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Ireland vs South Africa
Tax Rate Comparison

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

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช Ireland
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
20โ€“40%
Planned USC reforms; top 40% rate unchanged
No change
18โ€“45%
Top rate maintained; NHI funding discussions
No change
VAT / GST / Sales Tax
VAT / GST / Sales Tax
9โ€“23%
Standard 23% maintained
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
12.5โ€“15%
15% effective for large MNCs; 12.5% for SMEs
No change
27%
Stable; National Health Insurance funding debate
No change
Capital Gains Tax
Capital Gains Tax
33%
No change proposed
No change
~18%
Possible review of inclusion rate
No change
Social Security & Payroll
Social Security / Payroll
~15.05%
Auto-enrolment pension system launching
No change
~2%
NHI contribution framework being developed
No change
State, Regional & Local Taxes

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช Ireland โ€” Local Property Tax & USC

Ireland has no regional or municipal income tax. The Universal Social Charge (USC) is a national levy (0.5%โ€“8%). Local Property Tax (LPT) is set nationally but collected by local authorities. Commercial rates are set by local councils. Ireland's 12.5% corporate rate attracted multinationals, though Pillar Two now effectively raises this to 15% for large groups.

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.

Ireland vs South Africa: Key Tax Differences (2026)

๐Ÿ’ฐ Income Tax: ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ South Africa has a higher top income tax rate (20โ€“40% vs 18โ€“45%). ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช Ireland is more favourable for high earners.

๐Ÿ›’ VAT/Sales Tax: Ireland has a higher consumption tax (9โ€“23% vs 16%).

๐Ÿข Corporate Tax: ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช Ireland offers a lower corporate rate (15% vs 27%), which can influence business location decisions.

๐Ÿ“ˆ Capital Gains: ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ South Africa taxes investment gains at a lower rate (18% vs 33%), benefiting investors.

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