Forming a business in Botswana: private, public, close, guarantee and external companies, business names, CIPA online fees, OBRS steps, annual returns and BURS registration. Use for setting up in Botswana.
Botswana · tax year 2026 · changed 25 Jun 2026
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| Item | Online | At CIPA | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reserve company or business name | P20 | P60 | https://web.archive.org/web/20251014004157/https://www.cipa.co.bw/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/fees-for-frequently-used-services.pdf |
| Register private, public or close company | P360 | P900 | same |
| Register guarantee or external company | P4,600 | P6,000 | same |
| Register business name | P150 | P450 | same |
| Change company name | P1,000 | P1,500 | same |
General reference only. This skill is general tax reference material. It has not been reviewed for any specific person's facts. Check figures against the official sources named here.
Tax year: 2026-27 (1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027). The Income Tax Act, 2026, Tax Administration Act, 2026 and Value Added Tax Act, 2026 commenced on 1 July 2026 and replace the old Cap. 52:01 and Cap. 50:03 regimes.
From CIPA (archive 26 Sep 2026), under the Companies Act, 2003 (Cap. 42:01):
| Item | Online | At CIPA | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reserve company or business name | P20 | P60 | https://web.archive.org/web/20251014004157/https://www.cipa.co.bw/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/fees-for-frequently-used-services.pdf |
| Register private, public or close company | P360 | P900 | same |
| Register guarantee or external company | P4,600 | P6,000 | same |
| Register business name | P150 | P450 | same |
| Change company name | P1,000 | P1,500 | same |
| Source | Link | Read |
|---|---|---|
| CIPA fees, archive copy of 14 Oct 2025 (cipa.co.bw returned 403 to fetch and browser) | https://web.archive.org/web/20251014004157/https://www.cipa.co.bw/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/fees-for-frequently-used-services.pdf | 2026-11-01 |
| CIPA entity page, archive copy of 26 Sep 2026 | https://web.archive.org/web/20260926061814/https://www.cipa.co.bw/selecting-and-reserving-an-entity-name | 2026-11-01 |
| CIPA FAQ, archive copy of 23 Apr 2023 | https://web.archive.org/web/20230423011758/https://www.cipa.co.bw/frequently-asked-questions | 2026-11-01 |
| BURS Registration page, documents list only (page predates the 2026 Acts) | https://www.burs.org.bw/index.php/tax/registration | 2026-11-01 |
| Tax Administration Act, 2026 (No. 14 of 2026), read: ss 14, 18, 27, 41, 98, 101 to 103; Regulations SI 90 regs 3, 4, 21, 28, 30, 33, 34 in the same file | https://www.burs.org.bw/index.php/tax/tax-laws-2026?download=955:tax-administration-act-2026 | 2026-11-01 |
Not yet confirmed: no statutory minimum capital (old file; FAQ page not showing it); the 30-day name reservation and 1 to 3 week timeline (old file, no page read); Companies (Amendment) Act, 2025 constitution and licensed-secretary requirements with 12 and 24 month windows (old file cited a private blog; Act not opened); current fees after October 2025.
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General reference, not advice on your facts. Check with a professional before you file or pay.