QuickCalc

Transfer Duty Calculator (South Africa)

Calculate SARS transfer duty payable on your property purchase.

Reviewed by The QuickCalc Editorial Team · Last updated · About our methodology

Enter your details

Result

Transfer duty payable
R29 625,00

Properties under R1,100,000 are exempt from transfer duty.

Inputs & results at a glance

Updates live as you change the form above.

ItemTypeValue
Property priceInputR1 800 000,00
Transfer duty payableResultR29 625,00
Effective rateResult1.65%

About this calculator

SARS progressive brackets:

  • R0 – R1,100,000: 0%
  • R1,100,001 – R1,512,500: 3%
  • R1,512,501 – R2,117,500: 6%
  • R2,117,501 – R2,722,500: 8%
  • R2,722,501 – R12,100,000: 11%
  • Above R12,100,000: 13%

Transfer duty is a tax payable to SARS by the buyer when ownership of a property is transferred. It is calculated on the purchase price using a sliding scale of brackets, and properties priced at R1,100,000 or less are exempt. This calculator applies the official SARS brackets so you can budget accurately before you make an offer.

The rates rise from 0% on the first R1.1 million through 3%, 6%, 8% and 11% on portions of the price up to R12.1 million, with anything above taxed at 13%. Because the brackets are progressive, only the portion of the price within each band is taxed at that band's rate — not the whole purchase price.

Transfer duty is paid to your conveyancing attorney before lodgement at the Deeds Office and is one of several upfront costs. You should also budget for bond registration fees, conveyancing fees and Deeds Office charges. Note that if you buy a new property directly from a VAT-registered developer, VAT is charged on the price instead of transfer duty.

How to use it

  1. 1Enter the purchase price. Type the agreed price of the property.
  2. 2Read the duty payable. The result shows the SARS transfer duty due before lodgement.
  3. 3Add other upfront costs. Remember bond registration, attorney and Deeds Office fees on top.

How it works

Transfer duty is a progressive tax charged by SARS on the transfer of ownership of a property. Progressive means only the slice of the purchase price that falls inside each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate — so a R2,000,000 property does not pay 6% on the full R2 million, it pays 0% on the first R1.1 million, 3% on the slice between R1.1 million and R1,512,500, and 6% on the remaining slice up to R2 million. The calculator walks the price through every bracket, adds up the duty from each slice and returns the total.

Transfer duty is paid to your conveyancing attorney before the property can be lodged at the Deeds Office, and it is separate from the attorney's own fees, the bond registration cost and the Deeds Office charges. If the seller is a VAT-registered developer selling a new property, VAT at 15% applies instead of transfer duty — the two are mutually exclusive. The brackets used here are the 2024/2025 SARS values; the calculator will be updated whenever SARS revises them in the annual budget.

Formula

Duty = Σ (min(Price, bracket_max) − bracket_min) × bracket_rate for every bracket the price crosses.

0% up to R1,100,000; 3% on R1,100,001 – R1,512,500; 6% on R1,512,501 – R2,117,500; 8% on R2,117,501 – R2,722,500; 11% on R2,722,501 – R12,100,000; 13% above R12,100,000.

Worked examples

Property priced at R1,000,000

Below the R1.1 million threshold. Transfer duty payable: R0.

Property priced at R2,000,000

3% on R412,500 (R12,375) + 6% on R487,500 (R29,250) = R41,625 transfer duty.

Property priced at R5,000,000

Duty from lower brackets (R80,875) + 11% on R2,277,500 = R331,400 total transfer duty.

Frequently asked questions

When does transfer duty apply?

It applies when ownership of a fixed property is transferred to you, unless the sale is subject to VAT instead. It is calculated on the purchase price using progressive brackets and paid before lodgement at the Deeds Office.

When is VAT charged instead of transfer duty?

If the seller is a VAT-registered vendor selling in the course of their enterprise (typically a residential property developer selling a new unit), VAT at 15% applies to the sale and transfer duty does not.

Who pays the transfer duty?

The buyer, via the conveyancing attorney, before the property can be registered at the Deeds Office in the buyer's name.

What is the transfer duty threshold in 2024/2025?

R1,100,000. Property purchases at or below this price pay no transfer duty. Above it, duty is charged progressively at 3%, 6%, 8%, 11% and 13% on portions of the price.

Are there other upfront costs?

Yes — conveyancing attorney fees, bond registration fees (if you're taking a bond) and Deeds Office charges. On a R1.5 million purchase these can total R60,000–R80,000 on top of transfer duty.

Can I deduct transfer duty from CGT later?

Yes. Transfer duty is part of the base cost of the property and reduces the capital gain when you eventually sell. Keep the receipts.

How current are the brackets used here?

The calculator uses the SARS transfer duty brackets effective from 1 April 2024. Brackets are typically updated in the February Budget Speech; we update the calculator when new rates take effect.

Related calculators

Property

Bond Repayment Calculator

Estimate your monthly home loan repayments

Property

Rental Yield Calculator

Annual gross yield on a rental property

Business

VAT Calculator

Add 15% VAT to a price

Spotted something off, or want a calculator we don't have?

Send a quick suggestion and it goes straight to the QuickCalc admins.

Suggest a calculator or change