Complexes of pentachlorotantalum with the Schiff bases: bis(vanillin)benzidine, bis(vanillin)-o-dianisidine, bis(acetylacetone)benzidine, bis(p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde)-o-dianisidine, bis(anisaldehyde)-1, 3-propanediamine and bis(p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde)-o-phenylenediamine have been prepared and characterized by molar conductance, decomposition temperature, elemental and t.g. analyses and i.r. spectral measurements. The conductances reveal that pentachlorotantalum (1 mole) interacts with all the ligands (1 mole), all five chloride ions thus forming simple adducts. A comparative study of the i.r. spectra of the parent ligands and their complexes allows the coordination sites to be ascertained. The studies show that tantalum(V) chloride prefers to form complexes of high coordination number.