NL · EuropeZA · Africa

Netherlands vs South Africa: tax rates compared

Netherlands has an income tax rate of 49.5%, 4.5pp above South Africa's 45%. The 200-country average is 28%: both sit above it. Netherlands'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%49.5%Corporate25.8%27%VAT15%21%Capital Gains18%36%Crypto18%36%Wealth Tax0%
six shared taxes, side by side
Tax NL ZADifference
Income Tax49.5%45%NL +4.5 pp
Corporate Tax25.8%27%ZA +1.2 pp
VAT21%15%NL +6 pp
Capital Gains Tax36%18%NL +18 pplargest gap
Crypto Tax36%18%NL +18 pp
Wealth Tax0%0%match

Income Tax

Income Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Netherlands49.5%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+4.5 ppNetherlands higher

Corporate Tax

Corporate Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Netherlands25.8%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−1.2 ppSouth Africa higher

South Africa has a corporate tax rate of 27%, 1.2pp above Netherlands's 25.8%. The 201-country average is 22.6%: both sit above it.

VAT

VAT, side by side
CountryRateSource
Netherlands21%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Netherlands (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2026-05-29
South Africa15%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2026-05-29
Difference+6 ppNetherlands higher

Netherlands has a VAT rate of 21%, 6pp above South Africa's 15%. The 181-country average is 15%: Netherlands sits above it, South Africa matches the world average.

Capital Gains Tax

Capital Gains Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Netherlands36%Source: PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Netherlands (Individual, Income determination) · as of 2026-05-29
South Africa18%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Individual, Income determination) · as of 2026-05-29
Difference+18 ppNetherlands higher

Netherlands has a capital gains tax rate of 36%, 18pp above South Africa's 18%. The 175-country average is 10.3%: both sit above it.

Crypto Tax

Crypto Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Netherlands36%Source: Belastingdienst (Dutch Tax and Customs Administration) — "Moet ik aangifte doen en belasting betalen over mijn crypto's?" · as of 2026-01-01
South Africa18%Source: South African Revenue Service — Crypto Assets & Tax · as of 2026-03-20
Difference+18 ppNetherlands higher

Netherlands has a crypto tax rate of 36%, 18pp above South Africa's 18%. The 88-country average is 13%: both sit above it.

Wealth Tax

Wealth Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Netherlands0%Source: Belastingdienst — Box 3 (income from savings and investments) · as of 2025-01-01
South Africa0%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Individual, Other taxes) · as of 2026-05-29
Difference0 ppdisplayed rates match

Netherlands and South Africa share the same wealth tax rate: 0%. The 193-country average is 0.1%: both sit below it. Netherlands's figure is dated 2025-01-01 and South Africa's 2026-05-29, so the two rates come from different data vintages.