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South Africa vs Kuwait
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‡Ό Kuwait
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 personal income tax
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
5%
VAT introduction at 5% expected 2025–2026
β–² +5.0pp vs 2025
Corporate Tax Rate
Corporate Tax Rate
27%
Stable; National Health Insurance funding debate
No change
15%
15% foreign; domestic minimum tax for Pillar Two
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
~16%
PIFSS stable; expat levy discussions ongoing
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‡Ό Kuwait β€” No Sub-National Tax Variation

Kuwait is a city-state with no local or regional income taxes. All taxation is national. Kuwait has no income tax on individuals (citizens or expatriates). Foreign companies operating in Kuwait pay corporate income tax at 15%. National Labour Support Tax (NLST) at 2.5% applies to Kuwaiti listed company profits. Zakat at 1% applies to Kuwaiti company profits. The Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) manages the state's sovereign wealth fund, which generates significant non-tax revenue reducing fiscal dependency.

⚠️ 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 Kuwait: Key Tax Differences (2026)

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

πŸ›’ VAT/Sales Tax: South Africa has a higher consumption tax (16% vs 5%).

🏒 Corporate Tax: πŸ‡°πŸ‡Ό Kuwait offers a lower corporate rate (15% vs 27%), which can influence business location decisions.

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

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