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South Africa vs Bahamas
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‡§πŸ‡Έ Bahamas
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
0%
No income tax maintained
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
10%
10% VAT maintained
No change
Corporate Tax Rate
Corporate Tax Rate
27%
Stable; National Health Insurance funding debate
No change
0%
No CIT; Pillar Two compliance via domestic top-up
No change
Capital Gains Tax
Capital Gains Tax
~18%
Possible review of inclusion rate
No change
0%
No CGT
No change
Social Security & Payroll
Social Security / Payroll
~2%
NHI contribution framework being developed
No change
~9.8%
NIB; hurricane recovery spending affecting fiscal position
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‡§πŸ‡Έ Bahamas β€” Local Government Rates & Fees

The Bahamas' islands have local government bodies collecting fees for services, building permits, and business licences. The Bahamas famously has no income tax, no capital gains tax, no corporate income tax, and no withholding tax β€” making it one of the world's purest zero-tax jurisdictions. Revenue comes through VAT (introduced 2015), real property tax, customs duties, and stamp duty. As a major offshore financial centre and tourism destination, the Bahamas has faced OECD/FATF pressure on transparency and has made significant reforms.

⚠️ 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 Bahamas: Key Tax Differences (2026)

πŸ’° Income Tax: πŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦ South Africa has a higher top income tax rate (18–45% vs 0%). πŸ‡§πŸ‡Έ Bahamas is more favourable for high earners.

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

🏒 Corporate Tax: πŸ‡§πŸ‡Έ Bahamas offers a lower corporate rate (0% vs 27%), which can influence business location decisions.

πŸ“ˆ Capital Gains: πŸ‡§πŸ‡Έ Bahamas taxes investment gains at a lower rate (0% vs 18%), benefiting investors.

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