Add or remove 15% VAT on any amount in South African Rand, and check whether your turnover means you must register for VAT.
Standard rate in South Africa: 15%.
From 1 April 2026, registration is compulsory above R2.3 million of taxable supplies in any 12 months; voluntary registration is possible above R120,000.
Adding VAT: multiply the amount excluding VAT by 15% and add it on. R1,000 + 15% = R150 VAT, so the total is R1,150.
Removing VAT: multiply the VAT-inclusive amount by 15/115 to find the VAT (the “tax fraction”), or divide by 1.15 to find the amount excluding VAT. R1,150 ÷ 1.15 = R1,000, so the VAT inside it is R150.
| Topic | 2026 rule |
|---|---|
| Standard VAT rate | 15% |
| Compulsory registration | Taxable supplies above R2.3 million in any 12 months (from 1 April 2026; previously R1 million) |
| Voluntary registration | Taxable supplies above R120,000 in the past 12 months (from 1 April 2026; previously R50,000) |
| Most common tax period | Two-monthly (Category B); monthly if turnover exceeds R30 million |
| VAT201 deadline | 25th of the month after the period ends; last business day of that month on eFiling |
Last reviewed October 2026. Tax and payroll content is general information — confirm your position with SARS, the Department of Employment and Labour or a registered tax practitioner.
The standard rate is 15%. The increase announced in 2025 was withdrawn, and the 2026 Budget kept the rate at 15%.
Multiply the inclusive price by 15/115. For R2,300 including VAT, the VAT is R2,300 × 15/115 = R300 and the price excluding VAT is R2,000.
From 1 April 2026, registration is compulsory once taxable supplies exceed R2.3 million in any 12-month period (it was R1 million). Voluntary registration is possible above R120,000.
Yes. It is free to use with no sign-up. ETaxFlow’s accounting software applies the same 15% calculation to every invoice automatically.