Starting a business in Tanzania: the compliance basics
To start a business in Tanzania: register the company with BRELA, register for tax with Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) (corporate income tax 30%; VAT 18% (mainland) once over TZS 200 million (mainland)), comply with the Employment and Labour Relations Act if you hire, and meet Personal Data Protection Act, 2022 for personal data.
First compliance steps
- 1 Register the company with BRELA.
- 2 Register for tax with Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA).
- 3 Register as an employer (the NSSF (national social-security fund)) and use written contracts if you hire.
- 4 Register for VAT once turnover passes TZS 200 million (mainland).
- 5 Put a basic Personal Data Protection Act, 2022 framework in place.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to start a business in Tanzania?
Register with BRELA, register for tax with Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), and meet labour (Employment and Labour Relations Act) and data-protection rules. Confirm specifics with Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA).
More on Tanzania
- Register a company — Tanzania
- Company tax — Tanzania
- VAT / sales tax — Tanzania
- Hiring staff — Tanzania
- Data protection — Tanzania
- Tax clearance — Tanzania
- Empowerment / B-BBEE — Tanzania
- Licences & permits — Tanzania
- Payroll & employee tax — Tanzania
- Importing & customs — Tanzania
- Annual returns — Tanzania
- Full Tanzania compliance guide
Start a business elsewhere in SADC
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Reviewed June 2026 from official sources. General information only — confirm with Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) or a registered professional.