NZ · OceaniaZA · Africa
New Zealand vs South Africa: tax rates compared
South Africa has an income tax rate of 45%, 6pp above New Zealand's 39%. The 200-country average is 28%: both sit above it. New Zealand'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
| Tax | NZ | ZA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income Tax | 39% | 45% | ZA +6 pp |
| Corporate Tax | 28% | 27% | NZ +1 pp |
| VAT | 15% | 15% | match |
| Capital Gains Tax | 0% | 18% | ZA +18 pp |
| Crypto Tax | 39% | 18% | NZ +21 pplargest gap |
| Wealth Tax | 0% | 0% | match |
Income Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 39% | Source: OECD Tax Database — Top statutory personal income tax rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| South Africa | 45% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Individual, Taxes on personal income) · as of 2026-03-01 |
| Difference | −6 pp | South Africa higher |
Corporate Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 28% | 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 | +1 pp | New Zealand higher |
New Zealand has a corporate tax rate of 28%, 1pp above South Africa's 27%. The 201-country average is 22.6%: both sit above it.
VAT
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 15% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — New Zealand (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2026-07-06 |
| South Africa | 15% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2026-05-29 |
| Difference | 0 pp | displayed rates match |
New Zealand and South Africa share the same VAT rate: 15%. The 181-country average is 15%: New Zealand matches the world average, South Africa matches the world average.
Capital Gains Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — New Zealand (Individual, Income determination) · as of 2026-07-06 |
| 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 has a capital gains tax rate of 18%, 18pp above New Zealand's 0%. The 175-country average is 10.3%: New Zealand sits below it, South Africa sits above it.
Crypto Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 39% | Source: Inland Revenue (IRD) — "Crypto investors urged to get tax compliant" · as of 2026-04-20 |
| South Africa | 18% | Source: South African Revenue Service — Crypto Assets & Tax · as of 2026-03-20 |
| Difference | +21 pp | New Zealand higher |
New Zealand has a crypto tax rate of 39%, 21pp above South Africa's 18%. The 88-country average is 13%: both sit above it.
Wealth Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — New Zealand (Net wealth/worth tax rates) · as of 2026-07-06 |
| South Africa | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Individual, Other taxes) · as of 2026-05-29 |
| Difference | 0 pp | displayed rates match |
New Zealand and South Africa share the same wealth tax rate: 0%. The 193-country average is 0.1%: both sit below it.