is brought to a proper officer for
adjudication under section 42 of this Act within such thirty
days, the period from the presentation of the instrument to
the proper officer until the notification to the person who
presented it of the decision of the proper officer shall be
excluded in computing the said period of thirty days; and
(b) promissory notes and bills of exchange payable on demand
or at not more than thirty days from sight or date shall be
stamped within seven days of first arrival in Tanzania
Mainland.

Bills, cheques 27. The first holder in Tanzania Mainland of any bill of exchange,
and notes cheque or promissory note drawn or made outside Tanzania Mainland shall,
drawn outside before he presents the same for acceptance or payment, or endorses,
Tanzania transfers or otherwise negotiates the same in Tanzania Mainland, cause to be
affixed the proper stamp and (in the case of an adhesive stamp) cancel the
same:
Provided that–
(a) if at the time any such bill of exchange, cheque, or note
comes into the hands of any holder thereof in Tanzania
Mainland, the proper stamp is affixed thereto (and in the

13
 case of an adhesive stamp, such stamp is cancelled in the
manner prescribed by or under this Act), and such holder
has no reason to believe that such stamp was affixed or
cancelled otherwise than by the person and at the time
required by or under this Act, such stamp shall in so far as it
affects such holder, be deemed to have been duly affixed
and cancelled;
(b) nothing contained in this proviso shall relieve any person
from any penalty incurred by him for omitting to affix or
cancel a stamp.

Special 28. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 24, 25 and 26,

provisions for regulations made under this Act may provide for the time of stamping of any
any particular category, class or description of chargeable instruments.
class of
instruments

(f) Valuation of Stamp Duty

Conversion of 29. Where an instrument is chargeable with ad valorem duty in

amount respect of any money expressed in any currency other than that of the
expressed in United Republic, such duty shall be calculated on the value of such money
foreign in the currency of the United Republic according to the current rate of
currencies exchange on the date of the instrument.

Stock and 30. Where an instrument is chargeable with ad valorem duty in

marketable respect of any share, stock or other security, such duty shall (except as
securities, how provided in article 60 of the Schedule) here to be calculated on the value of
to be valued such share, stock or security, according to the average price or the value
thereof on the date of instrument.

Effect of 31. Where an instrument contains a statement of current rate of

statement of exchange or average price, as the case may require, and is stamped in
rate of accordance with such statement, it shall, so far as regards the subject matter
exchange or of such statement, be presumed, until the contrary is proved, to be duly
average price stamped.

Instruments 32. Where interest is expressly made payable by the terms of an

reserving instrument, such instrument shall not be chargeable with duty higher than
interest that with which it would have been chargeable had no mention of interest
been made therein.

Duty on 33.-(1) Where an instrument (not being a promissory note or a bill

mortgages of of exchange)–
marketable (a) is given upon the occasion of the deposit of any marketable
securities security by way of security for money advanced or to be
advanced by way of loan, or for an existing or future debt;
or
(b) makes redeemable or qualifies a duly stamped transfer
intended as a security, of any marketable security,
it shall be chargeable with duty as if it were an agreement or memorandum
of an agreement chargeable with duty under article 5 of the Schedule hereto.
(2) A release or discharge of any such instrument shall be

14
 chargeable with the like duty.

Duty on 34.-(1) Where any property is transferred to any person in

transfer in consideration, wholly or in part, of any debt due to him, or subject either
consideration certainly or contingently to payment or transfer of any money or stock,
of debt, or whether being or constituting a charge or encumbrance upon the property or
subject to not, such debt, money or stock shall be deemed the whole or part, as the
future case may be, of the consideration in respect whereof the transfer is
payment, etc. chargeable with ad valorem duty:
Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to any certificate of
sale referred to in article 17 of the Schedule hereto.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) where property is sold subject
to a mortgage or other encumbrance, any unpaid mortgage money or money
charged, together with the interest (if any) due on the same, shall be deemed
to be part of the consideration for the sale:
Provided that where property subject to a mortgage is transferred to
the mortgagee, he shall be entitled to deduct from the duty payable on the
transfer the amount of any duty already paid in respect of the mortgage.

Valuation in 35. Where an instrument is executed to secure the payment of an

case of annuity or other sum payable periodically, or where the consideration for a
annuity, etc. conveyance is an annuity or other sum payable periodically, the amount
secured by such instrument or consideration for such conveyance, as the
case may be, shall, for the purpose of this Act, be deemed to be–
(a) where the sum is payable for a definite period so that the
total amount to be paid can be previously ascertained, such
total amount;
(b) where the sum is payable in perpetuity or for an indefinite
time not terminable with any life in being at the date of such
instrument or conveyance, the total amount which,
according to the terms of such instrument or conveyance,
will or may be payable during the period of twenty years
calculated from the date on which the first payment
becomes due; and
(c) where the sum is payable for an indefinite time terminable
with any life in being at the date of such instrument or
conveyance, the maximum amount which will, or may
become, payable as aforesaid during the period of twelve
years calculated from the date on which the first payment
becomes due.

Claims under 36. Where–

certain (a) the amount or value of the subject matter of any instrument
instruments chargeable with ad valorem duty cannot be ascertained at
limited by the date of its execution or first execution; or
value of stamp
(b) any instrument is given as security for the repayment of
money to be lent, advanced or paid and the total amount
secured or to be ultimately recoverable is unlimited,
nothing shall be claimable under such instrument more than the highest
amount or value for which, if stated in an instrument of the same
description, the stamp actually used would, at the date of such execution,
have been sufficient:

15
 Provided that–
(i) where proceedings have been taken in respect of an
instrument under section 42 or section 49, the amount
certified by the revenue authority shall be deemed to be the
stamp actually used at the date of execution;
(ii) in the case of an instrument falling within the provisions of
paragraph (a) of this section, where at any time, to the
knowledge of the parties thereto the amount or value of the
subject matter of such instrument exceeds the amount or
value claimable there under as stamped, any party may
stamp such instrument with additional duty covering such
excess and thereupon the amount or value claimable there
under shall be increased accordingly and the date upon
which such excess came to the knowledge of the parties
shall be deemed to be the date of execution for the purposes
of this Act;
(iii) in the case of an instrument falling within the provisions of
paragraph (b) of this section, where at any time the total
amount secured or to be ultimately recoverable under such
instrument exceeds the amount or value claimable there
under as stamped, any party thereto may stamp such
instrument with additional duty covering such excess and
thereupon the amount or value claimable there under shall
increase accordingly and the date upon which such excess
occurred shall be deemed to be the date of execution for the
purposes of this Act.

Facts affecting 37. The consideration (if any) and all other facts and circumstances
duty to be set affecting the chargeability of any instrument with duty, or the amount of the
forth in duty with which it is chargeable, shall be fully and truly set forth therein and
instrument the proper officer may require any person executing, or any person
employed or being concerned in or about the preparation of any such
instrument to give evidence on oath, or by affidavit, that the facts and
circumstances therein are fully and truly set forth, and for such purpose the
proper officer may administer an oath.

Direction as to 38.-(1) Where any property has been contracted to be sold for one
duty in case of consideration for the whole, and is conveyed to the certain purchaser in
certain separate parts by different instruments, the consideration shall be
conveyances apportioned in such manner as the parties think fit, provided that a distinct
consideration for each separate part is set forth in the conveyance relating
thereto, and such conveyance shall be chargeable with ad valorem duty in
respect of such distinct consideration.
(2) Where property contracted to be purchased for one consideration
for the whole by two or more persons jointly, or by a person for himself and
others, or wholly for others, is conveyed in parts by separate instruments to
the persons by or for whom the same was purchased for distinct parts of the
consideration, the conveyance of each separate part shall be chargeable with
ad valorem duty in respect of the consideration therein specified.
(3) Where a person, having contracted for the purpose of any
property but not having obtained a conveyance, contracts to sell the same to
any other person and the property is in consequence conveyed immediately
to the sub-purchaser, the conveyance shall be chargeable with ad valorem

16
 duty in respect to the consideration moving from the sub-purchaser.
(4) Where a person, having contracted for the purchase of any
property but not having obtained a conveyance thereof contracts to sell the
whole, or any part thereof to any other person or persons and the property is
in consequence conveyed by the original seller to different persons in parts,
the conveyance of each part sold to a sub-purchaser shall be chargeable with
ad valorem duty in respect only of the consideration paid by such sub-
purchaser, without regard to the amount or value of the original
consideration, and the conveyance of the residue (if any) of such property to
the original purchaser shall be chargeable with ad valorem duty in respect
only of the excess of the original consideration over the aggregate of the
considerations paid by the sub-purchasers:
Provided that the duty on such last mentioned conveyance shall in
no case be less than fifteen shillings.
(5) Where a sub-purchaser takes an actual conveyance of the interest
of the person immediately selling to him, which is chargeable with ad
valorem duty in respect of the consideration paid by him and is duly
stamped accordingly, any conveyance which may be afterwards made to
him of the same property by the original seller shall be chargeable with duty
equal to that which would be chargeable on a conveyance for the
consideration obtained by such original seller, or where such duty would
exceed twenty-five shillings, with duty of twenty-five shillings.
(6) If the holder of a registered claim, mining lease or exclusive
prospecting licence has granted to any person the right to purchase such
claim, lease or licence, and if the said right to purchase becomes vested in
some other person by the cession or transfer of the said right, then, upon the
exercise of the said right to purchase, any sums paid for such cession or
transfer shall be deemed to form part of the consideration in the transfer of
such claim, lease or licence.

Duty in case of 39.-(1) Any contract or agreement for the sale–

certain (a) of any equitable estate or interest in any property; or
contracts and
agreements
(b) of any estate or interest in any property (other than land)
situate outside Tanzania Mainland; or
(c) of any goods, merchandise, share, stock or debenture, or of
any interest therein; or
(d) of any ship or vessel or of any interest in a ship or vessel,
shall be chargeable with the same duty as if such contract or agreement were
a conveyance or, as the case may be , a transfer of the estate, interest or
property contracted or agreed to be sold.
(2) Where the purchaser has paid the ad valorem duty as required by
subsection (1), and before having obtained a conveyance or transfer of the
property, and within six months after the first execution of such contract or
agreement, enters into a contract or agreement for the sale of the same, the
contract or agreement shall be charged, if the consideration for that sale is in
excess of the consideration for the original sale, with the ad valorem duty
payable in respect of such excess consideration:
Provided that the duty on such last mentioned contract or agreement
shall in no case be less than ten shillings.

Transfers 40.-(1) Stamp duties prescribed in the Schedule to this Act for

17
between conveyance and transfers shall not be chargeable in respect of instruments to
associated which this section applies:
corporations
Provided that no such instrument shall be deemed to be duly
stamped unless either it is stamped with the duty to which it would, but for
this section, be liable, or it has in accordance with the provisions of section
43 been certified by endorsement either that it is not chargeable with any
duty or that it is duly stamped.
(2) This section applies to any instrument in respect of which it is
shown to the satisfaction of the proper officers–
(a) that the effect thereof is to convey or transfer a beneficial
interest in property from one body corporate (hereinafter in
this section called "the transferor") to another body
corporate (hereinafter in this section called the transferee");
and
(b) that either–
(i) one of such bodies corporate is beneficial owner of
not less than ninety per centum of the issued share
capital of the other body corporate; or
(ii) not less than ninety per centum of the issued share
capital of each of the bodies corporate is in the
beneficial ownership of a third body corporate; and
(c) that the instrument was not executed in pursuance of or in
connection with an arrangement hereunder–
(i) a consideration for the conveyance or transfer was
to be provided directly or indirectly by a person
other than a body corporate which at the time of the
execution of the instrument was associated with
either the transferor or the transferee; or
(ii) the beneficial interest in the property was
previously conveyed or transferred directly or
indirectly by such person aforesaid.
(3) For the purpose of this section–
(a) a body corporate shall be deemed to be associated
with another body corporate if, but not unless–
(i) one of them is the beneficial owner of not
less than ninety per centum of the issued
share capital of the other; or
(ii) not less than ninety per centum of the
issued share capital of each of them is in
the beneficial ownership of a third body
corporate; and
(b) "body corporate" means–
(i) a company with limited liability;
(ii) a body corporate established by or under
any written law;
(iii) any other body corporate designated by the
Minister by notice in the Gazette to be a
body corporate for the purpose of this
section.

