VAT rate
%
Excluding VAT
R
The amount before VAT is added
↔
Including VAT
R
The total amount with VAT included
VAT amount at 15%
R 0.00
Enter an amount above to calculate
SA VAT at a glance
Current rates, registration thresholds and common zero-rated items.
Registration thresholds
Compulsory registration
Annual taxable turnover
R 2.3m
Voluntary registration
Annual taxable turnover
R 120 000
Standard VAT rate
Applied to most goods and services
15%
Thresholds were raised from R 1m compulsory and R 50 000 voluntary effective 1 April 2026, giving small SA businesses more runway before VAT registration becomes mandatory.
Common zero-rated items (0% VAT)
Brown bread
Maize meal
Samp
Rice
Dried beans
Fresh fruit
Fresh vegetables
Canned vegetables
Vegetable oil
Milk & cultured milk
Dairy liquid blends
Eggs
Edible offal
Pilchards in tins
Paraffin
Exports
Zero-rated ≠ exempt. On zero-rated supplies you charge 0% VAT but can still claim input VAT back. On exempt supplies (financial services, residential rent, public transport) you charge no VAT and can't claim input VAT.
How to use this calculator
Three everyday scenarios — the tool handles all of them the same way.
Adding VAT to a quote
You quoted a client R 10 000 ex-VAT. Type 10 000 into the Excluding field. You'll see the VAT amount (R 1 500) and the total invoice value (R 11 500) immediately.
Extracting VAT from a total
A customer paid R 1 150 inclusive. Type 1 150 into the Including field. You'll see the ex-VAT portion (R 1 000) and the VAT you must declare (R 150).
Working with zero-rated items
If you supply zero-rated goods — bread, maize meal, fresh produce, exports — click the 0% chip. VAT amount drops to R 0 while the ex-VAT and inclusive values remain the same.
Historical or custom rates
For historical calculations (14% pre-April 2018) or hypothetical scenarios, type any value into the Custom chip. The calculation updates instantly at your chosen rate.