Tanzania Company Registration | Set Up a Company in Tanzania (Private Company Limited by Shares)
Planning Tanzania company registration or looking to set up a company in Tanzania to reach East African markets? The most common entity is the private company limited by shares. You apply through the online system of the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA), then register for tax with the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA). The Certificate of Incentives issued by the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) covers projects wholly owned by foreign investors, and foreign directors can register with BRELA using a passport.
No general minimum capital has been published. BRELA charges incorporation fees based on authorized share capital, and the fee is TSh 95,000 for share capital up to TSh 1,000,000. The standard corporate income tax rate is 30% and VAT is 18%. VAT registration is required once taxable turnover reaches TZS 200,000,000 in 12 months, and foreign projects with an investment of USD 500,000 or more can apply for a Certificate of Incentives. NSS Group (戰國策集團) offers one-stop Tanzania company registration, from shareholding structure assessment, name reservation, constitution and beneficial owner documents and BRELA online incorporation to TRA tax registration and a business license, helping companies and individuals set up a limited company in Tanzania.
The TISEZA Certificate of Incentives lists projects wholly owned by foreign investors as eligible, and foreign directors can register with BRELA using a passport.
BRELA incorporation is done through an online system: you enter the details, upload attachments and pay by mobile money or bank. Review starts once payment is made.
Foreign or joint venture projects with an investment of USD 500,000 or more can apply to TISEZA for a Certificate of Incentives and receive incentives under the Investment and Special Economic Zones Act of 2025.
Tanzania is one of the 8 partner states of the East African Community (EAC), and the EAC headquarters is in Arusha, a city in northern Tanzania.
a company in Tanzania?
Tanzania is one of the 8 partner states of the East African Community (EAC), and the EAC headquarters is in Arusha. Companies are incorporated through the online system of the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA). Incorporation fees are based on authorized share capital, and the fee is TSh 95,000 for share capital up to TSh 1,000,000. Foreign directors can register using a passport. Foreign or joint venture projects with an investment of USD 500,000 or more can apply to the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) for a Certificate of Incentives. On tax, the standard corporate income tax rate is 30% and VAT is 18%. Businesses with taxable turnover below TZS 200,000,000 in 12 months generally do not need to register for VAT. Tanzania suits companies looking at East African markets and regional expansion.
in 3 steps
In Tanzania, companies register with the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA) under the Companies Act (Cap. 212), and the private company limited by shares is the most common type. The BRELA incorporation form asks for the registered office, 2 directors, a company secretary, the authorized share capital and details of 2 shareholders, and beneficial owners must be declared. After you receive the Certificate of Incorporation, you apply to the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) for a tax identification number.
Registering a company in Tanzania is mainly done online, but the applicant on the online system must have a NIDA ID number. After incorporation you also need a tax clearance certificate and a business license, and you must file with BRELA and TRA every year. NSS Group helps you plan the shareholding structure, prepare documents and arrange annual maintenance, so your Tanzania company is clear and compliant from setup to operation.
First reserve the company name with the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA). The fee is TSh 50,000. Prepare the constitution (Katiba ya Kampuni), the Integrity form and the Consolidated form, plus details of the directors, company secretary, shareholders and beneficial owners. Foreign directors register with a passport and must have a tax identification number.
Log in to the BRELA online system (BOS) with a NIDA ID number, choose the company type, enter the company details and upload attachments. Pay the incorporation fee based on share capital (from TSh 95,000) by mobile money or bank. BRELA reviews the application once payment is received and issues the Certificate of Incorporation.
After incorporation, apply for the company tax identification number (TIN) through the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) taxpayer portal, attaching a lease or title document and a letter of introduction from the local government, and appoint a person to file returns. After you receive the Tax Clearance Certificate, apply for a business license, and register for VAT once turnover reaches the threshold.
service
- Company name search and reservation
- Preparation and filing of registration documents
- Drafting of governing documents
- Collection of the registration certificate
- Advice on Tanzania bank account documents and process
- Account opening document preparation
- Appointment booking and accompaniment
- Post-opening support
- Registered address
- Company secretary appointment
- Annual filing services
- Document custody and management
- Bookkeeping
- Tax filing and planning
- Financial statement preparation
- Audit arrangement
- Trademark search and assessment
- Trademark application filing
- Trademark maintenance and renewal
- Infringement protection advice
- Company change filings
- Share transfer support
- Company deregistration
- Legal advisory support
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- Entity type and shareholding structure assessment
- BRELA name reservation and constitution documents
- BRELA online incorporation and beneficial owner declaration
- Support with TRA TIN, tax clearance and business license
- BRELA annual return and TRA filing reminders
Official fees: BRELA name reservation TSh 50,000, incorporation fee from TSh 95,000 based on share capital, annual return TSh 22,000. Other items are quoted.
