South Africa VAT Calculator 2026
South Africa applies a single VAT rate of 15% to all taxable supplies.
Figures last reviewed
South Africa VAT at a glance
- Standard VAT rate
- 15% — ranked 24 of 36 covered here
- Compared with the average
- -1.99 pts — average across the 36 countries covered is 16.99%
- Registration threshold
- 1,000,000 ZAR — annual turnover above which registration becomes compulsory
- Rates verified
- 17 August 2026 — checked against the issuing tax authority
How VAT works in South Africa
VAT 15%, Registration threshold ZAR 1 million
Calculating South Africa VAT
Start from the price excluding tax
VAT is charged on the net price. At 15%, a net ZAR 100 becomes ZAR 115.00 once VAT of ZAR 15.00 is added.
To work backwards, divide — never subtract
Removing VAT from a gross figure means dividing by 1.1500, not subtracting 15%. Subtracting the percentage from the gross amount understates the net price, and the error grows with the rate.
Registration is threshold-based
Businesses with taxable turnover above ZAR 1,000,000 a year must register and charge VAT. Below it, registration is usually voluntary — worth doing when your customers can reclaim the tax.
Worked example at 15%
Adding and removing VAT at 15%
| Component | Adding to a net price | Removing from a gross price |
|---|---|---|
| Starting amount | ZAR 100.00 | ZAR 1,000.00 |
| VAT at 15% | (ZAR 15.00) | (ZAR 130.43) |
| Result | ZAR 115.00 | ZAR 869.57 |
So a net price of ZAR 100.00 in South Africa costs ZAR 115.00 once VAT is added. Working the other way, a gross price of ZAR 1,000.00 contains ZAR 130.43 of VAT, leaving ZAR 869.57 net.
Computed from the same 15% rate the calculator applies, so this table and the calculator cannot disagree.
Countries with a similar rate
South Africa VAT questions
What is the VAT rate in South Africa?
The standard rate is 15%, and it applies to all taxable supplies — South Africa has no reduced rate. That places South Africa 24 of 36 of the countries covered here, 1.99 points below the 16.99% average.
How do I remove VAT from a price in South Africa?
Divide the gross amount by 1.1500. At 15%, a gross ZAR 1,000 works back to ZAR 869.57 net with ZAR 130.43 of VAT. Subtracting 15% from the gross figure is the common mistake and gives the wrong answer.
When do I have to register for VAT in South Africa?
Once taxable turnover passes ZAR 1,000,000 a year. Registering voluntarily below the threshold lets you reclaim input tax, which usually pays off if you sell mainly to other registered businesses and costs you if you sell to consumers.
Which countries have higher and lower rates than South Africa?
Of the countries covered here, Finland has the highest standard rate at 25.5% and United Arab Emirates the lowest at 5%. South Africa sits at 15%.