Stamp Duty And Registration Charges In South Africa

By Dave Nyam •  Updated: 01/10/25 •  5 min read

There are additional fees levied by the government and the Deeds Office on all real estate transactions in South Africa. The official names for these expenses are registration fees and stamp duty. They contribute financially toward completing the necessary legal procedures to change the property’s owner and obtaining official documents to confirm it.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Several things determine how much you’ll spend on stamp duty and registration fees. Considerations such as these encompass the property’s value, type, ownership structure, and the party from whom you are purchasing or selling it. Although the buyer is typically responsible for these expenses, it is possible for the seller and buyer to negotiate to split or trade them.

The article explores the topic of registration fees and stamp duty. Learn about them, their determination, and the total amount required to transfer property ownership to your name.

Stamp duty and registration charges in South Africa

To buy or sell a property in South Africa, you must pay extra fees to the government and the Deeds Office. These fees are called stamp duty and registration charges. They are for the legal and financial documents or transactions involved in transferring property, such as land, buildings, or houses.

Stamp duty is a tax that you pay for these documents or transactions. It is also called transfer duty. Registration charges are tariffs for registering the house in your details. The Deeds Office does this for you. You also need a conveyancer, a lawyer who helps you with the transfer and the registration. You pay them the conveyancing fees.

How much stamp duty and registration charges do you have to pay? Several factors must be considered. How much the land is worth is a determining factor. The type of property determines the answer. How you own it determines it. The person from whom you are purchasing or selling it also makes a difference. The property’s value is the higher of the purchase or market value. The property type is whether it is for living, working, farming, or making things. The ownership type is whether it is freehold, sectional title, share block, or leasehold. The seller and buyer status is whether they are people, companies, or VAT vendors.

What is the meaning of stamp duties?

You must pay extra taxes when you buy or sell a property in South Africa. These taxes are called stamp duties or transfer duties. They are for the legal and financial papers or deals that come into the picture when transferring property, such as land, buildings, or houses.

The government uses stamp duties to get more money and to control the transfer of property and the registration of papers. Stamp duties also help to stop fraud, evasion, and avoidance of tax

- ADVERTISEMENT -
debts.

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is the national tax boss in South Africa. They are in charge of stamp duties. They get stamp duties from the buyers or the transferees of the property and give them receipts or certificates to show they paid. They also make sure that people pay stamp duties and punish them with penalties and interest if they pay late or decide not to pay.

How much is stamp duty in South Africa?

A transfer duty tax is payable upon real estate purchase in South Africa. You’re dealing with immovable objects, like a home, a structure, or even land. The property’s worth, typically the increased sale price or market value, is the basis for the tax.

Different types of buyers or transferees pay different rates of transfer duty. These are the main categories:

Here are the tables that show how much transfer duty you have to pay for each category in the 2025/2026 financial year:

Natural persons

Property Value (in Rands)Transfer Fee Rate
1 – 1,100,000No fee, it’s on the house!
1,100,001 – 1,512,500A modest 3% on the surplus
1,512,501 – 2,117,500Starting at R12,375 plus a 6% bonus on the excess over R1,512,500
2,117,501 – 2,722,500Beginning with R48,675 plus an 8% cut on the value above R2,117,500
2,722,501 – 12,100,000Initiated with R97,075 and a generous 11% on the remainder past R2,722,500
12,100,001 and beyondCommences at R1,128,600 plus an additional 13% on the amount exceeding R12,100,000

Legal entities and VAT vendors

Property Value (in Rands)Transfer Levy Rate
1 – 12,100,000A flat 8% charge
12,100,001 and beyondKicks off at R968,000 plus an extra 13% on the surplus beyond R12,100,000

Some transfers of property are exempt or reduced from transfer duty, such as:

How much do you pay to transfer a property into your name?

Aside from transfer duty, there are other expenses that you have to clear when you transfer a house into your details. These expenses involve registration, bond registration, bond cancellation, and other charges and tariffs.

You must clear the registration fee to register the house in your details. The fee varies with the property value. For instance, a property worth R100,000 or less only costs R45 to register. But a property worth more than R20,000,000 costs you R6,477 to register.

Also, you must pay the bond registration fee to register the bond or the loan for the property. The fee varies with the bond amount. For instance, a bond of R150,000 or less costs you only R496 to register. But a bond of more than R4,000,000 costs you R2,014 to register.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Keep Reading

How to Avoid Donations Tax In South Africa

How to Avoid Donations Tax In South Africa

By the end of this guide, you'll be equipped with valuable knowledge to navigate the South African donations tax landscape effectively.

How to Change From Paye to Provisional Taxpayer

How to Change From Paye to Provisional Taxpayer

More highlights will be on registering as a provisional taxpayer and calculating your first tax as a provisional taxpayer. 

Savings Tax in South Africa

Savings Tax in South Africa

Today we will be looking at all things tax- and savings-related, from the amount of money you can keep in your bank account without taxation

How To Complete The Tax E-Filing Registration Process

How To Complete The Tax E-Filing Registration Process

Setting out on your tax e-filing journey in South Africa is a breeze. Just follow this roadmap:

Must-Know Income Tax Penalties In South Africa

Must-Know Income Tax Penalties In South Africa

Today we’re looking at some of the most common income tax penalties in South Africa, as well as how you can avoid triggering them and save yourself some cash.

Is TAX Paid Monthly Or Yearly In South Africa?

Is TAX Paid Monthly Or Yearly In South Africa?

So, let’s raise a toast to understanding taxes - here’s to a prosperous journey in South Africa!

What Is A Settlement Agreement In South Africa

What Is A Settlement Agreement In South Africa

This blog post will be centred around a settlement agreement in South Africa. Other related questions on settlement agreements will be expatiated

How to Avoid Paying Capital Gains Tax On An Inherited Property

How to Avoid Paying Capital Gains Tax On An Inherited Property

How to Avoid Paying Capital Gains Tax On an Inherited Property. We'll briefly touch on avoiding inheritance tax in South Africa.

What Is Income Tax Return Online Rectification

What Is Income Tax Return Online Rectification

In this article, you'll explore income tax return online rectification in South Africa: duration, status check, requirements, and the process when requesting correction from SARS.

How Is Bonus Tax Calculated In South Africa

How Is Bonus Tax Calculated In South Africa

How Is Bonus Tax Calculated In South Africa. Our aim is to illuminate the complexities of this system and provide clarity regarding the role of SARS.

How to Complete a Tax Directive Application eFiling

How to Complete a Tax Directive Application eFiling

Understanding how to navigate the eFiling platform for tax directives is essential for ensuring compliance with tax laws and accurately managing tax obligations.

Capital Gains Tax On the Sale of Property

Capital Gains Tax On the Sale of Property

We are here with some key basics to help you better understand Capital Gains Tax and how it affects the sale of properties.

How to Complete the Income Tax Return (ITR14) 

How to Complete the Income Tax Return (ITR14) 

To keep things neat, tidy, and as simple as possible, tax return for companies vs individuals. The company-focused income tax return uses code ITR14.

Difference Between Tax Rebate and Tax Threshold?

Difference Between Tax Rebate and Tax Threshold?

Difference Between Tax Rebate and Tax Threshold? This article explains different concepts you should know about filing tax returns. 

Why Your Tax Refund Might Be Delayed

Why Your Tax Refund Might Be Delayed

Today, we will be looking at this issue in more depth and how to give your income tax refund the best possible chance of being processed quickly.