(g) Persons Liable to Pay Duty

18
Duties, by 41. In the absence of an agreement to the contrary, the expense for
whom payable stamp duty shall be borne by–
(a) in the case of–
(i) administration bonds;
(ii) bills of exchange;
(iii) bonds;
(iv) bottomry bonds;
(v) customs bonds;
(vi) debentures;
(vii) further charges;
(viii) indemnity bonds;
(ix) promissory notes;
(x) releases;
(xi) respondentia bonds;
(xii) security bonds;
(xiii) settlements,
by the person drawing, making or executing the instruments;
(b) in the case of a policy of insurance other than fire insurance,
by the person effecting the insurance;
(c) in the case of a policy of fire insurance, by the person
issuing the policy;
(d) in the case of a conveyance (including a reconveyance of
mortgaged property), by the guarantee;
(e) in the case of a lease or agreement to lease, by the lessee or
intended lessee;
(f) in the case of a counterpart of a lease, by the lessor;
(g) in the case of a mortgage-deed, by the mortgagor;
(h) in the case of an instrument of exchange, by the parties in
equal shares;
(i) in the case of a certificate of sale, by the purchaser of the
property to which such certificate relates;
(j) in the case of an instrument of partition, by the parties in
proportion to their respective shares in the whole property
partitioned, or when the partition is made in execution of an
order passed by a civil court or arbitrator, in such proportion
as such court or arbitrator directs;
(k) in the case of a transfer of shares in an incorporated
company or other body corporate, by the purchaser or
transferee;
(l) in the case of a transfer of debentures, being marketable
securities, whether the debenture is liable to duty or not, by
the purchaser or transferee;
(m) in the case of a transfer of any interest secured by bond,
mortgage deed or policy of insurance, by the purchaser or
transferee;
(n) in the case of a receipt or acknowledgement of a debt, the
person giving or issuing same;
(o) in any other case, such party to the instrument as a Stamp
Duty Officer may direct.

Obligation to 42.-(1) Any person receiving any sum of money of one thousand
give receipt in shillings or more, or any bill of exchange, cheque or promissory note for an
certain cases amount of five hundred shillings or more or receiving in satisfaction or part

19
Acts Nos. 9 of satisfaction of a debt of any movable property of five hundred shillings or
1977 s. 17; 13 more in value, shall give to the person paying or delivering such money,
of 1989 s. 29; bill, cheque, note or property, a duly stamped receipt for the sum, whether or
10 of 1994 s. not a demand is made for such receipt.
41; 13 of 1996 (2) Any person who is liable to stamp duty under this Act shall keep
s. 48; s 8 of proper records of his affairs showing all duties paid by him.
1998 s. 52; 18
of 2002 s. 49
(3) The provisions of subsection (1) shall not apply to a trader who
has been registered for Value Added Tax or to any payments to or by a
banker in the ordinary course of his business.
(4) Where a receipt was given by any person for any bill of
exchange, cheque or promissory note, such person shall not be required to
give a receipt for any sum of money received by him under such bill of
exchange, cheque or promissory note.
(5) Where the receipt required to be given under subsection (1) is
for an amount of one thousand shillings or more and is in respect of goods
sold by a manufacturer or a trader in the ordinary course of business or is in
respect of services of any kind rendered by any person, then,
notwithstanding any custom in any trade or anything to the country
contained in this act or in any other written law or in any agreement between
the parties to the sale or, as the case may be, the contract for services, the
person issuing the receipt shall enter in the receipt and in its duplicate copy
the following particulars–
(a) the date on which the payment is made;
(b) the full name and address of the seller of the goods or the
person who rendered the services, as the case may be;
(c) a full description of the goods sold or the services rendered
and a statement of the quantity and value of the goods or, in
the case of services, the amount charged in respect of the
services rendered;
(d) the full name and address of the buyer of the goods or the
person to whom the services were rendered, as the case may
be;
(e) such other particulars as may be prescribed by regulations
made under this act for the purposes of this section.
(6) Every person who issues a receipt under subsection (5) shall
retain in his records the duplicate copy of every receipt issued by him and
shall preserve that copy for a period of two years or such longer period as
may be prescribed by regulations made under this Act.
(7) The name and address referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection
(5) shall be in a printed form and the receipts issued under this Act shall be
numbered and issued in accordance to the serial number.
(8) Any person. required to issue receipts in accordance with the -
provisions of this Act shall, for every print of a receipt book, submit to the
Commissioner the copy of the printers certificate showing the quantity of
the receipts printed, their serial numbers and the name of the printer.
(9) Any person who is liable to pay stamp duty under this Act shall
keep proper records of his affairs showing all duties paid by him.

PART III
ADJUDICATION OF STAMP DUTY

20
Adjudication 43.-(1) Where any person is in doubt as to whether or not any
Act No. 15 of instrument is required to be stamped or as to the amount of the stamp duty
2000 payable in respect of any instrument, he may, upon payment of such fee as
may be prescribed, apply for an adjudication by a Stamp Duty Officer.
(2) Where an application under subsection (1) is made to a Stamp
Duty Officer, such officer may require to be furnished with an abstract of
the instrument, and also with such affidavit or other evidence as he may
deem necessary to prove that all the facts and circumstances affecting the
chargeability of the instrument with duty, or the amount of duty with which
it is chargeable, are fully and truly set forth therein and may refuse to
proceed upon any such application until such abstract and evidence have
been furnished accordingly:
Provided that–
(a) no evidence furnished in pursuance of this section shall be
used against any person in any civil proceeding, except in
an inquiry as to the duty with which the instrument to which
it relates is chargeable; and
(b) every person by whom such evidence is furnished shall, on
payment of the full duty with which the instrument to which
it relates is chargeable, be relieved from any penalty which
he may have incurred under this Act by reason of the
omission to state truly in such instrument any of the facts or
circumstances aforesaid.
(3) Any person aggrieved by an adjudication by a Stamp Duty
Officer under this section may, within thirty days after the date of such
adjudication, submit to the Stamp Duty Officer a memorandum of appeal
setting forth the grounds of his objections, and upon receipt of such
memorandum and such fee for lodging and appeal as may be prescribed, the
Stamp Duty Officer shall forward the memorandum to the Commissioners
for their decision.
(4) The Commissioners may call for from the Stamp Duty Officer or
the person lodging the memorandum such particulars as they may require
for the purposes of determining the matters raised in the memorandum of
appeal.
(5) The decision of the Commissioners on an appeal under
subsection (3) shall, subject to reference to the Tax Revenue Appeals Board
made under section 68, be final and bind the Stamp Duty Officer and the
parties to the instrument.

Certificate by 44.-(1) When an instrument brought to a Stamp Duty Officer under

Stamp Duty section 42 is, in his opinion, one of a description chargeable with duty, and–
Officer
(a) that officer determines that it is already fully stamped; or
(b) the duty determined by that officer under section 42 or the
difference, if any, between the duty so determined and the
duty previously paid, has been paid, that officer shall certify
by endorsement on such instrument that the full duty
(stating the amount) with which it is chargeable has been
paid.
(2) When such instrument is, in his opinion, not chargeable with duty,
the Stamp Duty Officer shall certify in the manner aforesaid that such
instrument is not so chargeable.
(3) Any instrument upon which an endorsement has been made

21
 under this section certifying either that it is not chargeable with any duty, or
is duly stamped, shall be admissible in evidence, and available for all
purposes notwithstanding any objection relating to duty:
Provided that nothing in this section shall authorise a Stamp Duty
Officer to make an endorsement under this section in respect of–
(a) any instrument (other than an instrument to which
paragraph (b) applies) executed or first executed in
Tanzania Mainland and brought to him after the expiration
of thirty days from the date of its execution or first
execution, as the case may be; or
(b) any receipt, acknowledgement or debt, promissory note or
bill of exchange drawn and executed in Tanzania Mainland
when brought to him after the drawing or execution was not
duly stamped; or
(c) any instrument (other than an instrument to which
paragraph (d) applies) executed or first executed outside
Tanzania Mainland and brought to him after the expiration
of thirty days after it has been received in Tanzania
Mainland; or
(d) any promissory note or bill of exchange executed outside
Tanzania Mainland, when brought to him after the
expiration of seven days after it has been first received in
Tanzania Mainland.

PART IV
INSTRUMENTS NOT DULY STAMPED

Examination 45.-(1) A public officer to whom an instrument is produced in the

and course of the performance by him of his functions, shall examine such
impounding of instrument to ascertain whether such instrument is duly stamped and shall, if
instrument he is satisfied that it is not duly stamped, impound the instrument or cause
Act No.6 the same to be impounded by any other public officer.
of 2006
s.28
(2) The Commissioner-General or any public officer authorised in
that behalf by the Commissioner-General, may require any person to
produce to him any chargeable instrument in possession of such person, and
may exercise in relation to any such instrument so produced to him, the
powers conferred upon a public officer by subsection (1).
(3) Failure by any public officer to examine or impound any
instrument as required by this section shall, in no circumstances, affect–
(a) any proceedings under this Act or any other written law;
(b) the chargeability, or otherwise, of such instrument.
(4) In this section "public officer" includes any arbitrator or other
person having by law or consent of parties authority to receive evidence.

Special 46. Where any receipt or acknowledgement of debt is tendered to or

provision as produced before any public officer unstamped in the course of the audit of
to unstamped any public account, such officer may in his discretion, instead of
receipts impounding the instrument, require a duly stamped receipt to be substituted
therefor.

Instruments 47.-(1) No instrument chargeable with duty shall be admitted in

22
not duly evidence for any purpose by any person having by law or consent of parties
stamped authority to receive the evidence or shall be acted upon, registered in
inadmissible in evidence authenticated by any such person or by any public officer, unless
evidence such instrument is duly stamped:
Provided that–
(a) any such instrument not being a receipt, an
acknowledgement of debt, a bill of exchange (other than a
cheque or a bill of exchange presented for acceptance,
accepted or payable elsewhere than in Tanzania Mainland
or a promissory note shall, subject to all just exceptions, be
admitted in evidence on payment of the duty with which the
same is chargeable, or, in the case of an instrument
insufficiently stamped, or the amount required to make up
such duty, together, with a penalty of a sum of money equal
to ten times the amount of the proper duty or deficient
thereof portion or four hundred shillings, whichever be the
lesser sum of money;
(b) where any person from whom a stamped receipt could have
been demanded has given an unstamped receipt and such
receipt if stamped would be admissible in evidence against
him, then such receipt shall be admitted in evidence against
him on payment of a penalty of ten shillings by the person
tendering it;
(c) where a contract or agreement of any kind is effected by
correspondence consisting of two or more letters and any
one of the letters bears the proper stamp, the contract or
agreement shall be deemed to be duly stamped;
(d) nothing contained herein shall prevent the admission of any
instrument in evidence in any proceeding for a criminal
offence;
(e) nothing contained herein shall prevent the admission of any
instrument in any court when such instrument has been
executed by or on behalf of the Government, or where it
bears the certificate of a proper officer as provided by
section 22 or section 43 or any other provision of this Act.
(2) The provisions of subsection (1) shall not apply to any
instrument chargeable with duty and not duly stamped which was drawn,
given, or executed by the Administrator-General or Public Trustee in his
official capacity prior to the 31st day of August, 1933.
(3) Failure by any public officer to examine and impound any
instrument as required by this subsection shall, in no circumstances affect–
(a) any proceedings under this Act or any other written law;
(b) the chargeability, or otherwise, of such instrument, for the
purpose of this section.

