WorldTax Compareโ† All Comparisons

Kuwait vs South Africa
Tax Rate Comparison

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

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ผ Kuwait
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
0%
No personal income tax
No change
18โ€“45%
Top rate maintained; NHI funding discussions
No change
VAT / GST / Sales Tax
VAT / GST / Sales Tax
5%
VAT introduction at 5% expected 2025โ€“2026
โ–ฒ +5.0pp vs 2025
16%
VAT raised to 16% from 1 April 2026 (Budget 2025)
โ–ฒ +0.5pp vs 2025
Corporate Tax Rate
Corporate Tax Rate
15%
15% foreign; domestic minimum tax for Pillar Two
No change
27%
Stable; National Health Insurance funding debate
No change
Capital Gains Tax
Capital Gains Tax
0%
No CGT
No change
~18%
Possible review of inclusion rate
No change
Social Security & Payroll
Social Security / Payroll
~16%
PIFSS stable; expat levy discussions ongoing
No change
~2%
NHI contribution framework being developed
No change
State, Regional & Local Taxes

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ผ Kuwait โ€” No Sub-National Tax Variation

Kuwait is a city-state with no local or regional income taxes. All taxation is national. Kuwait has no income tax on individuals (citizens or expatriates). Foreign companies operating in Kuwait pay corporate income tax at 15%. National Labour Support Tax (NLST) at 2.5% applies to Kuwaiti listed company profits. Zakat at 1% applies to Kuwaiti company profits. The Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) manages the state's sovereign wealth fund, which generates significant non-tax revenue reducing fiscal dependency.

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.

Kuwait vs South Africa: Key Tax Differences (2026)

๐Ÿ’ฐ Income Tax: ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ South Africa has a higher top income tax rate (0% vs 18โ€“45%). ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ผ Kuwait is more favourable for high earners.

๐Ÿ›’ VAT/Sales Tax: South Africa has a higher consumption tax (5% vs 16%).

๐Ÿข Corporate Tax: ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ผ Kuwait offers a lower corporate rate (15% vs 27%), which can influence business location decisions.

๐Ÿ“ˆ Capital Gains: ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ผ Kuwait taxes investment gains at a lower rate (0% vs 18%), benefiting investors.

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