PW · OceaniaZA · Africa

Palau vs South Africa: tax rates compared

South Africa's income tax rate is 33pp higher than Palau's (45% vs 12%). The 200-country average is 28%: Palau sits below it, South Africa sits above it.

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

0102030405060Income12%45%VAT10%15%Capital Gains0%18%Crypto0%18%Wealth Tax0%
five shared taxes, side by side
Tax PW ZADifference
Income Tax12%45%ZA +33 pplargest gap
VAT10%15%ZA +5 pp
Capital Gains Tax0%18%ZA +18 pp
Crypto Tax0%18%ZA +18 pp
Wealth Tax0%0%match

Income Tax

Income Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Palau12%Source: Government of Palau — Bureau of Revenue and Taxation, Wages and Salary Tax · as of 2026-07-20
South Africa45%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Individual, Taxes on personal income) · as of 2026-03-01
Difference−33 ppSouth Africa higher

VAT

VAT, side by side
CountryRateSource
Palau10%Source: Palau Bureau of Revenue & Taxation — Palau Goods and Services Tax (PGST) · as of 2023-01-01
South Africa15%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2026-05-29
Difference−5 ppSouth Africa higher

South Africa's VAT rate is 5pp higher than Palau's (15% vs 10%). The 181-country average is 15%: Palau sits below it, South Africa matches the world average. Palau's figure is dated 2023-01-01 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
Palau0%Source: Government of Palau — Ministry of Finance, Bureau of Revenue and Taxation · as of 2026-07-19
South Africa18%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Individual, Income determination) · as of 2026-05-29
Difference−18 ppSouth Africa higher

South Africa's capital gains tax rate is 18pp higher than Palau's (18% vs 0%). The 175-country average is 10.3%: Palau sits below it, South Africa sits above it.

Crypto Tax

Crypto Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Palau0%Source: Government of Palau — Ministry of Finance, Bureau of Revenue and Taxation · as of 2026-07-19
South Africa18%Source: South African Revenue Service — Crypto Assets & Tax · as of 2026-03-20
Difference−18 ppSouth Africa higher

South Africa's crypto tax rate is 18pp higher than Palau's (18% vs 0%). The 88-country average is 13%: Palau sits below it, South Africa sits above it.

Wealth Tax

Wealth Tax, side by side
CountryRateSource
Palau0%Source: Palau National Code, Title 40 (Revenue and Taxation) — official text · as of 2026-07-18
South Africa0%Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Individual, Other taxes) · as of 2026-05-29
Difference0 ppdisplayed rates match

Palau's wealth tax rate is identical to South Africa's — both sit at 0%. The 193-country average is 0.1%: both sit below it.

Not covered for both countries yet: Corporate Tax.