Traders using unregistered names face legal action

The management of the Business Registration and Licensing Agency (BRELA) has warned people using unregistered business names that they will face punitive action.

Speaking to reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday, BRELA Chief Executive Officer Frank Kanyusi said the ongoing business names registration sensitisation seminars have revealed that many businesspeople run their projects without registering them as required by the law.

“The law requires a businessperson to register the name after using it for 28 days, failure of which the law take its course,” he said. The agency has given the law breakers two months to register the names.

“Those who will fail to do so after the grace period will be punished or taken to court,” he warned, adding that the business name registration process is now simplified. According to Kanyusi, all the processes can be done online by visiting the agency’s website which iswww.brela.go.tz.

To fully formalise business, he urged business owners to get Tax Identification Number (TIN) from the Tanzania Revenue Authority and business licences from their respective councils.

“This will help business owners to be recognised and access financial services while the government will also broaden the tax base,” he explained, adding that the agency will tour all regions in Tanzania to educate people on the importance of registering business names and companies.

So far, a team of BRELA officials has visited Mwanza, Mara, Geita and Simiyu regions.

This week the team will be in Shinyanga Region for the same purpose of formalising people’s businesses. Business formalisation is crucial for Tanzania to attain middle-income economy by 2025.