OpenAccountants/Zimbabwe/Zimbabwe Company Formation & Entity Choice

Zimbabwe Company Formation & Entity Choice

Name: OpenAccountants MCP Server
Author: OpenAccountants

Source-cited draft: company formation & entity choice for Zimbabwe (tax year 2025) — rates, thresholds and rules with primary-source citations. Unverified; pending local-accountant review.

Applicable period 2025Built by Michael Cutajar and the OpenAccountants team· Last updated Jun 25, 2026

Built by Michael Cutajar and the OpenAccountants team. Written from the official sources it cites.

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Key figures — Zimbabwe, 2025

Every figure is drawn from this Guide and cited to its source.

Governing legislation

Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31)Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31)

Private Limited Company (Pvt Ltd)

Separate legal entity; shareholders' liability limited to shares; commonly 1+ directors (historically a minimum of 2) ((approx — confirm current minimum director count))Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31)

Private Business Corporation (PBC)

Simplified entity with 1 to 20 members; requires an accounting officer; at least one Zimbabwean memberCompanies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31)

Other entity types

Public limited company, partnership, sole trader, co-operative, and registered branch of a foreign companyCompanies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31)

Minimum share capital

No statutory minimum; share capital can be set as low as USD 1 (number and class of shares stated at incorporation)Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31)

Name search and reservation

Submit a name-search application to DCIP; an approved name is reserved before incorporationCompanies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31)

Incorporation documents

Pvt Ltd: lodge memorandum and articles (CR forms) with director/shareholder details; PBC: lodge a statement of incorporation (PBC2) naming members, contributions and accounting officerCompanies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31)

Typical incorporation timeline

Approximately 1–4 weeks depending on name approval and document processing ((approx — confirm current DCIP turnaround))Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31)

Indicative registration cost

PBC from around USD 70 (up to ~USD 140 with member certificates/by-laws); Pvt Ltd costs vary with capital and agent fees ((approx — fees change; confirm current schedule))Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31)

Post-incorporation tax registration

Register with ZIMRA for a Business Partner Number (BPN), and for VAT if turnover exceeds USD 60,000, and for PAYE/NSSA if employing staffRevenue Authority Act (Chapter 23:11)

Core annual compliance

File annual return with DCIP, maintain statutory records, file annual income tax return (ITF12C) and pay QPDs, and submit periodic VAT/PAYE returnsCompanies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31)

Annual return obligation

Registered entities must lodge an annual return with DCIP each year to remain in good standingCompanies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31)

Rendered from the canonical facts model. General reference only — confirm with a qualified professional before acting.

The full Guide

Entity types and incorporation

Governing legislation — Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31) (Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31))
Private Limited Company (Pvt Ltd) — Separate legal entity; shareholders' liability limited to shares; commonly 1+ directors (historically a minimum of 2) ((approx — confirm current minimum director count)) (Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31))
Private Business Corporation (PBC) — Simplified entity with 1 to 20 members; requires an accounting officer; at least one Zimbabwean member (Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31))
Other entity types — Public limited company, partnership, sole trader, co-operative, and registered branch of a foreign company (Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31))
Minimum share capital — No statutory minimum; share capital can be set as low as USD 1 (number and class of shares stated at incorporation) USD (Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31))
Name search and reservation — Submit a name-search application to DCIP; an approved name is reserved before incorporation (Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31))
Incorporation documents — Pvt Ltd: lodge memorandum and articles (CR forms) with director/shareholder details; PBC: lodge a statement of incorporation (PBC2) naming members, contributions and accounting officer (Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31))
Typical incorporation timeline — Approximately 1–4 weeks depending on name approval and document processing ((approx — confirm current DCIP turnaround)) (Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31))
Indicative registration cost — PBC from around USD 70 (up to ~USD 140 with member certificates/by-laws); Pvt Ltd costs vary with capital and agent fees ((approx — fees change; confirm current schedule)) USD (Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31))
Post-incorporation tax registration — Register with ZIMRA for a Business Partner Number (BPN), and for VAT if turnover exceeds USD 60,000, and for PAYE/NSSA if employing staff (Revenue Authority Act (Chapter 23:11))
Core annual compliance — File annual return with DCIP, maintain statutory records, file annual income tax return (ITF12C) and pay QPDs, and submit periodic VAT/PAYE returns (Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31))
Annual return obligation — Registered entities must lodge an annual return with DCIP each year to remain in good standing (Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31))

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Entity types and incorporation

Governing legislation — Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31) (Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31))

Private Limited Company (Pvt Ltd) — Separate legal entity; shareholders' liability limited to shares; commonly 1+ directors (historically a minimum of 2) ((approx — confirm current minimum director count)) (Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31))

Private Business Corporation (PBC) — Simplified entity with 1 to 20 members; requires an accounting officer; at least one Zimbabwean member (Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31))

Other entity types — Public limited company, partnership, sole trader, co-operative, and registered branch of a foreign company (Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31))

Minimum share capital — No statutory minimum; share capital can be set as low as USD 1 (number and class of shares stated at incorporation) USD (Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31))

Name search and reservation — Submit a name-search application to DCIP; an approved name is reserved before incorporation (Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31))

Incorporation documents — Pvt Ltd: lodge memorandum and articles (CR forms) with director/shareholder details; PBC: lodge a statement of incorporation (PBC2) naming members, contributions and accounting officer (Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31))

Typical incorporation timeline — Approximately 1–4 weeks depending on name approval and document processing ((approx — confirm current DCIP turnaround)) (Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31))

Indicative registration cost — PBC from around USD 70 (up to ~USD 140 with member certificates/by-laws); Pvt Ltd costs vary with capital and agent fees ((approx — fees change; confirm current schedule)) USD (Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31))

Post-incorporation tax registration — Register with ZIMRA for a Business Partner Number (BPN), and for VAT if turnover exceeds USD 60,000, and for PAYE/NSSA if employing staff (Revenue Authority Act (Chapter 23:11))

Core annual compliance — File annual return with DCIP, maintain statutory records, file annual income tax return (ITF12C) and pay QPDs, and submit periodic VAT/PAYE returns (Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31))

Annual return obligation — Registered entities must lodge an annual return with DCIP each year to remain in good standing (Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31))