Hong Kong vs South Africa
Tax Rate Comparison
Enter your income below for a personal tax estimate, then scroll down for full rate breakdowns.
๐ฐ Personal Income Tax Calculator
Enter your income to see your estimated annual tax liability in each country โ side by side.
๐ญ๐ฐ Hong Kong โ No Sub-Regional Tax Variation
Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region with a simple, low-tax structure. There are no sub-regional taxes. Profits tax applies only to profits arising in or derived from Hong Kong (territorial basis). Property rates are charged at ~5% of assessed rental value. Estate duty was abolished in 2006. Stamp duty on property has been progressively modified since 2022 to cool/stimulate the market. There is no VAT, capital gains tax, or withholding tax on dividends.
๐ฟ๐ฆ 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%โ2.5% 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.
Hong Kong vs South Africa: Key Tax Differences (2026)
๐ฐ Income Tax: ๐ฟ๐ฆ South Africa has a higher top income tax rate (2โ17% vs 18โ45%). ๐ญ๐ฐ Hong Kong is more favourable for high earners.
๐ VAT/Sales Tax: South Africa has a higher consumption tax (0% vs 16%).
๐ข Corporate Tax: ๐ญ๐ฐ Hong Kong offers a lower corporate rate (16.5% vs 27%), which can influence business location decisions.
๐ Capital Gains: ๐ญ๐ฐ Hong Kong taxes investment gains at a lower rate (0% vs 18%), benefiting investors.