🇿🇦 South Africa Tax Guide - Income Tax, Corporate Tax & Special Regimes

Top income tax 45.0% Worldwide system

Corporate tax 27.0%

VAT 15.0% standard rate

Tax residency 91 days 79 tax treaties

South Africa tax profile

Data year: 2025

Tax system: Worldwide Worldwide income taxation for residents (with foreign employment income exemption of ZAR 1.25M for qualifying time abroad). Non-residents taxed on SA-sourced income only.
Top PIT rate: 45.0%
Corporate tax rate: 27.0%
VAT: 15.0%
Capital gains tax: 18.0% Individuals: 40% inclusion rate (max effective rate 18%). Companies: 80% inclusion rate (21.6% effective). Annual exclusion of ZAR 40,000 for individuals.
Social security (employee): 1.0%
Social security (employer): 2.0%
Dividend withholding: 20.0%
Interest withholding: 15.0%
Royalty withholding: 15.0%
Inheritance tax: 25.0%
Treaty count: 79

Personal income

Personal income brackets
Bracket min	Bracket max	Rate	USD equivalent
ZAR 0	ZAR 245,100	18.0%	--
ZAR 245,100	ZAR 383,100	26.0%	--
ZAR 383,100	ZAR 530,200	31.0%	--
ZAR 530,200	ZAR 695,800	36.0%	--
ZAR 695,800	ZAR 887,000	39.0%	--
ZAR 887,000	ZAR 1,878,600	41.0%	--
ZAR 1,878,600	and above	45.0%	--

Special regimes
Name	Type	Rate/amount	Duration	Status
Special Economic Zones Reduced CIT rate of 15% for qualifying companies in designated Special Economic...	Flat rate	15.0%	--	Active

Crypto Rules Participation Exemption

Days threshold: 91 days
Residency rules: Resident by physical presence test: present 91+ days in current year AND 91+ days in each of 5 preceding years AND 915+ days in total in 5 preceding years. Also resident if ordinarily resident in SA.
Exit tax: Yes Deemed disposal of worldwide assets at market value upon ceasing tax residency. CGT applies on deemed gain.
CFC rules: Yes

PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries - South Africa (accessed Mar 23, 2026) PIT, CIT, VAT, CGT, withholding rates