IT · EuropeZA · Africa

Italy vs South Africa: tax rates compared

Between the two, Italy's income tax rate (47.2%) tops South Africa's (45%) by 2.2pp. The 200-country average is 28%: both sit above it. Italy's figure is dated 2025-01-01 and South Africa's 2026-03-01, so the two rates come from different data vintages.

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

0102030405060Income45%47.2%Corporate27%27.8%VAT15%22%Capital Gains18%26%Crypto18%33%Wealth Tax0%
six shared taxes, side by side
Tax IT ZADifference
Income Tax47.2%45%IT +2.2 pp
Corporate Tax27.8%27%IT +0.8 pp
VAT22%15%IT +7 pp
Capital Gains Tax26%18%IT +8 pp
Crypto Tax33%18%IT +15 pplargest gap
Wealth Tax0%0%match

Income Tax

Income Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Italy47.2%Source: OECD Tax Database — Top statutory personal income tax rates · as of 2025-01-01
South Africa45%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Individual, Taxes on personal income) · as of 2026-03-01
Difference+2.2 ppItaly higher

Corporate Tax

Corporate Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Italy27.8%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+0.8 ppItaly higher

Between the two, Italy's corporate tax rate (27.8%) tops South Africa's (27%) by 0.8pp. The 201-country average is 22.6%: both sit above it.

VAT

VAT, side by side
CountryRateSource
Italy22%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Italy (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2026-07-13
South Africa15%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2026-05-29
Difference+7 ppItaly higher

Between the two, Italy's VAT rate (22%) tops South Africa's (15%) by 7pp. The 181-country average is 15%: Italy sits above it, South Africa matches the world average.

Capital Gains Tax

Capital Gains Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Italy26%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Italy (Individual, Income determination) · as of 2019-01-01
South Africa18%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Individual, Income determination) · as of 2026-05-29
Difference+8 ppItaly higher

Between the two, Italy's capital gains tax rate (26%) tops South Africa's (18%) by 8pp. The 175-country average is 10.3%: both sit above it. Italy's figure is dated 2019-01-01 and South Africa's 2026-05-29, so the two rates come from different data vintages.

Crypto Tax

Crypto Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Italy33%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Italy (Individual, Other taxes) · as of 2026-02-25
South Africa18%Source: South African Revenue Service — Crypto Assets & Tax · as of 2026-03-20
Difference+15 ppItaly higher

Between the two, Italy's crypto tax rate (33%) tops South Africa's (18%) by 15pp. The 88-country average is 13%: both sit above it.

Wealth Tax

Wealth Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Italy0%Source: Agenzia delle Entrate — IVIE, base imponibile e aliquota · as of 2024-01-01
South Africa0%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Individual, Other taxes) · as of 2026-05-29
Difference0 ppdisplayed rates match

There's no gap here — Italy and South Africa both post a wealth tax rate of 0%. The 193-country average is 0.1%: both sit below it. Italy's figure is dated 2024-01-01 and South Africa's 2026-05-29, so the two rates come from different data vintages.