Tanzania company registration at a glance
These are the points people ask about most when registering a company in Tanzania, checked against official notices (updated November 2026).
| Entity type | Private company limited by shares (under the Companies Act, Cap. 212) |
|---|---|
| Registry | Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA); tax registration with TRA |
| Foreign ownership | Wholly foreign-owned projects can apply for a Certificate of Incentives; foreign directors can use a passport |
| Minimum capital | Not published; incorporation fee from TSh 95,000 based on share capital |
| Corporate income tax | Standard rate 30% |
| VAT | 18%; registration required once turnover reaches TZS 200,000,000 in 12 months |
| Setup time | Depends on review progress |
| Annual filing | BRELA annual return; TRA return within 6 months after year-end |
| Who can help | NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw), free assessment and written quote |
Tanzania company formation cost: fee breakdown
Government fees to register a company in Tanzania are mainly the BRELA name reservation and the incorporation fee based on authorized share capital, followed by an annual return fee each year. Applying for a TISEZA Certificate of Incentives carries a separate facilitation fee. The official figures are listed below so you can check each line when you compare quotes.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Company name reservation | TSh 50,000 | Apply to the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA) to reserve the company name. |
| Incorporation of a company limited by shares | From TSh 95,000 | Charged by authorized share capital band: up to TSh 1,000,000 is TSh 95,000, up to 5,000,000 is TSh 175,000, up to 20,000,000 is TSh 260,000, up to 50,000,000 is TSh 290,000, and the top band is TSh 1,000,000. |
| Annual return | TSh 22,000 | Filed with BRELA each year; a late fee of TSh 2,500 per month applies. |
| Branch of a foreign company | From TSh 2,000,000 | Filing the certified constitution of the foreign company is TSh 2,000,000, and each other Part XII document and balance sheet is TSh 600,000. |
| TISEZA Certificate of Incentives facilitation fee | TZS 6,000,000 | For foreign-majority or joint venture companies; TZS 4,000,000 where local shareholders hold the majority. Foreign projects must invest at least USD 500,000. |
| Bookkeeping and annual filing | Quoted by volume | The final return is filed with TRA within 6 months after the end of the accounting period. Companies with annual gross revenue above TZS 100,000,000 must have accounts prepared or certified by a practicing accountant. |
| NSS Group advisory fee | Written quote after a free assessment | Based on the shareholder structure, whether a local applicant is needed, the business license and home-country tax planning. Every item is listed in the quote, with no hidden fees. |
Fees follow the BRELA company registration fee schedule and the TISEZA Certificate of Incentives guidance. The latest notices from the authorities prevail.
Tanzania company tax and compliance: corporate income tax and VAT
A Tanzania company mainly pays corporate income tax and VAT. Each year it files a return of estimated tax with TRA and pays in installments, then files a final return after the year ends. Zanzibar has its own tax system, and shareholders should also check their home country's controlled foreign company (CFC) rules.
| Item | Rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate income tax | Standard rate 30% | 25% for 3 consecutive years for companies newly listed on the DSE with at least 25% of shares issued to the public; 20% for 5 years for new pharmaceutical or leather product manufacturers with a performance agreement with the government. |
| Alternative minimum tax | 1% of turnover | Applies to companies with unrelieved losses for 3 consecutive years; certain sectors such as agriculture are exempt. |
| VAT | 18% (mainland) | Registration is required once taxable turnover reaches TZS 200,000,000 in 12 months or TZS 100,000,000 in 6 months. Exports are 0%. The standard rate in Zanzibar is 15%. |
| Dividend withholding | Generally 10% | 5% on dividends from DSE-listed companies; 5% on dividends received by a resident company holding 25% or more; 10% on repatriated branch profits. |
| Estimated tax and installments | 4 installments per accounting period | Returns of estimated tax and installment payments are due on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31. |
| Final income tax return | Within 6 months after the accounting period ends | Required even with no taxable income. Companies with annual gross revenue above TZS 100,000,000 must have accounts prepared or certified by a practicing accountant. |
| VAT and withholding filings | Monthly | VAT is filed and paid by the 20th of the following month. Withholding tax is paid within 7 days after the end of each month. |
Rates and rules follow the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) pages on corporation tax, VAT and withholding tax. The 30% standard corporate rate, alternative minimum tax, Zanzibar VAT and branch profit remittance rate follow the PwC tax summaries (a secondary source). Ask an accountant to assess how they apply to your structure.
Private company limited by shares or foreign company branch in Tanzania?
