CY · EuropeZA · Africa

Cyprus vs South Africa: tax rates compared

South Africa has an income tax rate of 45%, 10pp above Cyprus's 35%. 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

0102030405060Income35%45%Corporate12.5%27%VAT15%19%Capital Gains0%18%Crypto8%18%Wealth Tax0%
six shared taxes, side by side
Tax CY ZADifference
Income Tax35%45%ZA +10 pp
Corporate Tax12.5%27%ZA +14.5 pp
VAT19%15%CY +4 pp
Capital Gains Tax0%18%ZA +18 pplargest gap
Crypto Tax8%18%ZA +10 pp
Wealth Tax0%0%match

Income Tax

Income Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Cyprus35%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Cyprus (Individual, Taxes on personal income) · as of 2026-05-18
South Africa45%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Individual, Taxes on personal income) · as of 2026-03-01
Difference−10 ppSouth Africa higher

Corporate Tax

Corporate Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Cyprus12.5%Source: Tax Foundation — Worldwide Corporate Tax Rates · as of 2025-01-01
South Africa27%Source: Tax Foundation — Worldwide Corporate Tax Rates · as of 2025-01-01
Difference−14.5 ppSouth Africa higher

South Africa has a corporate tax rate of 27%, 14.5pp above Cyprus's 12.5%. The 201-country average is 22.6%: Cyprus sits below it, South Africa sits above it.

VAT

VAT, side by side
CountryRateSource
Cyprus19%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Cyprus (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2026-05-18
South Africa15%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2026-05-29
Difference+4 ppCyprus higher

Cyprus has a VAT rate of 19%, 4pp above South Africa's 15%. The 181-country average is 15%: Cyprus sits above it, South Africa matches the world average.

Capital Gains Tax

Capital Gains Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Cyprus0%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Cyprus (Individual, Income determination) · as of 2026-05-18
South Africa18%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Individual, Income determination) · as of 2026-05-29
Difference−18 ppSouth Africa higher

South Africa has a capital gains tax rate of 18%, 18pp above Cyprus's 0%. The 175-country average is 10.3%: Cyprus sits below it, South Africa sits above it.

Crypto Tax

Crypto Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Cyprus8%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Cyprus (Individual, Income determination) · as of 2026-05-18
South Africa18%Source: South African Revenue Service — Crypto Assets & Tax · as of 2026-03-20
Difference−10 ppSouth Africa higher

South Africa has a crypto tax rate of 18%, 10pp above Cyprus's 8%. The 88-country average is 13%: Cyprus sits below it, South Africa sits above it.

Wealth Tax

Wealth Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Cyprus0%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Net wealth/worth tax rates (quick chart) · as of 2026-05-18
South Africa0%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Individual, Other taxes) · as of 2026-05-29
Difference0 ppdisplayed rates match

Cyprus and South Africa share the same wealth tax rate: 0%. The 193-country average is 0.1%: both sit below it.