Instruments 48.-(1) Where the person impounding an instrument under section

impounded, 44 has by law or consent of parties authority to receive evidence and admits
how dealt with such instrument in evidence upon payment of a penalty as provided by
section 46, he shall send to a Stamp Duty Officer an authenticated copy of
such instrument, together with–
(a) a certificate in writing, stating the amount of duty and
penalty levied in respect thereof; and
(b) the amount of duty and penalty so collected.

23
 (2) In every other case, the person so impounding an instrument
shall send it in original to the Stamp Duty Officer.

Stamp Duty 49.-(1) When a copy of an instrument is sent to a Stamp Duty

Officer may Officer under subsection (1) of section 47, he may, with approval of the
refund penalty Commissioners, refund any portion of the penalty in excess of fifty shillings
paid under which has been paid in respect of such instrument.
section
(2) When such instrument has been impounded only because it has
been written in contravention of section 18 or section 19, the Stamp Duty
Officer may, with the approval of the Commissioners, refund the whole
penalty so paid.

Stamp Duty 50.-(1) When a Stamp Duty Officer impounds any instrument under
Officer may this Act or receives any instrument sent to him under subsection (2) of
stamp section 47 not being a receipt, an acknowledgement of a debt, a bill of
instruments exchange or a promissory note, he shall adopt the following procedure–
impounded
Act No. 18 of
2002
s. 50
(a) if he is of the opinion that such instrument is duly stamped,
or is not chargeable with duty, he shall certify by
endorsement thereon that it is duly stamped, or that it is not
so chargeable, as the case may be;
(b) if he is of the opinion that such instrument is chargeable
with duty and is not duly stamped, he shall require the
payment of the proper duty or the amount required to make
up the same, together with a penalty of an amount equal to
25% of the duty payable and not more than the amount
equal to ten times the amount of the proper duty or of the
deficient portion thereof:
Provided that–
(i) when such instrument has been impounded only
because it has been written in contravention of
section 18 or section 19, the Stamp Duty Officer
may, with the approval of the Commissioners, remit
the whole penalty prescribed by this section;
(ii) where any instrument is impounded before the time for
stamping prescribed by or under section 24, section 25 or
section 26, as the case may be, has expired, the Stamp Duty
Officer may remit the whole penalty prescribed by this
section conditionally on the duty being paid within such
period as he may determine.
(2) Every certificate under paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this
section shall, for the purpose of this Act, be conclusive evidence of the
matters stated therein unless the court is satisfied that it was not signed by a
Stamp Duty Officer or that it was obtained by fraud.
(3) Where an instrument has been sent to a Stamp Duty Officer
under subsection (2) of section 47 the Stamp Duty Officer shall, when he
has dealt with it as provided by this section, return it to the impounding
officer.

24
Instruments 51. If any instrument chargeable with duty and not duly stamped,
unduly not being a receipt, an acknowledgement of a debt, a bill of exchange or a
stamped by promissory note, is produced by any person of his own motion before a
accident Stamp Duty Officer within one year from the date of its execution or first
execution, and such person brings to the notice of the Stamp Duty Officer
the fact that such instrument is not duly stamped and offers to pay the Stamp
Duty Officer the amount of the proper duty, or the amount required to make
up the same, and the Stamp Duty Officer is satisfied that the omission to
duly stamp such instrument was occasioned by accident, mistake or urgent
necessity, he may, instead of proceeding under sections 44 and 49, receive
such amount, and proceed in the manner prescribed by section 51.

Endorsement 52.-(1) When the duty and penalty (if any) leviable in respect of any
of instruments instrument have been paid under section 46, 49 or 50 the person admitting
on which duty such instrument in evidence or the Stamp Duty Officer, as the case may be,
has been paid shall certify by endorsement thereon the receipt of the proper duty or, as the
under sections case may be, the proper duty and penalty, stating the amount of each and the
47, 50 and 51 name and residence of the person paying the same.
Act No. 15 of
2000
s. 38
(2) Every instrument upon being so endorsed shall be admissible in
evidence, and may be registered and acted upon and authenticated as if it
had been duly stamped, and shall be delivered, on application in that behalf
made by him, to the person from whose possession it came into the hands of
the officer impounding it, or as such person may direct:
Provided that no instrument which has been admitted in evidence
upon payment of duty and penalty under section 46 of this Act shall be so
delivered before the expiration of one month from the date of such
impounding, or if the Stamp Duty Officer certified that its further detention
is necessary and has not cancelled such certificate.

Proceedings 53. The taking of proceedings or the payment of a penalty under this
under this Part Part in respect of any instrument shall not bar the prosecution of any person
not to bar who appears to have committed an offence against this Act or the Tax
prosecution Administration Act in respect of such instrument.
section 161 of the
Tax
Administration
Act 2014

Persons paying 54.-(1) When any duty or penalty has been paid under section 46, 49
duty or penalty or section 50 by any person in respect of an instrument, and, by agreement
may recover or under the provision of section 40, or any other written law in force at the
same in certain time when such instrument was executed, some other person was bound to
cases bear the expense of providing the proper stamp for such instrument, the
first-mentioned person shall be entitled to recover from such other person
the amount of the duty or penalty so paid.
(2) For the purpose of recovery of any sum of money under
subsection (1) any certificate granted in respect of such instrument under
this Act shall be conclusive evidence of the matters certified unless the court
is satisfied that the person signing the certificate did not, at the time of
signing it, hold the office which is required to be held for the purpose of

25
 giving such certificate.
(3) Such amount may, if the court thinks fit, be included in any
order as to costs in any suit or proceedings to which such persons are
parties, and in which such instrument has been tendered in evidence.

Power of 55.-(1) Where any penalty is paid under section 46 or section 50, the
Commissioners Commissioners may, upon application in writing made within one year from
to refund the date of payment, refund such penalty wholly or in part.
penalty or (2) Where, in the opinion of the Commissioners, stamp duty in
excess duty in excess of that which is legally chargeable has been charged and paid under
certain cases section 46 or section 49, the Commissioners may, upon application in
writing made within three months of the order charging the same, refund the
excess.

Non-liability 56.-(1) If any instrument sent to a Stamp Duty Officer under

for loss of subsection (2) of section 47 is lost, destroyed or damaged during
instruments transmission, the person sending the same shall not be liable for such loss,
sent under destruction or damage.
section 48
(2) When any instrument is about to be so sent, the person from
whose possession it came into the hands of the person impounding the same
may require a copy thereof to be made at the expense of such first-
mentioned person and authenticated by the person impounding such
instrument:
Provided that in the event of the loss, destruction or damage of the
original instrument such authenticated copy shall be admissible in evidence
in any court.

Power of payer 57. When any bill of exchange, promissory note or cheque is
to stamp bills, presented for payment unstamped or insufficiently stamped, the person to
promissory whom it is so presented may affix thereto the necessary adhesive stamp, and
notes and upon cancelling the same in manner herein before provided, may pay the
cheques sum payable upon such bill, note or cheque, and may charge the duty against
received by the person who ought to have paid the same, or deduct it from the sum
him unstamped payable as aforesaid, and such bill, note, or cheque shall, so far as respects
the duty, be deemed good and valid:
Provided that nothing herein contained shall relieve any person from
any penalty or proceedings to which he may be liable for failure to properly
stamp such bill, note or cheque.

Appeals to the 58. Without prejudice to any other method of recovery of duty and
Tax Revenue penalties payable under the Act, where any amount of duty or penalty is due
Appeals Board from any person, the Commissioner-General may lodge an appeal with the
Act No. 15 of Tax Revenue Appeals Board, a certificate stating–
2000 s. 38
Act No.6
of 2006
s.28
section 162 of the
Tax
Administration
Act 2014
(a) the name and address of the person from whom such

26
 amount is due; and
(b) the amount due,
and upon such certificate being lodged with such Board, such certificate
shall be deemed to be a decree passed by such Board against the person
named in the certificate for payment by such person to the Government of
the amount stated in the certificate together with interest thereon at twenty
per centum per annum from the date on which such certificate is filed until
the date of payment, and every such decree may be executed in the same
manner as a decree passed by a court of a Resident Magistrate in a civil suit.

Instruments 59.-(1) Notwithstanding any provision of this Part or section 71–

tendered in
primary courts
section
(a) where any instrument chargeable with duty is tendered in
evidence in a primary court, the primary court may admit it
in evidence without examination or, if the court examines
the same and it appears that it is not duly stamped, may,
instead of impounding the same, order that it be presented
for adjudication and, if necessary, stamped within such
period as the court may specify and pending such
adjudication and stamping may refuse to admit it in
evidence;
(b) where a Primary Court has admitted in evidence any
instrument which is not duly stamped, a District Court or
the High Court, in the exercise of their respective
jurisdictions under Part III of the Magistrates' Court Act,
may, instead of impounding the same, order it to be
Cap. 11 presented for adjudication and, if necessary, stamped,
within such period as the court may specify and, if it is not
stamped in accordance with such adjudication, may, in its
discretion, exclude the instrument from evidence in the
proceedings, and, where a court so orders, the instrument
may be adjudicated upon and stamped within such period.
(2) If an instrument to which an order made under this section
relates is not presented for adjudication and stamped in accordance
therewith within the period specified, the instrument may be seized on the
order of the court and impounded.

PART V
ALLOWANCES FOR STAMPS

Allowances for 60.-(1) Subject to such rules as may be prescribed as to the evidence
spoiled stamps to be required, or the inquiry to be made, a Stamp Duty Officer may on
application made within the period prescribed in section 60, and if he is
satisfied as to the facts, make allowance for stamps spoiled in the cases
hereinafter mentioned, namely–
(a) the stamp on any paper inadvertently or accidentally
spoiled, obliterated or, by error in writing or any other
means, rendered unfit for the purpose intended before any
instrument written thereon is executed by any person;
(b) the stamp on any document which is written out wholly or
in part, but which is not signed or executed by any party

27
 thereto;
(c) in the case of bills of exchange, cheques or promissory
notes–
(i) the stamp on any bill of exchange or cheque signed
by or on behalf of the drawer which has not been
accepted or made use of in any manner whatever or
delivered out of his hands for any purpose other
than by way of tender for acceptance:
Provided that the paper on which any such stamp is
impressed does not bear any signature intended as, or for
the acceptance of, any bill of exchange or cheque to be
afterwards written thereon;
(ii) the stamp on any promissory note signed by or on
behalf of the maker which has not been made use of
in any manner whatever or delivered out of his
hands;
(iii) the stamp used or intended to be used for any bill of
exchange, cheque, or promissory note signed by, or
on behalf of the drawer thereof but which from any
omission or error has been spoilt or rendered
useless, although the same, being a bill of exchange
or cheque, may have been presented for acceptance
or accepted or endorsed, or, being a promissory
note, may have been delivered to the payee:
Provided that another completed and duly stamped
bill of exchange, cheque or promissory note is produced
identical in every particular, except in the correction of such
omission or error as aforesaid, with the spoiled bill, cheque
or note;
(d) the stamp used for an instrument executed by any party
thereto which–
(i) has been afterwards found to be absolutely
void in law from the beginning;
(ii) has been afterwards found unfit, by reason
of any error or mistake therein, for the
purpose originally intended;
(iii) by reason of the death of any person by
whom it is necessary that it should be
executed, without having executed the
same, or of the refusal of any such person
to execute the same, cannot be completed
so as to effect the intended transaction in
the form proposed;
(iv) for want of the execution by some material
party, and his inability or refusal to sign the
same, is in fact incomplete and insufficient
for the purpose for which it was intended;
(v) by reason of the refusal of any person to act
under the same, or to advance any money
intended to be thereby secured, or by the
refusal or non-acceptance of any office
thereby granted, totally fails to the intended
purpose;

28
 (vi) becomes useless in consequence of the
transaction intended to be thereby effected
being effected by some other instrument
between the same parties and bearing a
stamp of no less value;
(vii) is insufficiently stamped provided that the
transaction intended to be effected thereby
has been effected by some other instrument
between the same parties and bearing a
stamp of no less value;
(viii) is inadvertently spoiled and in lieu another
instrument made between the same parties,
and for the same purpose is executed and
duly stamped;
(e) the stamp used on any instrument of lease, conveyance,
transfer or other disposition of immovable property, where
such lease, conveyance, transfer or other disposition
becomes inoperative or ineffective in law for absence of
consent of the President, a Minister or a public officer.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) no allowance
for stamp duty shall be made–
(a) in the case of an instrument which has been executed by any
party, unless such instrument is tendered to the Stamp Duty
Officer for cancellation;
(b) in the case of a bill of exchange or a promissory note, if the
duty paid is of less than fifteen shillings.
(3) A certificate by a Stamp Duty Officer signifying the amount of
duty paid shall, for the purposes of this section, be deemed to be a stamp of
the amount stated in such certificate.
(4) Subject to the provisions of section 60, the provisions of this
section shall apply in relation to any stamp fixed or impressed under any
written law in force before the commencement of this Act.