Foreign companies that set up a company in Tanzania usually compare a new private company limited by shares with registering a branch of the foreign parent under Part XII of the Companies Act.
| Item | Private company limited by shares | Branch of a foreign company |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Separate Tanzanian legal entity | Not a separate legal entity; part of the foreign head office |
| Registration document | Certificate of Incorporation | Foreign company registered under Part XII of the Companies Act, receiving a Certificate of Compliance |
| BRELA fees | By share capital band, from TSh 95,000 | TSh 2,000,000 to file the certified foreign constitution; TSh 600,000 for each other document |
| Corporate income tax | 30% | 30% on branch income, plus 10% on repatriated profits (PwC) |
| Dividend or profit remittance | Dividend withholding generally 10% | 10% on profits repatriated to the head office (PwC) |
These are general principles. Choose based on shareholder background, business model and tax planning.
What foreign founders should know about setting up a company in Tanzania
- Travel safety: check your own government's travel advice before visiting. Taiwan's Bureau of Consular Affairs rates Tanzania at level 3 orange, "avoid travel" (issued or updated August 27, 2026), and the southern regions of Mtwara, Lindi and Ruvuma and the western regions of Kagera and Kigoma at level 4 red, "leave as soon as possible" (issued or updated May 29, 2024).
- Being a shareholder or director is not the same as having a work permit. Foreign investors and foreign staff working in Tanzania must apply for work and residence permits (Class A, B or C) under the procedures published by TISEZA.
- The applicant on the BRELA online system must have a NIDA ID number, and foreign directors need a tax identification number (TIN). Foreign shareholders without a local ID should plan for a qualified applicant to file on their behalf.
- Tax treaties and CFC rules: check whether your country has an income tax treaty with Tanzania, which can reduce dividend withholding tax, and whether your home country applies controlled foreign company (CFC) rules or outbound investment approval to a Tanzania subsidiary.
Why work with NSS Group on your Tanzania company registration?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) is a Taiwan-based global company registration and corporate advisory brand with more than 25 years of experience and more than 30,000 companies served. It provides company formation, bank account opening, accounting, tax and annual maintenance in many countries and regions, including Tanzania, and can handle BRELA online incorporation documents and TRA tax registration. Service fees are quoted in writing after a free assessment. Call the toll-free line 0800-003-191 or use the form on this page.
Further reading
Sources: BRELA: company registration services (Usajili wa Makampuni); BRELA: company registration fees (Ada na Gharama za Usajili wa Makampuni); BRELA: company forms (Form 15a application for incorporation, Form 15b beneficial owners); TISEZA: Certificate of Incentives; TISEZA eRegulations: investment procedures (incorporation, business license, work and residence permits); TRA: Starting Business; TRA: Corporation Tax; TRA: Value Added Tax (VAT); TRA: Withholding tax; East African Community: EAC Partner States; PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Tanzania Taxes on corporate income (reviewed 2026-09-09); PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Tanzania Other taxes (reviewed 2026-09-09); PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Tanzania Branch income. The latest notices from the competent authorities prevail. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
How much does it cost to set up a company in Tanzania in 2026?
According to the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA), company name reservation is TSh 50,000. The incorporation fee for a company limited by shares is based on authorized share capital: TSh 95,000 for share capital up to TSh 1,000,000, TSh 175,000 for share capital up to TSh 5,000,000, and TSh 1,000,000 for the top band. After that, the annual return is TSh 22,000 each year. Tax registration, the business license, accounting and advisory fees are quoted case by case.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a company in Tanzania?
According to the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA), the Certificate of Incentives applies to projects wholly owned by foreign investors or joint ventures, and foreign projects must invest at least USD 500,000. BRELA also accepts foreign directors registering with a passport and a tax identification number. Some sectors follow their own laws and licensing rules, so we recommend assessing the structure first.
Do I need to go to Tanzania in person to set up a company?
BRELA incorporation is done through an online system where you upload documents and pay by mobile money or bank, and the official process does not require shareholders to appear in person. However, the applicant must have an ID number from the National Identification Authority (NIDA) of Tanzania and foreign directors need a tax identification number, so foreign shareholders usually need a qualified local applicant to file. Work and residence require separate permits.
How long does Tanzania company registration take?
The BRELA website does not publish a fixed processing time and only says that an application is reviewed once payment is received. The overall time also depends on whether the name reservation, the constitution and the details of directors, secretary and beneficial owners are complete, and on the progress of the TRA tax registration, tax clearance and business license. Allow some extra time.
What tax and annual filings does a Tanzania company have?
Each year the company files an annual return with BRELA, with a fee of TSh 22,000. It files a return of estimated tax with the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and pays in installments, then files a final return within 6 months after the end of the accounting period, even with no taxable income. Corporate income tax is 30%, and VAT-registered businesses must file and pay 18% VAT by the 20th of the following month.
Who can help me register a company in Tanzania?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) can help. NSS Group has more than 25 years of experience and has served more than 30,000 companies. It offers one-stop Tanzania company registration: entity type and shareholding structure assessment, BRELA name reservation and constitution documents, online incorporation and beneficial owner declaration, support with TRA tax registration and the business license, and annual filing and tax reminders. Service fees are quoted in writing after a free assessment. Toll-free line: 0800-003-191.