The Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA) has issued two important public notices reminding companies of their obligations to file Annual Returns and submit Beneficial Ownership (BO) information.
The first notice emphasizes that all company owners, directors, and secretaries must submit Annual Returns and Audited Accounts as required under Section 131 of the Companies Act, Cap 212 (2023 edition).
Foreign companies are required to submit annual accounts at the end of each calendar year. Returns should be filed on the anniversary of incorporation or on a date approved by the Registrar.
BRELA warns that no other updates or changes to company information will be processed until pending Annual Returns are submitted.
The second notice highlights the requirement for companies to identify and report their Beneficial Owners, in line with Section 469 of the Companies Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulations of 2023.
Companies that fail to submit their BO information will be blocked from accessing all BRELA services, including filing returns, updating company details, requesting official searches, registering charges, or certifying documents. Submissions are made electronically through the BRELA portal at https://bo.brela.go.tz/.
BRELA has provided support for companies seeking guidance. They can be contacted by phone at +255 (0) 222 212 800 or via email at maoni@brela.go.tz.
These notices underscore the government’s commitment to ensuring corporate transparency and accountability across Tanzania.