Application for 61. The application for relief under subsection (1) of section 59
relief under shall be made—
section 60, (a) in the cases mentioned in paragraph (d)(v) of the said
when to be subsection, within six months of the date of the instrument;
made
b) in cases of instruments referred to in paragraph (e) of that
subsection, within two years of the date of the notification
of the refusal to give consent;
(c) in the case of a stamped paper on which no instrument has
been executed by any of the parties thereto within two years
after the stamp has been spoiled;
(d) in the case of a stamped paper on which an instrument has
been executed by any of the parties, within two years after
the execution by the person by whom it was first or alone
executed:
Provided that–
(i) when the spoiled instrument has been lawfully sent out of
Tanzania Mainland, the application may be made within
two years after it has been received back in Tanzania
Mainland;

29
 (ii) when, from unavoidable circumstances, any instrument for
which another instrument has been substituted, cannot be
given up to be cancelled within the aforesaid period, the
application may be made within two years after the date of
execution of the substituted instrument.

Allowance by 62.-(1) The Commissioners may, at any time, make allowance for
Commissioners stamped papers used for printed forms of instruments by any banker or by
and any incorporated company or other body corporate, if for any sufficient
Commissioner- reason such forms have ceased to be required by such banker, company or
General body corporate, provided that the Commissioners are satisfied that the duty
Act No.6 in respect of stamped papers has been duly paid.
of 2006
s.28
(2) Where in the opinion of the Commissioner-General it is just and
equitable that allowance be made for any stamp in any case, he may, by
order under his hand, direct that such allowance be made.

Allowance for 63. Where–

misused (a) any person has inadvertently used for an instrument
stamps chargeable with duty a stamp or a description other than
prescribed for such instrument by the rules made under this
Act, or a stamp of greater value than was necessary, or has
inadvertently used any stamp for an instrument not
chargeable with duty; or
(b) any stamp used for an instrument has been inadvertently
rendered useless under section 21, owing to such instrument
having been written in contravention of the provisions of
section 19,
a Stamp Duty Officer may, on application made within two years after the
date of the instrument, or, if it is not dated, within two years after the
execution by the person by whom it was first or alone executed, and upon
the instrument, if chargeable with duty, being restamped with the proper
duty, cancel and allow as spoiled the stamp so misused or rendered useless.

Allowance for 64. In case in which allowance is made for spoiled or misused
spoiled or stamps, or the Commissioner-General has directed that allowance for any
misused stamp be made, the Stamp Duty Officer may give in lieu thereof–
stamps, how to
be made
Act No.6 (a) other stamps of the same description and value; or
of 2006 (b) if required, and he thinks fit, stamps of any other
s.28 description of the same amount in value; or
(c) at his discretion, the same value in money.

Allowance for 65. When any person is in possession of a stamp or stamps which
stamps not have not been spoiled or rendered unfit or useless for the purpose intended
required for and for which he has no immediate use, a Stamp Duty Officer shall repay to
use such person the value of such stamp or stamps in money, deducting ten
cents for each shilling or portion of a shilling, upon such person delivering
up the same to be cancelled, and proving to such officer's satisfaction–
(a) that such stamp or stamps were purchased by him with a
bona fide intention to use them; and

30
 (b) that he has paid the full price thereof; and
(c) that they were so purchased within the period of two years
immediately preceding the date on which they were so
delivered:
Provided that where the person is a licensed vendor of stamps a
Stamp Duty Officer may, if he thinks fit, make the repayment of the sum
actually paid by the vendor without any such deduction as aforesaid.

Allowance on 66.-(1) When any duly stamped debenture is renewed by the issue
renewal of of a new debenture in the same terms, a Stamp Duty Officer shall, upon
certain production to him of the new debenture duly stamped, within one month
debentures from the date of the execution of such new debenture, repay to the person
issuing such debenture, the value of the stamp on the original or on the new
debenture, whichever shall be less:
Act No.6 Provided that such repayment shall be made only where the original
of 2006 debenture is produced before the Stamp Duty Officer and cancelled by him
s.28 in such manner as the Commissioner-General may direct.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) a debenture shall be deemed
to be renewed on the same terms notwithstanding any of the following
changes–
(a) the issue of two or more debentures in place of one original
debenture, the total amount secured being the same;
(b) the issue of one debenture in place of two or more original
debentures, the total amount secured being the same;
(c) the substitution of the name of the holder at the time of
renewal for the name of the original holder;
(d) the alteration of the rate of interest or the dates of payment
thereof.

section 163 of the 66A. -Where a person is granted an allowance under this Part,
Tax the Commissioner General may direct that, the allowance be applied in
Administration
Act 2014 reduction of any tax due payable by the person under any tax law.
“Application
of allowance”
PART VI
REFERENCE AND REVISION

Control of 67.-(1) The functions of the Stamp Duty Officers under this Act
Commissioners shall be subject to the control of the Commissioners.
(2) Where a Stamp Duty Officer acting under section 42 or section
49 is in doubt as to the amount of the stamp duty payable, he may draw up a
statement of the case and refer it with his own opinion thereon for the
decision of the Commissioners.
(3) Where a reference is made to the Commissioners under
subsection (2), the Commissioners shall send a copy of their decision to the
Stamp Duty Officer who shall proceed to assess and charge the duty, if any,
in conformity with such decision.

Statement of 68. The Commissioners may, and shall if so requested by any

case by interested party, state any case referred to them under section 66 or
Commissioners otherwise before them for their consideration, and refer such case, with their
to Tax own opinion, to the Tax Revenue Appeals Board:

31
Revenue Provided that where any interested party makes a request for
Appeals Board reference to the Tax Revenue Appeals Board under this section, the
Act No. 15 of Commissioners shall not refer the case to the Tax Revenue Appeals Board
2000 unless such person has first paid such fee as may be prescribed.
s. 38

Power of Tax 69. If the Tax Revenue Appeals Board is not satisfied that the
Revenue statements contained in any case referred to it under the provisions of
Appeals Board section 66 are sufficient to enable it to determine the questions raised
to call for thereby the Board may remit the case to the Commissioners to make such
further additions thereto or alterations therein as the Board may direct in that behalf.
particulars as
to the case
stated Act No.
15 of 2000 s.
38

Procedure in 70.-(1) The Tax Revenue Appeals Board, upon the consideration of
disposing of any case referred to it under section 67, shall decide the questions raised and
case stated shall deliver its judgment thereon stating the grounds on which such
Act No. 15 of decision is founded.
2000 s. 38
(2) The Board shall send to the Commissioners a copy of such
judgment under the seal of the Board; and the Commissioners shall on
receiving such copy, dispose of the case in conformity with such judgment.

Statement of 71.-(1) If any court, other than the High Court, is in doubt as to the
case by other amount of duty to be paid in respect of any instrument to which proviso (a)
courts to High to section 46 applies, the magistrate may draw up a statement of the case
Court and refer it, with his own opinion thereon for decision of the High Court.
(2) The High Court shall deal with the case as if it had been referred
to it under section 67, and send a copy of its judgment under the seal of the
court to the Commissioners and another like copy to the judge or magistrate
making the reference, who shall, on receiving such copy, dispose of the case
in conformity with such judgment.

Revision of 72.-(1) When any court in the exercise of its civil jurisdiction makes
certain any order admitting any instrument in evidence as duly stamped or as not
decisions of requiring a stamp, or upon payment of duty and a penalty under section 46,
courts the court to which appeals lie from, or references are made by, such first-
regarding the mentioned court may, of its own motion or on the application of a Stamp
sufficiency of Duty Officer the Commissioner General, take such order into consideration.
stamps
section 164 of the
Tax
Administration
Act, 2014
(2) If such court, after such consideration, is of the opinion that such
instrument should not have been admitted in evidence as duly stamped or as
not requiring a stamp, it shall exclude such instrument from the evidence in
the suit or proceedings on the ground that the instrument has not been duly
stamped.

32
 (3) If such court, after such consideration, is of the opinion that such
instrument should not have been admitted in evidence without the payment
of duty and penalty under section 46, or without the payment of a higher
duty and penalty than those paid, it shall record a declaration to that effect
and determine the amount of duty with which such instrument is chargeable,
and shall require any person in whose possession or power such instrument
then is to produce the same, and shall impound the same when produced.
(4) When any declaration has been recorded under subsection (3) of
this section, the court recording the same shall send a copy thereof to a
Stamp Duty Officer, and, where the instrument to which it relates has been
impounded or is otherwise in the possession of such court, shall also send
him such instrument.
(5) A Stamp Duty Officer may, notwithstanding anything contained
in an order admitting such instrument in evidence, or in any certificate
granted under this Act in respect of such instrument, prosecute any person
for any offence against this Act which he considers such person to have
committed in respect of such instrument.

PART VII
OFFENCES

Offences 73.-(1) Any person who–

relating to (a) draws, makes, issues, endorses or transfers, or signs
stamp duty otherwise than as a witness, or presents for acceptance or
Acts Nos: payment, or accepts, pays or receives payment of, or in any
13 of 1989 manner negotiates, any bill of exchange, cheque or
s. 30; promissory note which has not been duly stamped;
16 of 1994 (b) votes or attempts to vote under any proxy not duly stamped;
s. 63; 13 of
1996
s. 48
Act No.6 (c) issues any share warrant not duly stamped;
of 2006 (d) being a person required by section 18 to cancel such stamp
s.28 in the manner prescribed by or under this Act, fails to so
section 91 of cancel the stamp;
TAA 2014 also
refers to stamp
duty offences
(e) executes any instrument in which all the facts and
circumstances required by section 36 to be set forth in such
instrument are not fully and truly set forth, or being
employed or concerned in or about the preparation of any
instrument, neglects or omits fully or truly to set forth all
such facts and circumstances;
(f) in any case in which a receipt is required to be given by this
Act, fails to give such receipt, or gives a receipt which is
not properly stamped;
(g) upon receipt of a sum of money of fifty shillings or more of
a property the value of which is forty shillings or more,
gives one receipt, or two or more receipts, of less than, or
any of them of less than forty shillings;
(h) upon being required by the Commissioner-General, a Stamp
Duty Officer, or a public officer authorised by the

33
 Commissioner-General, to produce for inspection any
register, book or document fails to do so;
(i) being a person appointed to sell stamps, disobeys any
lawful direction given by the Commissioner-General or
contravenes any of the provisions of the regulations made
under this Act;
(j) not being a person appointed to sell stamps, sells or offers
for sale to any person otherwise than by way of surrender to
a Stamp Duty Officer, any stamp other than adhesive
stamps each of the value of fifty cents or less;
(k) fails to pay any compounded duty within thirty days of the
expiry of the period during which it is required to be paid;
(l) fails to submit to a proper officer any statement of account,
record or return required to be submitted by, under or in
relation to any composition agreement, within fourteen days
of the expiry of the period during which the same is
required to be submitted;
(m) save with the consent of the Commissioner-General,
requires any person making any payment to him or giving
him any bill of exchange, cheque or promissory note
(otherwise than in repayment of any sum of money lent) or
requires any person delivering any property to him, to pay
for the stamp duty for any receipt given for any such
payment, bill of exchange, cheque, promissory note or
property,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine not
exceeding fifty thousand shillings or imprisonment for a term not exceeding
two years or to both.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), any person who–
(a) does or omits to do anything with intent to evade the
payment of proper stamp duty in respect of any instrument
or to defraud the Government of any duty payable under
this Act; or
(b) with intent to defraud the Government of duty or part of
duty payable under this Act–
(i) draws, makes or issues any bill of exchange or
promissory note, bearing a date subsequent to the
date on which such bill or promissory note is
actually drawn or made;
(ii) knowing that any bill of exchange or promissory
note has been post-dated in contravention of this
provision, endorses, transfers, presents for
acceptance or payment, or accepts, pays, or receives
payment of such bill or promissory note, or in any
manner negotiates the same;
commits an offence and upon conviction shall pay the duty which would
have been paid had the offence not been committed and in addition to that
shall be liable to a fine of two million shillings and imprisonment for a term
of two years.

