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South Africa VAT calculator

Add or remove South African VAT at the standard rate. Enter an amount in rand, say whether it already includes VAT, and see the VAT-exclusive price, the VAT and the total.

Does the amount include VAT?
VAT rate

Standard rate: Most goods and services. Rates from SARS, checked 30 October 2026.

The net price, before VAT.

Total including VAT
R1,150.00
VAT at 15%: R150.00 on R1,000.00
Net (excluding VAT)
R1,000.00
VAT at 15%
R150.00
Gross (including VAT)
R1,150.00
To add 15% VAT, multiply by 1.15: R1,000.00 × 1.15 = R1,150.00. To take it back out, divide by 1.15 (or take 3/23 of the total), rather than taking 15% off.
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How to calculate South African VAT

  1. 1

    The rate is set to South Africa's 15% standard rate. Choose 0% for zero-rated goods such as basic foods.

  2. 2

    Pick Yes, remove VAT if your price already includes VAT, as shelf prices in South Africa must, or No, add VAT for a VAT-exclusive amount.

  3. 3

    Enter the amount in rand.

  4. 4

    Read the VAT-exclusive amount, the VAT and the total, then copy the figures or a link to them.

Features

  • Built for 15%

    Add 15%, or take out 15/115 of a VAT-inclusive price: the tax fraction SARS uses.

  • Zero-rated items too

    Switch to 0% for basic foods, petrol and diesel, or mix both rates on one slip with extra items.

  • Checked against SARS

    The rate and the new R2.3 million registration threshold were checked on sars.gov.za on 30 October 2026.

  • Quotes and tax invoices

    Check the VAT on a quote or a tax invoice before you pay it or claim it back.

VAT in South Africa at a glance

Figure
Standard rate15%
VAT in a VAT-inclusive price (tax fraction)15/115, the same as 3/23
Compulsory registrationTaxable supplies over R2.3 million in 12 months (since 1 April 2026)
Voluntary registrationFrom R120,000 a year, according to SARS
Full tax invoice neededOver R5,000
VAT returnVAT201, usually every two months; monthly once turnover is over R30 million

Checked on sars.gov.za and in SARS's VAT 404 guide for vendors on 30 October 2026.

Worked examples

  • A R4,600.00 invoice, VAT included: VAT is R600.00 and the VAT-exclusive amount R4,000.00.
  • A VAT-exclusive quote of R12,000.00: add R1,800.00 of VAT for a total of R13,800.00.
  • SARS's own example: R28,000.00 × 15/115 = R3,652.17 of output tax. The guide rounds it to R3,652.
  • A till slip with R180.00 of basic foods (0%) and R115.00 of toiletries (15%): only the toiletries carry VAT, R15.00, so the slip's VAT-exclusive total is R280.00. Add both lines with Add more items to check a slip like this.

Zero-rated is not the same as exempt

Both mean the customer pays no VAT, but they work differently for the seller. A zero-rated supply is taxable at 0%: the vendor still charges VAT on it at nil, still counts it towards the registration threshold, and can claim back the VAT on costs that go into it. An exempt supply is outside the system: a business that makes only exempt supplies can't register, and VAT on costs that relate to exempt supplies can't be claimed.

Zero-rating for basic foods also has limits. It doesn't apply once the food is prepared for eating straight away, like a glass of milk in a restaurant or a sandwich, or when a zero-rated food is packed with something standard-rated, such as rice with a flavour sachet.

Tax invoices and claiming VAT back

A vendor must issue a tax invoice within 21 days of a supply. To claim input tax, you need the right document: a full tax invoice over R5,000, an abridged one between R50 and R5,000, and a till slip or similar showing the VAT for R50 or less. Keep records for at least five years.

This page does the arithmetic and summarises SARS's published guidance; it isn't tax advice. For other countries, use the main VAT calculator. To set prices, work out your margin on the VAT-exclusive price with the margin calculator, or find the sales you need to cover your costs with the break-even calculator.

Frequently asked questions

What is the VAT rate in South Africa?

15%. The 2025 Budget proposed raising it to 15.5% from 1 May 2025 and to 16% in 2026, but both increases were reversed before they took effect, so the rate has stayed at 15%.

How do I work out the VAT in a VAT-inclusive price?

Multiply the price by 15/115, the tax fraction. R1,150.00 includes R150.00 of VAT, so the VAT-exclusive amount is R1,000.00. Taking 15% off instead gives R977.50, which is wrong.

Do prices in South Africa have to include VAT?

Yes. SARS's guide for vendors says all prices a vendor charges, advertises or quotes must include VAT. That's why working VAT out of a total is the everyday sum in South Africa.

What is zero-rated in South Africa?

Zero-rated supplies are taxable at 0%. They include a list of basic foods (such as brown bread, maize meal, rice, dried beans, milk, eggs, fresh fruit and vegetables, and vegetable cooking oil), petrol and diesel, marked illuminating paraffin, and goods exported from South Africa.

What is exempt from VAT?

Exempt supplies carry no VAT and the seller cannot claim input tax on related costs. Examples include financial services such as credit and life insurance, renting out residential accommodation, passenger transport by taxi, bus or train, and education from recognised institutions.

When must a business register for VAT?

From 1 April 2026, registration is compulsory once your taxable supplies exceed R2.3 million in any 12-month period, up from R1 million. You must apply within 21 business days of going over. SARS gives R120,000 as the minimum for registering voluntarily.

What must a tax invoice show?

For supplies over R5,000 you need a full tax invoice: the words "tax invoice", your name, address and VAT number, the buyer's name, address and VAT number (if they have one), a serial number and date, a description and quantity, and the value, VAT and total. Up to R5,000 an abridged tax invoice with fewer details will do, and for R50 or less none is needed.

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