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Barbados vs South Africa: tax rates compared
South Africa's income tax rate is 16.5pp higher than Barbados's (45% vs 28.5%). The 200-country average is 28%: both sit above it.
Verified data covers six of the six tracked tax types for both countries; every rate below is cited to its source and dated.
At a glance
| Tax | BB | ZA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income Tax | 28.5% | 45% | ZA +16.5 pp |
| Corporate Tax | 9% | 27% | ZA +18 pplargest gap |
| VAT | 17.5% | 15% | BB +2.5 pp |
| Capital Gains Tax | 0% | 18% | ZA +18 pp |
| Crypto Tax | 0% | 18% | ZA +18 pp |
| Wealth Tax | 0% | 0% | match |
Income Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Barbados | 28.5% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Barbados (Individual, Taxes on personal income) · as of 2026-01-11 |
| South Africa | 45% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Individual, Taxes on personal income) · as of 2026-03-01 |
| Difference | −16.5 pp | South Africa higher |
Corporate Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Barbados | 9% | Source: Tax Foundation — Worldwide Corporate Tax Rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| South Africa | 27% | Source: Tax Foundation — Worldwide Corporate Tax Rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| Difference | −18 pp | South Africa higher |
South Africa's corporate tax rate is 18pp higher than Barbados's (27% vs 9%). The 201-country average is 22.6%: Barbados sits below it, South Africa sits above it.
VAT
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Barbados | 17.5% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Barbados (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2026-01-11 |
| South Africa | 15% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2026-05-29 |
| Difference | +2.5 pp | Barbados higher |
Barbados's VAT rate is 2.5pp higher than South Africa's (17.5% vs 15%). The 181-country average is 15%: Barbados sits above it, South Africa matches the world average.
Capital Gains Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Barbados | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Barbados (Individual, Income determination) · as of 2026-01-11 |
| South Africa | 18% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Individual, Income determination) · as of 2026-05-29 |
| Difference | −18 pp | South Africa higher |
South Africa's capital gains tax rate is 18pp higher than Barbados's (18% vs 0%). The 175-country average is 10.3%: Barbados sits below it, South Africa sits above it.
Crypto Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Barbados | 0% | Source: PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Barbados (Individual, Income determination) · as of 2026-01-11 |
| South Africa | 18% | Source: South African Revenue Service — Crypto Assets & Tax · as of 2026-03-20 |
| Difference | −18 pp | South Africa higher |
South Africa's crypto tax rate is 18pp higher than Barbados's (18% vs 0%). The 88-country average is 13%: Barbados sits below it, South Africa sits above it.
Wealth Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Barbados | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Barbados (Net wealth/worth tax rates) · as of 2026-01-11 |
| South Africa | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Individual, Other taxes) · as of 2026-05-29 |
| Difference | 0 pp | displayed rates match |
Barbados's wealth tax rate is identical to South Africa's — both sit at 0%. The 193-country average is 0.1%: both sit below it.