Where offence 74. Where any offence under this Act or under any regulations
is committed made under this Act is committed by a body corporate then, as well as the
by body body corporate, any person who, at the time of the commission of the

34
corporate offence was concerned, as a director or an officer, with the management of
the affairs of such body corporate shall be guilty of the offence and shall be
liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly, unless he proves to
the satisfaction of the court that he had no knowledge and could not, by the
exercise of reasonable diligence, have had knowledge and could not, by the
exercise of reasonable diligence have had knowledge of the commission of
the offence.

Liability of 75. Where any offence under this Act or under any regulations
employer or made under this Act is committed by a person as an agent or employee then,
principal as well as the agent or employee, the principal or employer shall be guilty of
the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished
accordingly unless he proves to the satisfaction of the Court that he had no
knowledge and could not, by the exercise of reasonable diligence, have had
knowledge, of the commission of the offence.

Commissioner- 76.-(1) The Commissioner-General may, where he is satisfied that

General may any person has committed an offence under this Act or under any
compound regulations made under this Act, by order, compound such offence by
offence requiring such person to make payment of a sum of money:
Act No.6 Provided that–
of 2006 (a) such sum of money shall not be less than fifty shillings or
s.28 more than the aggregate of half of the maximum fine
provided for such offence and twice the amount of any
stamp duty not paid or not paid in accordance with the
provisions of this Act;
(b) the power conferred by this section shall only be exercised
where the person admits in writing that he has committed
the offence;
(c) the Commissioner-General shall give to the person from
whom he receives such sum of money, a receipt thereof.
(2) Where an offence is compounded in accordance with the
provisions of subsection (1) and any proceedings are brought against the
offender for the same offence, it shall be a good defence for such offender if
he proves to the satisfaction of the court that the offence with which he is
charged has been compounded under subsection (1).
(3) Where any person is aggrieved by any order made under
subsection (1), he may, within thirty days of such order being made, appeal
against such order to the High Court and the provisions of Part X of the
Criminal Procedure Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to every such appeal
as if it were an appeal against sentence passed by a District Court in the
exercise of its original jurisdiction.

Burden of 77. In any proceedings for an offence under this Act, the burden to
Proof prove–
(a) that the instrument which is the subject matter of the charge
is not a chargeable instrument; or
(b) that such instrument is properly stamped; or
(c) that such instrument was stamped at the time when it was,
by this Act, required to be stamped,
shall be on the person charged.

35
 PART VIII
COLLECTION AND RECOVERY OF STAMP DUTY

Appointment 78.-(1) In this Part–

and duties of "agent" means a person appointed as such under subsection (2) of this
agent section;
Act No. 13 of "appointment notice" means a notice issued by the Commissioner under
1996 subsection (2) of this section;
s. 48

"moneys" includes any debt, deposit or credit, any salary, wages and
pensions payments and any other remuneration whatsoever;
"principal" means the person in respect of whom an agent is appointed.
(2) The Commissioner may, in his discretion, by written notice
addressed to any person–
(a) appoint him to be the agent of another person for the
purposes of the collection and recovery of stamp duty due
from such another person; and
(b) specify the amount of such duty to be collected and
recovered.
(3) An agent shall pay the stamp duty specified in his appointment
notice out of any moneys which may at any time during twelve months
following the date of the notice, be held by him for, or become due from
him to, his principal.
(4) Where an agent claims to be, or to have become, unable to
comply with subsection (3) of this section by reason of the lack of moneys
held by, or due from him, he shall, as soon as may be practicable, notify the
commissioner accordingly in writing setting out fully the reasons for his
inability so to comply, and the Commissioner may–
(a) accept the notification and cancel or amend the appointment
notice accordingly; or
(b) if he is not satisfied by such reasons, reject the notification.
(5) Unless and until a notification is given by an agent under
subsection (4) of this section–
(a) sufficient moneys for the payment of the stamp duty
specified in his appointment notice shall be presumed to be
held by him for, or due from him to, his principal; and
(b) in any proceedings for the collection or recovery of such
duty, he shall be stopped from asserting the lack of such
moneys.
(6) For the purposes of this section, the Commissioner may, by
notice in writing at any time require any person to furnish him with a
reasonable time, not being less than thirty days from the date of service of
such notice, with a return showing any moneys which may be held by such
person for, or become due to him by, any other person from whom tax is
due.
(7) Where an agent fails to pay any amount of stamp duty specified
in his appointment notice within thirty days–
(a) of the date of service of such notice on him; or
(b) of the date on which any moneys came into his hands for, or
become due by him to, his principal, whichever is the later,
and–

36
 (i) he has not given a notification under subsection (4)
of this section; or
(ii) he has given such notification which has been
rejected by the Commissioner; the provisions of this
Act relating to the collection and recovery of stamp
duty shall apply to the collection and recovery of
such amount as if it were due and payable by the
agent, the due date for the payment of which was
the date upon which such amount should have been
paid to the Commissioner under this subsection.
(8) An Agent who has made any payment of stamp duty under this
section shall for all purposes be deemed to have acted therein with the
authority of his principal and of all other persons concerned, and shall be
indemnified in respect of such payment against all proceeding, civil or
criminal, and all process, judicial or extrajudicial, notwithstanding any
provisions to the contrary in any written law, contract or agreement.
(9) Any person who, in giving a notification under subsection (4) of
this section, wilfully makes any false or misleading statement, or wilfully
conceals any material fact, commits an offence.
(10) For the purposes of this section, cases where moneys are held
by an agent for, or due by him to, his principal, shall include cases where the
agent–
(a) owes or is about to pay or becomes liable to pay the
principal; or
(b) holds money on account of some other person for payment
to the principal; or
(c) has authority from some other person to pay money to the
principal.

Deceased 79. Where any person dies then, to the extent to which any stamp
persons duty remains unpaid shall be a debt due and payable out of his estate.
Acts Nos:
13 of 1996
s. 48;
15 of 2000
s. 38

Collection of 80.-(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this act, where

stamp duty the Commissioner has reason to believe that any person who is liable to pay
from person stamp duty under any provision of this Act–
leaving or (a) is about to leave the United Republic without having paid
having left the such duty; or
United (b) has left the United Republic without having paid such duty
Republic and his absence is unlikely to be only temporary,
Act No. 13 of he may, whether or not the due date for the payment of such duty
1996 has arrived, by notice in writing served on such person require–
s. 48;
15 of 2000
s. 38
(i) that payment of the whole, or such part as remains
unpaid, or payable be made within such time as
may be specified in the notice; or
(ii) that security to his satisfaction be given for such

37
 payment.
(2) Where any notice has been served on any person under this
section the amount of the stamp duty payable and required to be paid shall,
notwithstanding that an appeal is pending or a request for reference to the
Tax Revenue Appeals Board has been made, be deemed to be due and
payable on the date specified in such notice and in default of compliance
with such notice the Commissioner shall in addition to any action taken
under subsection (3) of this section or under section 77 be entitled forthwith
to recover the duty by suit or distress under this Act:
Provided that, if subsequent to the commencement of any suit under
this section complies is made with such notice, any such suit shall be
discontinued.
(3) Where any person has failed to comply with a notice served
personally on him under this section, the Commissioner may apply to a
resident magistrate for the arrest of such person, and if the resident
magistrate is satisfied by affidavit or otherwise–
(a) that an amount of stamp duty is due and payable by such
person;
(b) that such person has failed to comply with such notice; and
(c) that there is reason to believe that such person is about to
leave the United Republic,
he may issue a warrant to arrest such person and bring him before the court
to show cause why he should not pay such duty or give security therefor to
the satisfaction of the Commissioner:
Provided that such a person shall not be arrested if he pays to the
officer entrusted with the warrant the amount of the stamp duty due.
(4) Where any person is brought before a court under subsection (3)
of this section fails to show cause as thereby required, the magistrate may
order him either forthwith to pay the amount of stamp duty due or forthwith
to give security thereof to the satisfaction of the Commissioner and, in
default of compliance, to be committed to prison until either such stamp
duty due is paid or such security given:
Provided that–
(a) no such person shall be detained in prison for a longer
period than six months;
(b) the detention in prison of any such person shall not release
such person from the liability to pay such duty.
(5) In any proceedings under subsection (3) or (4) of this section the
production of a certificate signed by the Commissioner giving the name and
address of the person and the amount of stamp duty due and payable by him
shall be sufficient evidence that such amount of stamp duty is due and
payable by such person.
(6) The compliance by any person with a notice served on him
under subsection (1) of this section shall not prejudice his right to appeal or
to request for reference to the Tax Revenue Appeals Board and finally if
upon determination, the amount of stamp duty due and payable by such
person is–
(a) less than the amount paid, then the amount overpaid shall be
refunded together with interest thereon at such rate as the
court may order;
(b) more than the amount paid, then the amount underpaid shall
be payable as if it were a balance of stamp duty charged.

38
Collection of 81.-(1) Where any security has been given under subsection (1) of
duty from section 79 and such security consists of a form of guarantee under which, in
guarantor default of payment of stamp duty in terms of the security, a person (in this
Act No. 13 of section referred to as guarantor) is obliged to pay such duty the
1996 Commissioner may, in default of payment of the duty by notice in writing
s. 48 served on the guarantor require him to pay within ninety days of the notice,
such amount of stamp duty (not exceeding the amount guaranteed by him)
as shall be specified in such notice.
(2) The provisions of this Act relating to the collection and recovery
of stamp duty shall apply to the collection and recovery of the amount of
stamp duty specified in a notice added under this section as if that amount
were stamp duty due and payable by the guarantor and as if the due date of
the payment of that amount were the date upon which the amount was due
for payment under the notice.

