ZA · AfricaUS · Americas
South Africa vs United States: tax rates compared
Between the two, South Africa's income tax rate (45%) tops United States's (43.7%) by 1.3pp. The 200-country average is 28%: both sit above it. South Africa's figure is dated 2026-03-01 and United States's 2025-01-01, 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
| Tax | ZA | US | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income Tax | 45% | 43.7% | ZA +1.3 pp |
| Corporate Tax | 27% | 25.6% | ZA +1.4 pp |
| Capital Gains Tax | 18% | 20% | US +2 pplargest gap |
| Crypto Tax | 18% | 20% | US +2 pp |
| Wealth Tax | 0% | 0% | match |
Income Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 45% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Individual, Taxes on personal income) · as of 2026-03-01 |
| United States | 43.7% | Source: OECD Tax Database — Top statutory personal income tax rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| Difference | +1.3 pp | South Africa higher |
Corporate Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 27% | Source: Tax Foundation — Worldwide Corporate Tax Rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| United States | 25.6% | Source: Tax Foundation — Worldwide Corporate Tax Rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| Difference | +1.4 pp | South Africa higher |
Between the two, South Africa's corporate tax rate (27%) tops United States's (25.6%) by 1.4pp. The 201-country average is 22.6%: both sit above it.
Capital Gains Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 18% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Individual, Income determination) · as of 2026-05-29 |
| United States | 20% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — United States (Individual, Other taxes) · as of 2025-01-01 |
| Difference | −2 pp | United States higher |
Between the two, United States's capital gains tax rate (20%) tops South Africa's (18%) by 2pp. The 175-country average is 10.3%: both sit above it. South Africa's figure is dated 2026-05-29 and United States's 2025-01-01, so the two rates come from different data vintages.
Crypto Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 18% | Source: South African Revenue Service — Crypto Assets & Tax · as of 2026-03-20 |
| United States | 20% | Source: IRS Publication 550 (2025), Investment Income and Expenses · as of 2025-01-01 |
| Difference | −2 pp | United States higher |
Between the two, United States's crypto tax rate (20%) tops South Africa's (18%) by 2pp. The 88-country average is 13%: both sit above it. South Africa's figure is dated 2026-03-20 and United States's 2025-01-01, so the two rates come from different data vintages.
Wealth Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — South Africa (Individual, Other taxes) · as of 2026-05-29 |
| United States | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — United States (Individual, Other taxes) · as of 2026-03-18 |
| Difference | 0 pp | displayed rates match |
There's no gap here — South Africa and United States both post a wealth tax rate of 0%. The 193-country average is 0.1%: both sit below it.
Not covered for both countries yet: VAT.