WorldTax Compare← All Comparisons

South Africa vs United States
Tax Rate Comparison

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

πŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦ South Africa
vs
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States
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
18–45%
Top rate maintained; NHI funding discussions
No change
10–37%
TCJA provisions extended; no sunset
No change
VAT / GST / Sales Tax
VAT / GST / Sales Tax
16%
VAT raised to 16% from 1 April 2026 (Budget 2025)
β–² +0.5pp vs 2025
0–11%
No federal sales tax; state avg ~6–9%
No change
Corporate Tax Rate
Corporate Tax Rate
27%
Stable; National Health Insurance funding debate
No change
21%
Federal flat; proposals to raise to 28% stalled
No change
Capital Gains Tax
Capital Gains Tax
~18%
Possible review of inclusion rate
No change
0–20%
+ 3.8% NIIT; thresholds inflation-adjusted
No change
Social Security & Payroll
Social Security / Payroll
~2%
NHI contribution framework being developed
No change
~15.3%
SS wage base ~$180,000 est. 2026
No change
State, Regional & Local Taxes

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.

πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States β€” State & Local Taxes

The U.S. has 50 states each setting their own income tax (0%–13.3%). California tops at 13.3%, while Texas, Florida, and Nevada levy no state income tax. NYC adds its own income tax (up to 3.876%). Sales taxes vary from 0% (Oregon) to over 11% combined. Property taxes are primarily local. Some states like Washington have introduced capital gains levies.

⚠️ 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 United States: Key Tax Differences (2026)

πŸ’° Income Tax: πŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦ South Africa has a higher top income tax rate (18–45% vs 10–37%). πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States is more favourable for high earners.

πŸ›’ VAT/Sales Tax: South Africa has a higher consumption tax (16% vs 0–11%).

🏒 Corporate Tax: πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States offers a lower corporate rate (21% vs 27%), which can influence business location decisions.

πŸ“ˆ Capital Gains: πŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦ South Africa taxes investment gains at a lower rate (18% vs 20%), benefiting investors.

Related Comparisons

πŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦ South Africa vs πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡¬ EgyptTax comparisonπŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦ South Africa vs πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡Ή EthiopiaTax comparisonπŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦ South Africa vs πŸ‡¬πŸ‡­ GhanaTax comparisonπŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦ South Africa vs πŸ‡°πŸ‡ͺ KenyaTax comparisonπŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦ South Africa vs πŸ‡²πŸ‡¦ MoroccoTax comparisonπŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦ South Africa vs πŸ‡³πŸ‡¬ NigeriaTax comparisonπŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦ South Africa vs πŸ‡·πŸ‡Ό RwandaTax comparisonπŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦ South Africa vs πŸ‡ΉπŸ‡Ώ TanzaniaTax comparisonπŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦ South Africa vs πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ United KingdomTax comparisonπŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦ South Africa vs πŸ‡¨πŸ‡³ ChinaTax comparisonπŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦ South Africa vs πŸ‡«πŸ‡· FranceTax comparisonπŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦ South Africa vs πŸ‡©πŸ‡ͺ GermanyTax comparison