Skip to content
SwiftPesa
Toolkit

BURS Tax Clearance Certificate: How to Apply, Verify It Online and Renew

How to get a BURS tax clearance certificate for tenders in Botswana: what each section of the form asks, how long it lasts, and how to verify a TCC online.

Sarah Andrew3 Nov 20266 min read Botswana
Two contractors in hard hats going over building plans in an office
In this guide▾
  1. Who needs a BURS tax clearance certificate?
  2. What do you need before you apply?
  3. How to fill in the tax clearance application form
  4. How long is a BURS tax clearance certificate valid?
  5. How to verify a BURS tax clearance certificate online
  6. Why a tax clearance certificate gets delayed
  7. Mistakes that cost businesses a tender
  8. Frequently asked questions

You can't bid for a government tender in Botswana without a BURS tax clearance certificate. To get one, your returns must be filed and your tax paid, and you hand in a short form at a BURS office.

Apply at least 4 working days before you need it. Below: who needs a TCC, how to fill in each section of the form, how to check a certificate online, and why applications get held up. Checked against the Botswana Unified Revenue Service's own guidance in October 2026.

Quick facts
What it is A Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) from the Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS)
Who needs it Anyone bidding for tenders from PPADB, ministries, government departments or local authorities
How to apply The Tax Clearance Application Form, handed in at your nearest BURS office
Apply At least 4 working days before you need it
Valid for 12 months from the date of issue
Renew 2 weeks before it expires, with a new form
Check one Verify TCC on BURS e-Services (eservices.burs.org.bw)

Who needs a BURS tax clearance certificate?

Anyone bidding for a public tender. That includes tenders from the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB), ministries, government departments and local government tender boards. BURS says plainly: "No bidder will be considered without a TCC or exemption certificate for tender purpose."

The rule goes back to a 2003 Cabinet directive and has applied to all tenders since July 2005. Private companies often ask suppliers for a TCC too, because it shows you're in good standing.

Foreign companies bidding for a Botswana tender don't get a TCC. They fill in the same form and receive an exemption certificate for tender purposes. If they win, they must register with BURS for tax straight away.

0

What do you need before you apply?

BURS issues a TCC only when your tax affairs are up to date across every tax it collects:

  • Income tax, including self-assessment tax (SAT) instalments if you pay them
  • PAYE, if you employ anyone
  • Withholding tax
  • VAT, if you're registered
  • Customs and excise

Up to date means all returns are filed, all tax is paid, and any penalties and interest from late filing are paid too.

If you or your business isn't registered with BURS yet, register first. You need a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) before you can apply. A new company starts with its registration at CIPA; see our guide to CIPA company registration for that step.

How to fill in the tax clearance application form

The form, Application for Clearance Certificate for Tender Purposes, has five sections. BURS asks you to fill in every one, sections A to E, because gaps slow your certificate down. Have these details ready before you start:

Section What it asks for Have ready
A. Taxpayer details Name, address, phone and cell number, TIN or VAT number Your TIN
B. Income tax Tax year and date of your latest income tax return; SAT instalments paid this year; whether you pay PAYE monthly, with the date of your last payment and last annual PAYE return; any tax or interest outstanding Return dates and SAT receipts
C. Value added tax Tax period and date of your latest VAT return; number of outstanding returns; any VAT, interest or penalty outstanding Your last VAT return
D. Customs duty Whether you're registered for customs or VAT deferral, and the amount Deferral details, if any
E. Verification Signature, name and date Signed by the public officer or a director

For a company, section E must be signed by its public officer or a director, not a junior staff member.

Steps

  1. Check your account is clean. File any missing returns and pay what you owe, including penalties and interest.
  2. Download the form from the BURS website, or collect one at a BURS office.
  3. Fill in sections A to E in full. Write "nil" rather than leaving a box empty.
  4. Hand it in at your nearest BURS office at least 4 working days before your tender closes.
  5. Collect your certificate and keep a scanned copy for every tender file.

How long is a BURS tax clearance certificate valid?

