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Transfer Duty Calculator

Estimate SARS transfer duty on your property purchase based on current brackets.

Transfer Duty Calculator

SARS rates effective 1 April 2025. Results update automatically as you type.

R

Your estimate

Transfer Duty

Payable to SARS

R 67 200

Transfer Costs

Attorney, deeds office & admin (estimate)

R 32 365

Conveyancing fee (incl. VAT): R 28 784

Deeds office fee: R 2 731

Postages & petties: R 850

Purchase Price

R 2 500 000

Total Purchase Cost

Purchase price + transfer duty + transfer costs

R 2 599 565

View SARS transfer duty brackets
Property valueRate of duty
R0 – R1 210 0000%
R1 210 001 – R1 663 8003% above R1 210 000
R1 663 801 – R2 329 300R13 614 + 6% above R1 663 800
R2 329 301 – R2 994 800R53 544 + 8% above R2 329 300
R2 994 801 – R13 310 000R106 784 + 11% above R2 994 800
R13 310 001 and aboveR1 241 456 + 13% above R13 310 000

Transfer costs are estimates based on typical conveyancing tariffs and deeds office fees. Actual fees may vary by attorney. No transfer duty is payable on VAT-able transactions. This calculator is for information only and does not constitute financial or legal advice.

How transfer duty works in South Africa

Transfer duty is a tax levied by SARS when you buy immovable property. The amount depends on the purchase price and follows a progressive sliding scale — similar to income tax.

From 1 April 2025, no transfer duty is payable on the first R1,210,000 of a property's value. Rates then increase from 3% up to 13% for properties above R13.3 million. The same brackets apply to all buyers, including individuals, companies, and trusts.

Transfer duty is not payable when buying a new property from a VAT-registered developer, as VAT applies instead. Budget for transfer duty plus conveyancing fees, deeds office fees, and other transfer costs on top of your purchase price.

Frequently asked questions

Who pays transfer duty in South Africa?+

The buyer is responsible for paying transfer duty to SARS. Payment is typically handled by the transferring attorney as part of the property transfer process, before the property is registered in the buyer's name.

What are the current SARS transfer duty rates?+

Effective 1 April 2025: 0% on the first R1,210,000; 3% on the portion from R1,210,001 to R1,663,800; 6% up to R2,329,300; 8% up to R2,994,800; 11% up to R13,310,000; and 13% on any amount above R13,310,000.

Is transfer duty the same as VAT?+

No. Transfer duty applies to most secondary-market property sales between private parties. VAT at 15% applies when buying a new property from a VAT-registered developer — in that case, no transfer duty is charged.

What transfer costs should I budget besides duty?+

In addition to transfer duty, budget for conveyancing attorney fees (including VAT), deeds office registration fees, and postages and petties. Total transfer costs typically add 1–2% of the purchase price on top of transfer duty.

Are there any transfer duty exemptions?+

Certain transactions are exempt, including transfers between spouses, cancelled transactions, and inheritances in some cases. Transactions subject to VAT are also exempt from transfer duty. Always confirm with a conveyancer.

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