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Kenya vs South Africa
Tax Rate Comparison

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

πŸ‡°πŸ‡ͺ Kenya
vs
πŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦ South Africa
Tax Year:

πŸ’° Personal Income Tax Calculator

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

Enter your annual income above to see your personal tax comparison β†’
Individual Income Tax (Top Marginal Rate)
Top Income Tax Rate
10–35%
Ruto administration fiscal consolidation; rates stable
No change
18–45%
Top rate maintained; NHI funding discussions
No change
VAT / GST / Sales Tax
VAT / GST / Sales Tax
16%
16% maintained; exemption list under review
No change
16%
VAT raised to 16% from 1 April 2026 (Budget 2025)
β–² +0.5pp vs 2025
Corporate Tax Rate
Corporate Tax Rate
30%
30% stable; East Africa harmonization discussions
No change
27%
Stable; National Health Insurance funding debate
No change
Capital Gains Tax
Capital Gains Tax
15%
15% property CGT unchanged
No change
~18%
Possible review of inclusion rate
No change
Social Security & Payroll
Social Security / Payroll
~14%
Universal health coverage (SHA) replacing NHIF from 2024
No change
~2%
NHI contribution framework being developed
No change
State, Regional & Local Taxes

πŸ‡°πŸ‡ͺ Kenya β€” County & Local Authority Taxes

Kenya's 47 counties levy business permits (single business permit), property rates, and various local service charges. County governments have own-source revenue from markets, parking, land rates, and entertainment taxes. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) administers national taxes. A housing levy of 1.5% of gross salary (employer+employee) was introduced in 2023. The digital service tax (DST) at 1.5% on digital marketplace revenues was replaced by a significant economic presence tax framework.

πŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦ South Africa β€” Provincial & Municipal Taxes

South Africa's 9 provinces do not levy their own income tax β€” this is national. Municipalities levy property rates (0.5%–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.

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

Kenya vs South Africa: Key Tax Differences (2026)

πŸ’° Income Tax: πŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦ South Africa has a higher top income tax rate (10–35% vs 18–45%). πŸ‡°πŸ‡ͺ Kenya is more favourable for high earners.

πŸ›’ VAT/Sales Tax: Both countries have comparable consumption tax rates (16% vs 16%).

🏒 Corporate Tax: πŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦ South Africa offers a lower corporate rate (27% vs 30%), which can influence business location decisions.

πŸ“ˆ Capital Gains: πŸ‡°πŸ‡ͺ Kenya taxes investment gains at a lower rate (15% vs 18%), benefiting investors.

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