Collection of 82.-(1) In any case in which stamp duty is recoverable by suit by the
stamp duty by Commissioner, he may, instead of suing for such stamp duty, recover the
distrait same by distress, and for that purpose may by order under his hand authorise
Act No. 13 of any public officer or an officer of a court to execute such distress upon the
1996 goods and chattels of the person from whom such stamp duty is recoverable
s. 48 and such officer may at the cost of the person from whom such duty is
recoverable, employ such servants or agents as he may think necessary to
assist him in the execution of the distress:
Provided that–
(a) where the full amount of the stamp duty due and payable is
not recovered by such distress, the Commissioner may
forthwith recover the deficiency in any other manner
provided by this Act;
(b) where the full amount of stamp duty due and payable has
been paid after the issue of an order under this section and
before the execution of distress, any costs and expenses
incurred by the Commissioner prior to the payment of the
stamp duty shall be deemed to be a debt due and payable to
the Government by the person in respect of whom the order
was issued and may be recovered by the Commissioner as
stamp duty under this Act.
(2) For the purposes of levying any distress under this section an
officer authorised under subsection (1) of this section together with such
servants or agents as such person may consider necessary, may break open
in the daytime any premises, and any such officer may require any police
officer to be present while such distress is being levied and any police
officer so required shall comply with such requirement.
(3) A distress levied under this section shall be kept for ten days,
either at the premises at which such distress was levied or at such other
place as the authorised officer may consider appropriate, at the cost of the
person from whom the stamp duty is recoverable.
(4) If the person from whom stamp duty is recoverable by distress
does not pay such duty together with the costs of the distress within the
period of ten days referred to in subsection (3) of this section, the goods and
chattels distrained upon shall be sold by public auction for payment of the
duty due and payable and all such costs, and the proceeds of such sale shall
be applied first towards chattels distrained upon, then towards the duty due
and payable and any remainder of such proceeds shall be restored to the

39
 owner of the property distrained.
(5) For the purpose of this section, the provisions of the Civil
Cap.33 Procedure Code in relation to distress shall not apply and the Minister shall,
by regulations published in the Gazette, provided for the procedure for
distress for the purpose of this section.

Security on 83.-(1) Where any person being the owner of land or any premises
property for situated in the United Republic fails to make payment of any stamp duty due
unpaid duty by him on or before the due date or fails to comply with a notice served on
Act No. 13 of him under section 79, the Commissioner may by notice in writing notify
1996 such person of his intention to apply to the Registrar of Titles for such land
s. 48 or premises to be the subject of security for stamp duty of an amount
specified in the notice.
(2) If any person on whom a notice has been served under this
section fails to make payment of the whole of the amount of the stamp duty
specified in the notice within thirty days of the date of the service of the
notice, the Commissioner may by notice in writing direct the Registrar of
Titles that the land or building, to the extent of the interest of such person
therein, be the subject of security for stamp duty of a specified amount, and
the registrar shall without fee, register such direction as if it were an
instrument of mortgage over or charge on, as the case may be, such land or
premises and thereupon such registration shall subject to any prior mortgage
or charge operate while it subsists in all respects as a legal mortgage over or
charge on such land or premises to secure the amount of the stamp duty.
(3) The Commissioner shall, upon the payment of the whole of the
amount of the stamp duty secured under subsection (2) of this section by
notice in writing to the Registrar of Titles cancel the direction made under
that subsection and the Registrar shall, without fee, record such cancellation
and thereupon such direction shall cease to subsist.

Collection of 84.-(1) In addition to any other powers of collection of stamp duty

stamp duty provided in this Act, the Commissioner may in any case where stamp duty
from recoverable by suit has been charged on any person who carries on the
shipowner business of ship-owner, charterer or air transport operator, issue to the
Act No. 13 of proper officer of Customs by whom clearance may be granted a certificate
1996 containing the name of such person and the amount of the stamp duty due
s. 48 and payable and on receipt of such certificate the proper officer of Customs
shall refuse clearance from any port or airport in the United Republic to any
ship or aircraft owned by such person until such duty has been paid.
(2) No civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted or
maintained against the proper officer of Customs or any other authority in
respect of a refusal of clearance under this section, nor shall the fact that a
ship or aircraft is detained under this section affect the liability of the owner,
charterer or agent to pay harbour or airport dues and charges for the period
of detention.

PART IX
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Power of 85. Every person, whether a public officer or not having in his
inspection custody any registers, books, records, papers, documents or proceedings, the
Act No. 13 of inspection may tend to secure any duty, or to prove or lead to the discovery
1996 of any fraud, or omission, in relation to any duty, shall, at all reasonable

40
s. 48 times, permit a Stamp Duty Officer or any person authorised in writing in
that behalf by the Commissioner-General to inspect for such purpose the
registers, books, papers, documents, and proceedings, and take such notes
and extracts as he may deem necessary without fee or charge.

Regulations 86. The Minister may make regulations for the better carrying out
of the purposes and provisions of this Act, and without prejudice to the
generality of the foregoing, may make regulations–
(a) regulating the supply and sale of stamps and stamped
papers;
(b) providing for the authorisation of persons by whom stamps
and stamped papers may be sold;
(c) providing for the remuneration of persons, other than public
officers, authorised to sell stamps and stamped papers;
(d) prescribing the manner in which the Commissioners shall
exercise their functions under this Act;
(e) providing for any one Commissioner to exercise the
functions of the Commissioners;
(f) regulating composition agreements;
(g) providing for anything or matter which may be prescribed
or provided for by rules or regulations.

PART X
REPEAL AND SAVINGS

Definition of 87. [Definition of the Stamps Ordinance as meaning the Stamps

R.L. Cap. 189 Ordinance *.].

Repeal of R.L. 88. [Repeal of the Stamps Ordinance.]

Cap. 189

Savings 89. Notwithstanding the repeal of the Ordinance–

(a) until such time as the appointment of any such person is
revoked by appropriate subsidiary legislation made under
this Act–
(i) all persons appointed as Commissioners for the
purposes of the Ordinance, shall be deemed to have
been appointed as Commissioners for the purposes
of this Act;
(ii) every person appointed as a revenue authority or
having, immediately before the commencement of
this Act, the powers of a revenue authority under
the Ordinance, shall be deemed to have been
appointed a Stamp Duty Officer for the purposes of
this Act;
(b) until revoked by regulations made under this Act, the Stamp
Duties (Stamping of Instruments) Rules * shall continue in
effect as, and be deemed to be, regulations made under this
Act and may be amended accordingly;
(c) all exemptions granted under section 15A of the Ordinance
shall continue in force and have effect as exemptions
granted under section 16;
(d) every composition agreement entered into under section 13

41
 or section 14 of the Ordinance shall continue in force as a
composition agreement entered under the corresponding
provision of this Act;
(e) every order made under section 14 of the Ordinance
providing for the composition or consolidation of duties
shall continue in force as an order made under section 13 of
this Act;
(f) where immediately before the commencement of this Act
any proceeding for adjudication of duty is pending before a
revenue officer or before the Commissioners or the High
Court, such proceeding may be proceeded with, concluded,
appealed against or referred to the High Court or other
authority in the manner provided for in this Act, and the
relevant provisions of this Act shall apply.
Transitional 90. Transitional provisions
provisions

42
 _____
SCHEDULE
______

STAMP DUTY ON INSTRUMENTS

(Section 5)

Article Description of Instruments Proper Stamp Duty

No.
1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of a debt:
(a) of an amount not exceeding TShs. 1,000/= Nil
(b) of an amount exceeding TShs. 1,000/= TShs. 500/=
2. ADMINISTRATION BOND:
(a) where the amount is less than TShs. 1,000/= Nil
(b) where the amount is TShs. 1,000/= or more TShs. 500/=

3. ADOPTION DEED: that is to say any instrument (other TShs. 500/=

than a will) recording an adoption or conferring or
purporting to confer an authority to adopt.

4. AFFIDAVIT: Including an affirmation or declaration in the TShs. 500/=

case of persons by law allowed to affirm or declare instead
of taking oath.
Exemptions:
(a) Affidavit or declaration in writing when made–

(i) for the immediate purpose of being filed or

used in any court or before an officer of any
court; or
(ii) for the sole purpose of enabling any person to
receive any pension or charitable allowance.

(b) Affidavit made for use before any Commission

appointed by the President to hold an Inquiry.
(c) Statutory Declaration under section 89 of the Land
Registration Act, or any Act amending or
substituting that Act.
(d) Omitted: Cap. 356 s. 11(1)(a)

5. AGREEMENT OR MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT:

(a) if relating to the sale of a bill of exchange TShs. 500/=
(b) if not otherwise provided for:
(i) For a sum of money not exceeding TShs.
1,000/= Nil
(ii) For a sum of money of TShs. 1,000/= or
more TShs. 500/=
(iii) Where no sum of money is involved TShs. 500/=
Exemptions:
(1) Agreement or memorandum of an agreement–
(a) For or relating to the sale of goods or
merchandise exclusively, not being a Note or
Memorandum chargeable under No. 41

43
 (b) Made in the form of tenders to the
Government for or relating to any loan.
(c) Being a contract of service required to be
made in writing by or under the Employment Act
or the Merchant Shipping Act.
(d) Made with the Government, the
Community or any institution or corporation.

(2) Apprenticeship deed including every

writing relating to the service or tuition of any apprentice,
clerk or servant placed with any master to learn any
profession, trade or employment.
6. AGREEMENT RELATING TO DEPOSIT OF TITLE
DEEDS, HYPOTHECATION, PAWN OR PLEDGE, that
is to say, any instrument evidencing an agreement relating
to:
(1) The deposit of title-deeds of instruments
constituting or being evidence of title to
any property whatsoever (other than a TShs. 500/=
marketable security).
(2) The hypothecation, pawn or pledge of
movable property, where such deposit,
hypothecation, pawn or pledge has been
made by way of security for the repayment TShs. 500/=
of money advanced or to be advanced by
way of loan or for an existing of future
debt.
7. APPOINTMENT IN EXECUTION OF POWER, whether TShs. 2,000/=
of trustees or of a property, movable or immovable, where
made by any writing not being a will.
8. APPRAISEMENT OR VALUATION, made otherwise
than under an order of the Court in the course of a suit:
(a) Where the amount is less than TShs. 1,000/=. Nil
(b) In any other case TShs.500/=

Exemptions:
(a) Appraisement or valuation made for
information of one party only, and not being in
any manner obligatory between parties either
by agreement or operation of Law.
(b) Appraisement of crops for the purpose of
ascertaining the amount to be given to a
landlord as rent.

9. ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF A COMPANY: TShs. 5,000/=

Exemptions:
Articles of any association not formed for profit and
registered under the law in force, in Tanzania relating to
companies. See also Memorandum of Association of a
company (No. 38)
10. AWARD, that is to say, any decision in writing by an
arbitrator or umpire, not being an award directing a

44
 partition on a reference made otherwise than by an order of
the court in the course of a suit:
(a) Where the amount or value of the property to Nil
which the award relates as set forth in such award
is less than TShs.1,000/=
(b) In any other case. TShs.500/=
11. BILL OF EXCHANGE, not being a bond, bank note or Nil
currency note.
12. BILL OF LADING (including a through bill of lading). NIL
Exemptions:
(a) Bill of lading when the goods therein described
are received at a place within the limits of any
port within the meaning of the Customs
(Management and Transfer Tax) Act, and are
to be delivered at another place within the
limits of the same port.
(b) Bill of lading when executed out of Tanzania
and relating to property to be delivered in
Tanzania.
13. BILLS OF SALE: 0.5 percent for the
(1) ABSOLUTE first TShs. 100,000/=
then 1 percent of
value in excess of
TShs. 100,000/=

(2) By way of security 1 percent of the value

to a maximum of
TShs. 10,000/=

(3) By way of collateral security for every sum of 1 percent not

TShs. 1,000/= or part thereof secured exceeding TShs.
1,000/=
14. BOND, not being a Debenture (No. 26), and not being 1 percent of the base
otherwise provided for by this Act or by any Rules value of the bond
of court. See Administration Bond (No. 2),
Bottomry Bond (No. 33), Respondentia Bond (No.
54), Security Bond (No. 55).
Exemptions:
(a) Bond when executed by any person for the purpose
of guaranteeing that the local income derived from
private subscriptions to a charitable dispensary or
hospital or any other object of public utility shall
not be less than a specified sum per mensem or
annum.
(b) Bail Bonds in criminal cases, recognisance to
prosecute or give evidence, or recognisance for
personal appearance or otherwise issued or taken
by the police under the Criminal Procedure Act.
15. BOTTOMRY BOND, that is to say, any instrument 1 percent of the value
whereby the master of a sea-going ship borrows money on of the bond but not
the security of the ship to enable him to preserve the ship exceeding TShs.
or prosecute her voyage. 10,000/=

45
16. CANCELLATION, INSTRUMENT OF, if attested and not
otherwise provided for–
(a) If the duty with which the original was The same duty as the
chargeable does not exceed TShs. 1,000/=. original
(b) In any other case. TShs. 500/=
See also Release (No. 53), Revocation of Settlement (No.
56(b)), Surrender of Lease (No. 59), Revocation of Trust
(No. 63(b))

17. CERTIFICATE OF SALE (in respect of each property put 0.5 percent for the
up as a separate lot and sold) granted to the purchaser of first TShs. 100,000/=,
any auction by a Civil Court. then 1 percent for
value in excess of
TShs. 100,000/=
18. CERTIFICATE OR OTHER DOCUMENT evidencing the
right or title of the holder, or any other person, either to any Tshs 500/=
shares, scrip or stock in or of any incorporated company or
other body corporate, or to become proprietor of shares,
scrip or stock in or of any such company or body.

