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Barbados vs South Africa
Tax Rate Comparison

Enter your income below for a personal tax estimate, then scroll down for full rate breakdowns.

๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ง Barbados
vs
๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ South Africa
Tax Year:

๐Ÿ’ฐ Personal Income Tax Calculator

Enter your income to see your estimated annual tax liability in each country โ€” side by side.

Enter your annual income above to see your personal tax comparison โ†’
Individual Income Tax (Top Marginal Rate)
Top Income Tax Rate
12.5โ€“28.5%
28.5% top; competitive Caribbean jurisdiction
No change
18โ€“45%
Top rate maintained; NHI funding discussions
No change
VAT / GST / Sales Tax
VAT / GST / Sales Tax
17.5%
17.5% stable
No change
16%
VAT raised to 16% from 1 April 2026 (Budget 2025)
โ–ฒ +0.5pp vs 2025
Corporate Tax Rate
Corporate Tax Rate
5.5โ€“9%
Tiered rate; Pillar Two compliance for large groups
No change
27%
Stable; National Health Insurance funding debate
No change
Capital Gains Tax
Capital Gains Tax
0%
No CGT โ€” sustained advantage
No change
~18%
Possible review of inclusion rate
No change
Social Security & Payroll
Social Security / Payroll
~18.1%
NIS contributions; pension reform needed
No change
~2%
NHI contribution framework being developed
No change
State, Regional & Local Taxes

๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ง Barbados โ€” Parish Councils & Land Tax

Barbados's 11 parishes have parish councils that levy land tax at 0.1%โ€“0.7% of site value. Barbados has long been a significant international business and financial centre, particularly for Canadian companies. Major tax reform in 2019 aligned Barbados with OECD BEPS standards. A tiered corporate tax rate structure was introduced. Barbados was removed from the EU tax haven blacklist following these reforms and maintains competitiveness as an IFC.

๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ South Africa โ€” Provincial & Municipal Taxes

South Africa's 9 provinces do not levy their own income tax โ€” this is national. Municipalities levy property rates (0.5%โ€“2.5% of assessed value/year), utilities, and refuse levies. Cape Town and Johannesburg have relatively higher municipal rates. Load-shedding prompted energy-related tax credits in recent budgets.

โš ๏ธ Disclaimer: Rates shown are standard top/headline rates for informational purposes. Actual tax liability depends on income level, residency, deductions, and tax treaties. 2025โ€“2026 data reflects announced or enacted rates and may be subject to change. Not financial or legal advice.

Barbados vs South Africa: Key Tax Differences (2026)

๐Ÿ’ฐ Income Tax: ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ South Africa has a higher top income tax rate (12.5โ€“28.5% vs 18โ€“45%). ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ง Barbados is more favourable for high earners.

๐Ÿ›’ VAT/Sales Tax: Barbados has a higher consumption tax (17.5% vs 16%).

๐Ÿข Corporate Tax: ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ง Barbados offers a lower corporate rate (9% vs 27%), which can influence business location decisions.

๐Ÿ“ˆ Capital Gains: ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ง Barbados taxes investment gains at a lower rate (0% vs 18%), benefiting investors.

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