WorldTax CompareAll Comparisons

South Korea vs South Africa
Tax Rate Comparison

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

🇰🇷 South Korea
vs
🇿🇦 South Africa
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
6–45%
Stable; political debate on top rate reduction
No change
18–45%
Top rate maintained; NHI funding discussions
No change

VAT / GST / Sales Tax

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

Corporate Tax Rate

Corporate Tax Rate
9–24%
Competitiveness discussions vs global peers
No change
27%
Stable; National Health Insurance funding debate
No change

Capital Gains Tax

Capital Gains Tax
0–45%
Financial income taxation reform continuing
No change
~18%
Possible review of inclusion rate
No change

Social Security & Payroll

Social Security / Payroll
~18.5%
Contribution rates stable; pension reform discussion
No change
~2%
NHI contribution framework being developed
No change
State, Regional & Local Taxes

🇰🇷 South KoreaLocal Income Tax & Resident Tax

South Korea's 17 metropolitan/provincial governments levy local income tax at 10% of national income tax. Property holding tax (Jongbu-se) is a national progressive tax on higher-value properties. Local education taxes and acquisition taxes apply to property transfers. Seoul has higher effective rates due to property values.

🇿🇦 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.

⚠️ 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 Korea vs South Africa: Key Tax Differences (2026)

💰 Income Tax: South Korea and South Africa have similar top income tax rates (6–45% vs 18–45%).

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

🏢 Corporate Tax: 🇰🇷 South Korea offers a lower corporate rate (24% vs 27%), which can influence business location decisions.

📈 Capital Gains: 🇿🇦 South Africa taxes investment gains at a lower rate (18% vs 45%), benefiting investors.

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