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South Africa vs Australia
Tax Rate Comparison

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

🇿🇦 South Africa
vs
🇦🇺 Australia
Tax Year:

💰 Personal Income Tax Calculator

Enter your income to see your estimated annual tax liability in each country — side by side.

Enter your annual income above to see your personal tax comparison →

Individual Income Tax (Top Marginal Rate)

Top Income Tax Rate
18–45%
Top rate maintained; NHI funding discussions
No change
0–45%
+ 2% Medicare; thresholds indexed to CPI
No change

VAT / GST / Sales Tax

VAT / GST / Sales Tax
16%
VAT raised to 16% from 1 April 2026 (Budget 2025)
+0.5pp vs 2025
10%
No change planned
No change

Corporate Tax Rate

Corporate Tax Rate
27%
Stable; National Health Insurance funding debate
No change
25–30%
Stable; Pillar Two active for large MNCs
No change

Capital Gains Tax

Capital Gains Tax
~18%
Possible review of inclusion rate
No change
0–22.5%
50% discount maintained
No change

Social Security & Payroll

Social Security / Payroll
~2%
NHI contribution framework being developed
No change
12%
12% super guarantee; target rate reached
No change
State, Regional & Local Taxes

🇿🇦 South AfricaProvincial & Municipal Taxes

South Africa's 9 provinces do not levy their own income tax — 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.

🇦🇺 AustraliaState & Territory Taxes

Australia's 6 states and 2 territories levy payroll tax (4.75%–6.85%), stamp duty on property, and land tax on investment properties. There is no state income tax — income tax is federal only. The Stage 3 tax cuts (effective July 2024) restructured brackets significantly. The ACT is progressively replacing stamp duty with broad-based land value tax. Councils levy rates on property owners.

⚠️ 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.

South Africa vs Australia: Key Tax Differences (2026)

💰 Income Tax: South Africa and Australia have similar top income tax rates (18–45% vs 0–45%).

🛒 VAT/Sales Tax: South Africa has a higher consumption tax (16% vs 10%).

🏢 Corporate Tax: 🇿🇦 South Africa offers a lower corporate rate (27% vs 30%), which can influence business location decisions.

📈 Capital Gains: 🇿🇦 South Africa taxes investment gains at a lower rate (18% vs 22.5%), benefiting investors.

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All 🇿🇦 South Africa comparisons →All 🇦🇺 Australia comparisons →