Tanzania Business License Fee Calculator

How Tanzanian business license fees actually work

The business license (leseni ya biashara) is paid annually to the local council (halmashauri) where your business operates — separate from your TIN (TRA, national) and BRELA registration (national). Each council sets its own fee schedule based on city/town, sector and class.

How fees are determined

• Council: Dar es Salaam is highest, upcountry councils lower.
• Sector: hospitality, hardware, manufacturing typically higher than retail.
• Class: small / medium / large — based on premises size, turnover or asset value.
• Sub-licenses: some sectors (alcohol, pharmacy, security) need additional sectoral licenses.

Renewal & penalties

Renewal is due by 31st March every year. Late renewal attracts a 25% penalty and the council can close the business after 60 days of expiry.

Online businesses

Online-only businesses register at the council where the office or owner resides. Address verification (utility bill, lease) is normally required.

Combine with the BRELA Registration Cost tool, the EFD/VFD Eligibility Checker, and the Tax Calendar to plan first-year compliance.

Take this further

Licence fees and the service levy are set by each council, so a multi-branch business pays several. Tawala Finance tracks each entity's licence, renewal date and levy, and Tawala for retail and wholesale keeps branch reporting separate while consolidating the group.

Not sure which module fits? Compare every option under Tawala solutions, or find the setup for your sector under Tawala by industry.