See also Letter of Allotment of Shares (No. 35).

19. CHARTER PARTY, that is to say, any instrument (except TShs.500/=
an agreement for the hire of a tug steamer) whereby a
vessel or some specified principal part thereof is let for the
specified purposes of the charterer whether it includes a
penalty clause or not.
20. CHEQUE. TShs. 100/=
21. COMPOSITION DEED, that is to say, any instrument TShs. 500/=
executed by a debtor whereby he conveys his property for
the benefit of his creditors, or whereby payment of a
composition or dividend on their debts is secured to the
creditors, or whereby provision is made for the continuance
of the debtor's business, under the supervision of inspectors
or under letters of licence, for the benefit of his creditors,
or a Deed of Agreement under the Deeds of Arrangement
Act
22. CONVEYANCE, not being a transfer charged or exempted
under No. 60:
(a) Where the amount or value of the NIL
consideration for such conveyance does not
exceed TShs. 20,000/=. 0.5 percent for the
(b) Where the amount exceeds TShs. 20,000/=: first TShs. 100,000,
Provided that in any case where an agreement for then 4 percent for
sale is stamped with the ad valorem duty required value in excess of
for a conveyance, and a conveyance in pursuance TShs. 100,000/=
of such agreement is subsequently executed, the
duty on such conveyance shall be reduced by the
amount of the duty paid on such agreement, but
shall not be less than TShs. 1,000/=:
Provided also that in the case of a decree or order,
for or having the effect of an order for foreclosure,
the ad valorem Stamp Duty upon any such decree

46
 or order shall not exceed the duty on a sum equal
to the value of the property to which the decree or
order relates, and where the decree or order states
that value, that statement shall be conclusive for
the purpose of determining the amount of the duty,
and where ad valorem Stamp Duty is paid upon
such decree or order, shall be dutiable with TShs.
500/=, under the provisions of section 6 of this
Act:
And provided also that the duty on a conveyance
by the liquidator of a company in liquidation of
property forming part of the assets of the company
to a shareholder in the course of the dissolution of TShs.500/=
the company shall be Tshs. 1,000/=.
(c) for conveyance of agricultural land
Exemptions:
Act. Conveyance of any property under the Administrator-
No. 5 General (Powers and Functions) Act * to a trustee, heir or
2011 beneficiary if falling under Article 60(c)
S.27
(a) conveyance of any property under the
Administrator General (Powers and Functions) Act
to a trustee, heir or beneficiary if falling under
Article 60(c);
(b) conveyance of any property under the Export
Processing Zones and the Special Economic
Zones;
(c) conveyance on the transfer of the assets to the
Special Purposes Vehicles (SPV) for the purpose
of issuing asset-backed securities. This exemption
shall be limited to construction of transport
infrastructures and utilities projects.”

23. COPY OF EXTRACT certified to be a true copy or extract

by or by order of any public officer:
Act. (a) If the original was not chargeable with duty or
No. 5 if the duty with which it was chargeable does TShs.500/=
2011 not exceed TShs. 1,000/=.
S.27 (b) In any other case. TShs.500/=

Exemptions:
(a) Copy of any paper which a public officer is
expressly required by law to make or furnish
for record purposes.
(b) Copy of, or extract from, any register relating
to births, baptisms, marriages, divorces, deaths
or burials.
(c) Copy of, or extract from, any proceedings of a
court.
24. COUNTERPART OR DUPLICATE of any instrument
chargeable with duty and in respect of which the proper
duty has been paid–

47
 a. If the duty with which the original TShs. 500/=
instrument is chargeable does not exceed
TShs. 1,000/=. TShs. 500/=
b. In any other case.
Exemptions:
(a) Counterpart or duplicate prepared and
executed solely for purposes of filing and
record in the Land Registry, the Registry of
Documents or the Mining Registry.
(b) Duplicate or copy of any Contract of Service
made under the provisions of the Employment
Act
25. CUSTOMS BOND:
(a) Where the amount does not exceed TShs. TShs.500/=
9,999/=. TShs. 40 per 1,000,
(b) In any other case. the maximum should
not exceed Tshs.
5000/=
26. DEBENTURE:
Explanation - The term "debenture" includes any interest
coupons attached thereto, but the amount of such
coupons shall not be included in estimating the
duty. The same duty as a
(a) If transferable by endorsement or by separate Mortgage (No. 39)
instrument of transfer. for the same amount
The same duty as a
(b) If transferable by delivery. Share Warrant (No.
57)
Exemptions:
A debenture issued to an incorporated company or other
body corporate in terms of a registered mortgage deed duly
stamped in respect of the full amount of debentures to be
issued thereunder, whereby the company or body
borrowing makes over, in whole or in part, their property to
trustees for the benefit of the debenture holders.
See also Bond (No. 14) and section 65.
27. DEED POLL if attested and not otherwise provided for. TShs. 500/=
28. DELIVERY ORDER IN RESPECT OF GOODS, that is to Nil
say, any instrument entitling any person therein named, or
his assigns or the holder thereof, to the delivery of any
goods lying in any dock or port, or in any warehouse in
which goods are stored or deposited on rent or hire or upon
any wharf, such instrument being signed by or on behalf of
the owner of such goods upon the sale or transfer of the
property therein.
29. DIVORCE, INSTRUMENT OF, that is to say, any TShs.500/=
instrument by which any person effects the dissolution of
his marriage.
30. EXCHANGE OF PROPERTY, instrument of. 0.5 percent for the
first TShs. 100,000/=,
then 1 percent of
value in excess of

48
 TShs. 100,000/=
31. FURTHER CHARGE, instrument of, that is to say, any 1 percent of the
instrument imposing a further charge on mortgaged instrument with a
property. maximum of TShs.
10,000/=
32. GIFT, instrument of, not being a Settlement (No. 56) or 0.5 percent for the
Will or Transfer (No. 60). first TShs. 100,000/=,
then 1 percent of
value in excess of
TShs. 100,000/=
33. INDEMNITY BOND. TShs. 500/=
Exemptions:
Indemnity Bonds given to the Government or any
corporation or institution.
34. LEASE, including an under-lease or sublease and any
agreement to let or sublet:

(a) Where by such lease the rent is fixed and no 1 percent of the
premium is paid or delivered– annual reserved rent
(i) where the lease purports to be for a term of for lease of all
less than one year. durations
(ii) where the lease purports to be for a term of
not less than one year but not more than three
years.
(iii) where the lease does not purport to be for
any definite term.
(iv) where the lease purports to be in
perpetuity.
(b) Where the lease is granted for a fine or premium or
for money advanced and where no rent is reserved.
(c) Where the lease is granted for a fine or premium or
for money advanced in addition to rent reserved
Exemptions:
Act. Claims issued under the Mining Act and regulations made
No. 5 thereunder.
2011 (a) claims issued under the Mining Act and
S.27 regulations made thereunder;
(b) hypothetication or lease of any movable or
immovable property as provided under the
Export Processing Zones Act;”
Cap 373

35. LETTER OF ALLOTMENT OF SHARES in a company, a TShs. 500/=

proposed company, or in respect of any loan to be raised by
any company or proposed company. See also Certificate or
other Document (No. 18).
36. LETTER OF CREDIT, that is to say, any instrument by TShs. 500/=
which one person authorises another to give credit to the
person in whose favour it is drawn.

49
37. LETTER OF LICENCE, that is to say, any agreement TShs. 500/=
between a debtor and his creditors that the latter shall for a
specified time suspend their claims and allow the debtor to
carry on business at his own discretion.
38. MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION OF A
COMPANY: TShs. 5,000/=
(c) If accompanied by articles of association under
the law in force in Tanzania relating to TShs. 5,000/=
companies.
(d) If not so accompanied.
Exemptions:
Memorandum of any Association not formed for profit and
registered under the law in force in Tanzania relating to
companies.
39. MORTGAGE-DEED, not being an agreement relating to
Deposit of Title Deeds, Hypothecation, Pawn or Pledge
(No. 6), Bottomry Bond (No. 15), Respondentia Bond (No.
54), or Security Bond (No. 55):
(a) Where the amount does not exceed 1 percent of
TShs.1,000/=. instrument, not
exceeding a
maximum of TShs.
10,000/=
(b) Where a certified auxiliary or additional or 1 percent of
substituted security or by way of further instrument, not
assurance for the abovementioned purpose exceeding a
where the principal or primary security is duly maximum of TShs.
stamped for every sum of Shs. 1,000/= or part 10,000/=
thereof secured.
Act. Exemptions:
No. 5 A mortgage bond as provided under the
2011 Export Processing Zones Act.
S.27 Cap 373

40. NOTARIAL ACT, that is to say, any instrument, TShs. 500/=

endorsement, note, attestation certificate or entry not being
a Protest (No. 48) made or signed by a Notary Public in the
execution of the duties of his office or by any other person
lawfully acting as a Notary Public.
41. NOTE OR MEMORANDUM, sent by a Broker or Agent Nil
to his Principal intimating the purchase or sale on account
of such Principal.
42. NOTE OF PROTEST BY THE MASTER OF A SHIP. See TShs. 500/=
also Protest by the Master of a Ship (No. 49).
43. PARTITION, instrument of. 0.25 percent for the
first TShs. 100,000/=
Note: The largest share remaining after the property is then 1 percent of
partitioned (or if there are two or more shares of equal TShs. 100,000/=
value and not smaller than any of the other share then one
such equal shares) shall be deemed to be that from which
the other shares are separated:
Provided always that–

50
 (a) When an instrument of partition containing an
agreement to divide property is effected in pursuance of
such agreement, the duty chargeable upon the instrument
effecting such partition shall be reduced by the amount of a
duty paid in respect of the first instrument but shall not be
less than one shilling.
(b) Where a final order for effecting a partition passed
by any Civil Court, or an award by an arbitrator directing a
partition is stamped with a stamp required for an
instrument of partition, and an instrument of partition in
pursuance of such order or award is subsequently executed,
the duty on such instrument shall be reduced by the amount
of the duty paid in respect of the first instrument but shall
not be less than one shilling.
44. PARTNERSHIP:
A. Instrument of:
(i) Where the capital does not exceed TShs. TShs. 1,000/=
10,000/=.
(ii) Where the capital exceeds TShs. 100,000/= TShs. 2,000/=
but does not exceed TShs. 1,000,000/=.
(iv) In any other case. TShs. 5,000/=
B. Dissolution. TShs. 1,000/=
Exemptions:
This does not include an assignment by a partner of his
share and interest in the firm in consideration of a payment
or his release from liabilities of the firm, or both, by his co-
partners. This is dutiable as a Conveyance (No. 22).
45. POLICY OF INSURANCE:
A. Sea Insurance:
(1) For or upon any voyage–
(i) Where the premium or consideration does
not exceed the rate of one-eighth per centum of the Nil
amount insured by the policy.
(ii) In any other case, in respect of every full
sum of TShs. 10,000/= and also any fractional part Nil
of TShs. 10,000/= insured by the policy.
(2) For time–
(i) In respect of every sum of Shs. 5,000/= and
also any fractional part of TShs. 5,000/= insured by Nil
the policy–
(ii) where the insurance shall be made for any
time exceeding six months and not exceeding 12 Nil
months
B. Policy of Insurance against railway or air accident
valid for a single journey only. Nil
C. Life Insurance–
For every sum insured not exceeding TShs. 5,000/= or part Nil
thereof insured in excess of TShs. 5,000/=.
D. Any valid Policy of Insurance not specifically
provided for (including any re-insurance by an insurance
company with another company by way of indemnity or
guarantee against the payment on the original insurance of

