JM · AmericasZA · Africa

Jamaica vs South Africa: tax rates compared

South Africa has an income tax rate of 45%, 15pp above Jamaica's 30%. The 200-country average is 28%: both sit above it. Jamaica's figure is dated 2025-12-31 and South Africa's 2026-03-01, so the two rates come from different data vintages.

Verified data covers five of the six tracked tax types for both countries; every rate below is cited to its source and dated.

At a glance

0102030405060Income30%45%Corporate25%27%VAT15%Capital Gains0%18%Wealth Tax0%
five shared taxes, side by side
Tax JM ZADifference
Income Tax30%45%ZA +15 pp
Corporate Tax25%27%ZA +2 pp
VAT15%15%match
Capital Gains Tax0%18%ZA +18 pplargest gap
Wealth Tax0%0%match

Income Tax

Income Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Jamaica30%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Jamaica (Individual, Taxes on personal income) · as of 2025-12-31
South Africa45%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Individual, Taxes on personal income) · as of 2026-03-01
Difference−15 ppSouth Africa higher

Corporate Tax

Corporate Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Jamaica25%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−2 ppSouth Africa higher

South Africa has a corporate tax rate of 27%, 2pp above Jamaica's 25%. The 201-country average is 22.6%: both sit above it.

VAT

VAT, side by side
CountryRateSource
Jamaica15%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Jamaica (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2025-12-31
South Africa15%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2026-05-29
Difference0 ppdisplayed rates match

Jamaica and South Africa share the same VAT rate: 15%. The 181-country average is 15%: Jamaica matches the world average, South Africa matches the world average. Jamaica's figure is dated 2025-12-31 and South Africa's 2026-05-29, so the two rates come from different data vintages.

Capital Gains Tax

Capital Gains Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Jamaica0%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Jamaica (Individual, Income determination) · as of 2025-12-31
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 Jamaica's 0%. The 175-country average is 10.3%: Jamaica sits below it, South Africa sits above it. Jamaica's figure is dated 2025-12-31 and South Africa's 2026-05-29, so the two rates come from different data vintages.

Wealth Tax

Wealth Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Jamaica0%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Net wealth/worth tax rates (quick chart) · as of 2025-12-31
South Africa0%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Individual, Other taxes) · as of 2026-05-29
Difference0 ppdisplayed rates match

Jamaica and South Africa share the same wealth tax rate: 0%. The 193-country average is 0.1%: both sit below it. Jamaica's figure is dated 2025-12-31 and South Africa's 2026-05-29, so the two rates come from different data vintages.

Not covered for both countries yet: Crypto Tax.