Twelve months from the day it's issued. After that it can't be used for any tender, and you need to send in a new form. BURS advises applying for renewal 2 weeks before the old one expires.

BURS can also revoke a TCC early if your tax affairs fall behind after it's issued. A certificate that was valid in March is no use in August if you've missed a VAT return since.

How to verify a BURS tax clearance certificate online

Anyone can check a certificate on the BURS e-Services portal without logging in:

  1. Go to eservices.burs.org.bw.
  2. Click Verify TCC.
  3. Enter the taxpayer's TIN and the certificate number from the TCC.
  4. Type the security code and submit.

Tender boards use this check. If you buy from suppliers, run it on every certificate before you sign a contract.

Do you need an e-Services account?

Not for a TCC, but it helps. With an account you can file VAT returns online and get BURS reminders by SMS and email, which keeps you clear for next year. When you register online, BURS needs the signed e-Services application form and a certified copy of your Omang (or passport and residence permit) at a BURS office within 14 days, or your online profile is suspended. BURS processes the form within a week.

Why a tax clearance certificate gets delayed

Problem Fix
A missing income tax, PAYE or VAT return File it, even if it's a nil return
Unpaid penalties or interest from late filing Pay them; BURS treats these as tax owed
Gaps on the form Fill in all of sections A to E
Applying the day before the tender closes Apply at least 4 working days ahead
Not registered with BURS Register for a TIN first, then apply
An expired certificate in your tender file Renew 2 weeks before the 12 months are up

If you employ staff, the most common slip is a missed PAYE payment. Our guide to the BURS PAYE tax table covers the 2026 bands so you can check you're deducting the right amount.

Mistakes that cost businesses a tender

  • Leaving it to the last week. BURS asks for 4 working days. A forgotten return can add many more.
  • Assuming last year's certificate still works. It expires 12 months from issue, not at the end of the tax year.
  • Signing with the wrong person. For companies, the public officer or a director signs section E.
  • Ignoring penalties. A small unpaid penalty from a late return is enough to block the certificate.
  • Buying a "ready" TCC. Certificates are checked on BURS e-Services by number and TIN. A fake one gets you disqualified, or worse.

More guides for running a business in Botswana are on our Botswana page.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get a tax clearance certificate from BURS?

BURS asks you to apply at least 4 working days before you need the certificate. If your returns are filed and your tax is paid, that's usually enough. Any outstanding return or payment has to be sorted first, which adds time.

How much does a BURS tax clearance certificate cost?

BURS doesn't list a fee for a tax clearance certificate. What you may have to pay first is any outstanding tax, penalties or interest, because the certificate is only issued when your account is up to date.

Can I apply for a BURS tax clearance certificate online?

BURS's published procedure is the application form, handed in at your nearest BURS office. Its e-Services portal is for filing returns, managing your profile and verifying certificates. Keeping your returns filed online makes the TCC application quicker.

How do I check if a tax clearance certificate is valid?

Go to eservices.burs.org.bw, click Verify TCC, and enter the taxpayer's TIN, the certificate number and the security code. The portal confirms whether the certificate is genuine.

Do foreign companies need a BURS tax clearance certificate?

A foreign company bidding for a Botswana tender fills in the same form and gets an exemption certificate for tender purposes instead. If it wins the tender, it must register with BURS for tax immediately.

What taxes must be up to date for a TCC?

All taxes BURS administers: income tax (including PAYE and self-assessment tax), withholding tax, VAT, and customs and excise, plus any penalties and interest on them.

0

Heads up: rates, fees and rules change often. We last checked this guide on 3 Nov 2026. Confirm current figures with the provider before you commit money. This is education, not financial advice.

Sarah Andrew

Written by Sarah Andrew

Sarah Andrew was born in the UK and lives in Kenya, where she runs six businesses across East Africa. She writes SwiftPesa's guides from the business owner's side of the counter — taxes, payments, suppliers and side ventures she deals with herself — so the advice is practical and local.

More about Sarah →

Keep reading