The structure of the title compound, C15H14Br2N2O, at 180 K has monoclinic (P21/n) symmetry. It was obtained unexpectedly from the decomposition of the parent 4-bromo-N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-N-methyl-aniline. It exhibits an `endo' conformation with angles between the two aromatic rings slightly lower than the average values found for similar compounds on the Cambridge Structural Database. In the crystal, C—H...O hydrogen bonds and short Br...Br halogen bonds [3.444 (1) Å] are observed.