Company registration fees in Tanzania 2026: the new BRELA and Registrar fee schedule

Registering a company in Tanzania costs between TZS 95,000 and TZS 1,000,000 in Registrar fees, depending on the company's nominal share capital. A company without share capital pays TZS 500,000. These are the figures that took effect on 1 July 2026.

They come from the Companies (Fees Payable to the Registrar) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026, published as Government Notice No. 158M of 2026 on 30 June 2026, which replace the Schedule to the Companies (Fees Payable to the Registrar) Regulations, 2014. The revised schedule affects anyone incorporating a company in Tanzania, registering a security interest with the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA), filing an annual return, or maintaining a foreign company's presence in the country. Set out below is the full schedule, followed by our note on what it means in practice.

How much does it cost to register a company in Tanzania in 2026?

The registration fee for a company with share capital depends on its nominal share capital, as follows:

• Exceeding TZS 20,000 but not exceeding TZS 1 million — TZS 95,000
• Exceeding TZS 1 million but not exceeding TZS 5 million — TZS 175,000
• Exceeding TZS 5 million but not exceeding TZS 20 million — TZS 260,000
• Exceeding TZS 20 million but not exceeding TZS 50 million — TZS 290,000
• Exceeding TZS 50 million but not exceeding TZS 100 million — TZS 400,000
• Exceeding TZS 100 million but not exceeding TZS 500 million — TZS 450,000
• Exceeding TZS 500 million but not exceeding TZS 1 billion — TZS 500,000
• Exceeding TZS 1 billion but not exceeding TZS 10 billion — TZS 600,000
• Exceeding TZS 10 billion — TZS 1,000,000

The fee for registering a company without share capital is TZS 500,000.

BRELA filing fees and company search fees

Beyond incorporation, businesses and company directors should take note of the following revised statutory fees, payable to the Registrar through BRELA:

• Reservation of a company name — TZS 50,000
• Change of company name — TZS 22,000
• Receipt or registration of a document required under the Companies Act — TZS 22,000
• Filing of an annual return — TZS 22,000
• Certification of a document, per page — TZS 3,000
• Perusal of a company file — TZS 5,000
• Customised company search report — TZS 30,000
• Copy of a certificate of incorporation or certificate of compliance — TZS 10,000
• Filing a document to ascertain the authenticity of facts lodged by a company — TZS 5,000
• Restoration of a company to the Register — TZS 50,000
• Late delivery of a required document, per month or part of a month — TZS 2,500

Fees for registering company charges

Where a Tanzanian company creates a charge to secure financing or another financial obligation, the registration fee depends on the amount secured.

A charge securing an amount not exceeding TZS 100 million attracts a registration fee of TZS 22,000. Where the amount secured exceeds TZS 100 million but not TZS 500 million, the fee rises to TZS 50,000; above TZS 500 million and up to TZS 1 billion, it is TZS 100,000. Any charge securing more than TZS 1 billion is registered on payment of TZS 150,000.

Fees for foreign companies registered in Tanzania

Companies governed by Part XII of the Companies Act should also note the revised fees applicable to foreign-company documents and compliance filings.

The heaviest single item is the filing of a certified copy of the document constituting or describing the constitution of the company, which now attracts a fee of TZS 2,000,000. Any other document filed or lodged under Part XII carries a fee of TZS 600,000, and the same amount applies to the filing of a balance sheet. Where a required document is delivered late, a further TZS 70,000 falls due for each month or part of a month of delay.

What the revised fees mean for businesses in Tanzania

Companies, investors, directors and company secretaries should budget for the revised statutory costs when planning an incorporation, a capital restructuring, a financing transaction, or an annual compliance exercise. The fees are modest against most transaction values, but they now scale with share capital and with the amount secured by a charge, so the figures should be built into the deal costs at the structuring stage rather than picked up at filing.

Existing companies should also review their filing calendars. Late delivery of a required document attracts a charge for every month or part of a month that passes, and for foreign companies that monthly amount is significantly higher. A filing overlooked for a year becomes an avoidable cost that continues to accumulate until the position is regularised.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to register a company in Tanzania? The Registrar's fee ranges from TZS 95,000 for a company whose nominal share capital does not exceed TZS 1 million, up to TZS 1,000,000 where the share capital exceeds TZS 10 billion. A company without share capital pays TZS 500,000. These are statutory fees only, and do not include name reservation, professional fees, or the cost of subsequent licensing and tax registration.

When did the new company registration fees take effect? The Regulations were published on 30 June 2026 and came into force on 1 July 2026. Filings made on or after that date attract the revised fees.

How much is a BRELA annual return in 2026? Filing an annual return costs TZS 22,000. Late delivery attracts a further TZS 2,500 for each month or part of a month of delay, so the cost of an overlooked filing continues to grow until it is regularised.

What does it cost to reserve a company name in Tanzania? Name reservation costs TZS 50,000, and a subsequent change of company name costs TZS 22,000.

Do foreign companies pay different fees? Yes. A foreign company registering under Part XII pays TZS 2,000,000 to file a certified copy of its constitutional document, and TZS 600,000 for other Part XII filings including a balance sheet. Late delivery costs TZS 70,000 per month or part of a month.

Speak to a corporate lawyer in Dar es Salaam or Arusha

Leyrand advises local and international businesses on company incorporation in Tanzania, foreign investment, corporate structuring, BRELA filings, company secretarial services, and regulatory compliance.

Our corporate lawyers in Dar es Salaam and Arusha are available to advise on how the revised fees affect a proposed registration, transaction, or ongoing compliance obligations. Write to us at info@leyrand.org or book a legal consultation.

Legal source: The Companies (Fees Payable to the Registrar) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026, Government Notice No. 158M of 2026.

This legal update is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. The applicable requirements and total costs may depend on the nature of the company, transaction, and filing. Specific legal advice should therefore be obtained before taking or refraining from any action.