What you need to know about tax rates
How much tax do I pay on dividends I earn from my investments?
| If a South African company pays you dividends, dividends tax, at a rate of 20%, must be withheld and paid to SARS on your behalf. |
| Investments held in a tax-free savings account or retirement fund are exempt from dividends tax. |
How much capital gains tax will I pay if I make a taxable capital gain?
| Exclusions |
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| Inclusion rate |
| 40% of the taxable capital gain on assets must be included in your taxable income |
| Tax rate |
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The taxable capital gains included in your taxable income is taxed at your marginal tax rate READ MORE: What is capital gains tax? |
How much transfer duty will I pay if I buy property?
Transfer duty depends on the value of the property. Find the appropriate value of the property and apply the rate. These rates apply from April 1 2025, on transactions that are not subject to VAT.
| Value of the property | Rate |
| R1 - 1 210 000 | 0% of the value |
| R1 210 001 – R1 663 800 | 3% of the value above R1 210 000 |
| R1 663 801 – R2 329 300 | R13 614 + 6% of the value above R 1 663 800 |
| R2 329 301 - R2 994 800 | R53 544 + 8% of the value above R2 329 300 |
| R2 994 801 - R13 310 000 | R106 784 +11% of the value above R2 994 800 |
| R13 301 001 and above | R1 241 456 + 13% of the value exceeding R13 310 000 |
How much tax will I pay if I withdraw money from my vested retirement savings before retirement?
| Note that withdrawals from the savings pot of your retirement fund are taxed at income tax or marginal tax rates. |
| 2025 tax year (Mar 1 2024 - Feb 28 2025) | 2026 tax year (Mar 1 2025 - Feb 28 2026) | ||
| Sum withdrawn (R) | Rate of Tax (R) | Sum withdrawn (R) | Rate of Tax (R) |
| R1 - R27 500 | 0% | R1 - R27 500 | 0% |
| R27 501 - R726 000 |
18% of lump sum above R27 500 |
R27 501 - R726 000 |
18% of lump sum above R27 500 |
| R726 001 - R1 089 000 |
R125 730 + 27% of lump sum above R726 000 | R726 001 - R1 089 000 |
R125 730 + 27% of lump sum above R726 000 |
| R1 089 001 and above | R223 740 + 36% of lump sum above R1 089 000 | R1 089 001 and above | R223 740 + 36% of lump sum above R1 089 000 |
How much tax will I pay on a lump sum taken from my retirement savings at retirement?
| 2025 tax year (Mar 1 2024 - Feb 28 2025) | 2026 tax year (Mar 1 2025 - Feb 28 2026) | ||
| Lump sum (R) | Rate of Tax (R) | Lump sum (R) | Rate of Tax (R) |
| R1 - R550 000 | 0% | R1 - R550 000 | 0% |
| R550 001 - R770 000 |
18% of lump sum above R550 000 |
R550 001 - R770 000 |
18% of lump sum above R550 000 |
| R770 001 - R1 155 000 |
R39 600 + 27% of lump sum above R770 000 | R770 001 - R1 155 000 |
R39 600 + 27% of lump sum above R770 000 |
| R1 155 001 and above | R143 550 + 36% of lump sum above R1 155 000 | R1 155 001 and above | R143 550 + 36% of lump sum above R1 155 000 |
Do I need to register for provisional tax?
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You may need to register for provisional tax if you earn: income from an employer that is not registered for tax; business income; professional, consulting fees; rental income or investment income. You do not have to register if: |
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What is the estate duty rate?
| Duty rate |
| Where the dutiable value of an estate is less than R30 million: 20% |
| Where the dutiable value of an estate is more than R30 million: 25% |
| Duty exemption or abatement |
| R3.5 million; or |
| Up to R7 million for a surviving spouse using the unused portion of the exemption of the first-dying spouse |
What is the donations tax rate?
| Donations tax exemption |
| R100 000 can be donated each year without donations tax. |
| Donations between spouses and to certain public benefit organisations are free of donations tax. |
| Donations tax rate |
| Donations tax at a rate of 20% is payable on the cumulative value of donations above the annual exemption and not exceeding R30 million since 1 March 2018. |
| Donations tax at a rate of 25% is payable on the cumulative value of donations above the annual exemption and exceeding R30 million since 1 March 2018. |
| Tax deductions for donations made |
| Donations to public benefit organisations up to 10% of taxable income can be deducted each year and 10% can be carried over to the next tax year. |
What are the turnover tax rates for small businesses?
For businesses with a turnover of less than R1 million a year.
| Turnover tax rates for the 2026 tax year (March 1 2024 – February 28 2025) | |
| Taxable turnover | Rate of tax |
| R1 – R335 000 | 0% of taxable turnover |
| R335 001 – R500 000 | 1% of taxable turnover above R335 000 |
| R500 001 – R750 000 | R1 650 + 2% of taxable turnover above 500 000 |
| R750 001 and above | R6 650 + 3% of taxable turnover above R750 000 |
| Turnover tax rates for the 2026 tax year (March 1 2025 – February 28 2026) | |
| Taxable turnover | Rate of tax |
| R1 – R335 000 | 0% of taxable turnover |
| R335 001 – R500 000 | 1% of taxable turnover above R335 000 |
| R500 001 – R750 000 | R1 650 + 2% of taxable turnover above 500 000 |
| R750 001 and above | R6 650 + 3% of taxable turnover above R750 000 |
What tax rates do small business corporations pay?
For businesses with:
An annual gross income of R20 million or less;
Natural persons as shareholders;
Shareholders who are not shareholders in other unlisted companies; and
Not earning more than 20% of its income from investments or by rendering a personal service (with some exceptions).
| Small business corporation tax rates for 2025 | |
| (For the years of assessment April 1 2024 – March 31 2025) | |
| Taxable income | Rate of tax |
| R1 – R95 750 | 0% |
| R95 751 – R365 000 | 7% of taxable income above R95 750 |
| R365 001 - R550 000 | R18 848 plus 21% of the amount by which taxable income exceeds R365 000 |
| R550 001 and above | R57 698 plus 27% of the amount by which taxable income exceeds R550 000 |
| Small business corporation tax rates for 2026 | |
| (For the years of assessment April 1 2025 – March 31 2026) | |
| Taxable income | Rate of tax |
| R1 – R95 750 | 0% |
| R95 751 – R365 000 | 7% of taxable income above R95 750 |
| R365 001 - R550 000 | R18 848 plus 21% of the amount by which taxable income exceeds R365 000 |
| R550 001 and above | R57 698 plus 27% of the amount by which taxable income exceeds R550 000 |
What tax rates do companies pay?
| Company tax rates | |
| Years of assessment ending on any date between 1 April 2024 and 30 March 2025 | |
| Companies Rate of Tax | 27% of taxable income |
| Company tax rates | |
| Years of assessment ending on any date between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026 | |
| Companies Rate of Tax | 27% of taxable income |
