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South Africa vs Barbados
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‡§ Barbados
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
12.5–28.5%
28.5% top; competitive Caribbean jurisdiction
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
17.5%
17.5% stable
No change
Corporate Tax Rate
Corporate Tax Rate
27%
Stable; National Health Insurance funding debate
No change
5.5–9%
Tiered rate; Pillar Two compliance for large groups
No change
Capital Gains Tax
Capital Gains Tax
~18%
Possible review of inclusion rate
No change
0%
No CGT β€” sustained advantage
No change
Social Security & Payroll
Social Security / Payroll
~2%
NHI contribution framework being developed
No change
~18.1%
NIS contributions; pension reform needed
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‡§ Barbados β€” Parish Councils & Land Tax

Barbados's 11 parishes have parish councils that levy land tax at 0.1%–0.7% of site value. Barbados has long been a significant international business and financial centre, particularly for Canadian companies. Major tax reform in 2019 aligned Barbados with OECD BEPS standards. A tiered corporate tax rate structure was introduced. Barbados was removed from the EU tax haven blacklist following these reforms and maintains competitiveness as an IFC.

⚠️ 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 Barbados: Key Tax Differences (2026)

πŸ’° Income Tax: πŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦ South Africa has a higher top income tax rate (18–45% vs 12.5–28.5%). πŸ‡§πŸ‡§ Barbados is more favourable for high earners.

πŸ›’ VAT/Sales Tax: Barbados has a higher consumption tax (16% vs 17.5%).

🏒 Corporate Tax: πŸ‡§πŸ‡§ Barbados offers a lower corporate rate (9% vs 27%), which can influence business location decisions.

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

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