51
 a certain part of the sum insured thereby).
General Exemption:
Letter of cover or engagement to issue a policy of
insurance:
Provided that unless such letter or engagement bears the
stamp prescribed by this Act for such policy, nothing shall
be claimable thereunder, nor shall it be available for any
purpose, except to compel the delivery of the policy therein
mentioned.
46. POWER OF ATTORNEY, not being a Proxy (No. 50):
(a) When executed for the sole purpose of TShs. 500/=
procuring the registration of one or more
documents in relation to a single transaction or
for admitting execution of one or more such
documents. TShs. 500/=
(b) When authorising one person or more to act in
a single transaction other than the case
mentioned in clause (a). TShs. 500/=
(c) When authorising more than five but not more
than ten persons to act jointly and severally in
more than one transaction or generally. TShs. 500/=
(d) When given for consideration and authorising
the attorney to sell any immovable property. TShs. 500/=
(e) In any other case. TShs. 500/=
(f) Revocation of.
Exemptions:
Authorisation on a bank permitting one or more persons to
conduct ordinary banking business on account of another
or others or a resolution whereby an incorporated company
or other body corporate authorises its director or directors,
servant or servants similarly to conduct such business.
Explanation. - For the purposes of this Article two or more
persons who are members of the same firm shall be
deemed to be one person.

47. PROMISSORY NOTE. Nil

48 PROTEST OF BILL OR NOTE, that is to say, any Nil
declaration in writing made by a Notary Public or other
person lawfully acting as such, attesting the dishonour of a
bill of exchange or promissory note.
49. PROTEST BY THE MASTER OF A SHIP, that is to say, TShs. 500/=
any declaration of the particulars of her voyage drawn up
by him with a view to the adjustment of losses or the
calculation of averages, and every declaration in writing
made by him against the charterers or consignees for not
loading or unloading the ship when such declaration is
attested or certified by a Notary Public or other person
lawfully acting as such. See also Note of Protest by the
Master of a Ship (No. 42).
50. PROXY empowering any person to vote at any one
election of the Members of a district or local board or of a
body of Municipal Commissioners, or at any one meeting

52
 of: Nil
(a) members of an incorporated company or other
body corporate whose stock or funds is or are
divided into shares and transferable; Nil
(b) a local authority; or Nil
(c) proprietors, members or contributors to the
funds of any institution.
Note: A proxy giving power to demand a poll and vote
thereat is dutiable as a Power of Attorney (No. 46).
51. RECEIPT for any money or other property:
(i) For an amount not exceeding TShs. 1,000/=. Nil
(ii) For an amount exceeding TShs. 1,000/=. 1 percent

(iii) for bureau de change 0.5 percent of total

value of margins
being the difference
between selling and
buying
Exemptions:
Receipt–
(a) endorsed on or contained in any instrument duly
stamped or exempted under the proviso to section
5 (instruments executed on behalf of the
Government) acknowledging the receipt of the
consideration money therein expressed, or the
receipt of any principal money, interest or annuity
or other periodical payment thereby secured;
(b) for any payment of money without consideration;
(c) given by any member of the Defence Forces, or his
representative, for or on account of any pay,
pension, gratuity or allowance;
(d) given for or on account of any salary, pay, or
wages, or for or on account of any other like
payment made to or for the account or benefit of
any person, being the holder of an office or an
employee, in respect of his office or employment,
or for or on account of money paid in respect of
any pension, superannuation allowance,
compassionate allowance, or other like allowance;
(e) given for money or securities for money deposited
in the hands of a Bank or any banker, to be
accounted for:
Provided that the same is not expressed to be
received of, or by, the hands of any other than the
person to whom the same is to be accounted for:
Provided also that this exemption shall not extend
to a receipt or acknowledgement for any sum paid
or deposited for or upon a letter of allotment of a

53
 share, or in respect of a call upon any stock or
share of, or in, any incorporated company or other
body corporate or such proposed or intended
company or body or in respect of a debenture being
a marketable security;
(f) given by the Government;
(g) by any person or body of persons, registered under
Part IV of the VAT Act, Cap 148 from the
imposition date of VAT;
(h) for selling agricultural products by a farmer, a
farmers' association, a co-operative society or co-
operative union;
(i) issued to acknowledge payment of fees to all
farmers, Colleges and Training Institutions;
(j) for proceeds of game of chance;
(k) for rental income;
(l) for selling fish by fishermen;
(m) for business income.
52. RECONVEYANCE OF MORTGAGED PROPERTY OR 1 percent of mortgage
RELEASE OR DISCHARGE OF ANY MORTGAGE OR value but duty not
CHARGE. exceeding TShs.
1.000/=
53. RELEASE, that is to say, any instrument not being a 0.25 percent for the
release or discharge charged under article 52 or such first TShs. 100,000/=,
release as is provided for by section 32 whereby a person then 1 percent of
renounces a claim upon another person or against any value in excess of
specified property. TShs. 100,000/=
54. RESPONDENTIA BOND, that is to say, any instrument 0.5 percent of the
securing a loan on the cargo laden or to be laden on board mortgage value, total
of a ship and making repayment contingent on the arrival duty not exceeding
of the cargo at the port of destination. TShs. 10,000/=

55. SECURITY BOND OR MORTGAGE DEED

Executed by way of security for the due execution of an
office, or to account for money or other property received
by virtue thereof or executed by a surety to secure the due
performance of a contract–
(a) when the amount secured does not exceed 1 percent of mortgage
TShs. 2,000/=; value, total duty not
exceeding TShs.
10,000/=
(b) in any other case. TShs. 1,000/=
General Exemptions:
Bond or other instrument, when executed–
(a) by any person for the purposes of guaranteeing
that the local income derived from private
subscriptions to a charitable dispensary or
hospital or any other object of public utility
shall not be less than a specified sum per
mensem or annum;
(b) executed by Officers of Government or their
sureties to secure the due execution of an

54
 Office or the due accounting for money or
other property received by virtue thereof.
56. SETTLEMENT:
A: Instrument of (including a deed of dower). 0.25 percent for the
first Shs. 100,00/=,
then 1 percent of
value in excess of
Exemptions: TShs. 100,000/=
Deed of dower executed on the occasion of a marriage
between Mohammedans.
B: Revocation of.
See also Trust (No. 63).
57. SHARE WARRANTS to bearer issued under any written 0.17 percent for the
law relating to companies. first TShs. 100,000/=,
then 1.3 percent of
value in excess of
Exemptions: TShs. 100,000/=
Share warrant when issued by a company under the law in
force in Tanzania relating to companies, to have effect only
upon payment, as composition for the duty of–
(a) three-quarters per centum of the whole subscribed
capital of the company; or
(b) if any company which has paid the said duty or
composition in full, subsequently issues an addition to its
subscribed capital, three-quarters per centum of the
additional capital so issued.

58. SHIPPING ORDER for or relating to the conveyance of Nil

goods on board of any vessel.
59. SURRENDER OF LEASE:
(1) without consideration– TShs. 1,000/=
(a) when the duty with which the lease is
chargeable does not exceed TShs.
20,000;
(b) in any other case.
(2) with consideration. TShs. 1,000/=

The same duty as a

Conveyance (No. 22)
for the amount of the
consideration in
addition to the duty
Exemptions: chargeable under
Surrender of lease, when such lease is exempted from duty. paragraph (1)(a) or
(b) of this Article.

60. TRANSFER (whether with or without consideration)–

(a) of shares in an incorporated company or 1 percent of the value
other body corporate; of the shares
approved by the
(b) of debentures whether the debenture is Board

55
 liable to duty or not; 1 percent of the value
of the shares
(c) of any interest secured by a bond, approved by the
mortgage-deed or policy of insurance– Board
1 percent of the value
(1) if the duty on such bond, mortgage-deed or policy of the shares
does not exceed ten shillings; approved by the
(2) in any other case; Board
(d) of any trust-property without consideration TShs. 1,000/=
from one trustee to another trustee or from
a trustee to a beneficiary; Nil
(e) of any property under the Administrator- Nil
General (Powers and Functions) Act * to a
trustee, heir or beneficiary:
Provided that in any case where an agreement for sale is
stamped with the ad valorem duty required for a transfer,
and a transfer in pursuance of such agreement is
subsequently executed, the duty on such transfer shall be
reduced by the amount of the duty paid on such agreement,
but shall not be less than one shilling:
Provided also that the duty on a transfer by the liquidator of
a company in liquidation of property forming part of the
assets of the company to a share-holder in the course of the
dissolution of the company shall be ten shillings.
Exemptions:
Transfer by sale-
(a) of shares;
(b) of other financial securities, by companies listed by
the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange. Transfers by
endorsement–
(1) of a bill of exchange, cheque or promissory note;
(2) of a bill of lading, delivery order, warrant for
goods, or other mercantile document of title of goods;
(3) of a policy of insurance.
61. TRANSFER OF LEASE by way of assignment and not by 0.5 percent for the
way of under-lease. first TShs. 100,000/=,
then 1 percent of
value in excess of
TShs. 100,000/=
62. TRIBUTE AGREEMENTS:
(a) With respect to claims–
(i) where the holder reserves a proportion TShs. 500/=
of the value of production, for every
one-hundredth part of such value
reserved, or fraction of such one-
hundredth part, in respect of each
claim; TShs. 500/=
(ii) where the holder reserves a proportion
of the profits of working, for every
one-hundredth part of the amount of
the profits reserved, or fraction of such
one-hundredth part, in respect of each

56
 claim. TShs. 1,000/= for
(b) With respect to mining leases– each acre contained in
(i) where the holder reserves a proportion the lease
of the value of production, for every
one-hundredth part of the value
reserved, or fraction of such one- TShs. 1,000/= for
hundredth part, in respect of each each acre contained in
claim; the lease
(ii) where the holder reserves a proportion
of the profits of the working, for every
one-hundredth part of the amount of The same duty as a
the profits reserved, or fraction of such lease in addition to
one-hundredth part the duty (if any)
(c) Where, in any such agreement, the payable under (a) or
consideration or part thereof is specified in (b)
terms of rent.

63. TRUST:
A. Declaration of, or concerning any property when 1 percent of the
made by any writing not being a will. amount of value of
B. Revocation of, or concerning any property when the property
made by any instrument other than a will. concerned with the
maximum not
exceeding TShs.
1,000/=
1 percent of the
See also Settlement (No. 56) amount of value of
the property
concerned with the
maximum not
exceeding TShs.
1,000/=
1 percent of the
amount of value of
the property
concerned with the
maximum not
exceeding TShs.
1,000/=
64. WARRANT FOR GOODS, that is to say, any instrument Nil
evidencing the title of any person therein named, or his
assigns, or the holder thereof, to the property in any goods
lying in or upon any dock, warehouse or wharf, such
instrument being signed or certified by or on behalf of the
person in whose custody such goods may be.
65. ANY INSTRUMENT (if attested) not otherwise provided TShs. 500/=
for.
Exemptions:
Wills, codicils of wills, or other testamentary instruments.

57
__________________

58