On 16 January 2023, the National Treasury of South Africa published a media statement regarding the publication of the country’s 2022 tax acts in the Official Gazette.
Personal Income Tax
Personal income tax rebate has been amended, i.e., a primary rebate from ZAR 15,714 to ZAR 16,425, a secondary rebate from ZAR 8,613 to ZAR 9,000, and a tertiary rebate from ZAR 2,871 to ZAR 2,997.
Considering inflation, the tax-free threshold for a person under the age of 65 increased from ZAR 87,300 to ZAR 91,250. The taxable income threshold and tax rates set as follows from 1 March 2022:
Threshold Amount | Rates |
ZAR 0 to ZAR 226,000 | 18% |
ZAR 226,001 to ZAR 353,100 | 26% |
ZAR 353,101 to ZAR 488,700 | 31% |
ZAR 488,701 to ZAR 641,400 | 36% |
ZAR 641,401 to ZAR 817,600 | 39% |
ZAR 817,601 to ZAR 1,731,600 | 41% |
ZAR 1,731,601 and above | 45% |
Corporate Income Tax
The standard corporate income tax rate is decreased from 28% to 27% for companies with assessment years beginning on or after 1 April 2022 and ending on or after 31 March 2023.
Excise Duty
The excise duty for alcohol has been increased, with effect from 23 February 2022, as follows:
Quantity | Current Duty | Previous Duty |
Per 1 liter bottle of beer or cider | ZAR 121.41 | ZAR 115.08 |
Per 1 liter bottle of fortified wine | ZAR 8.36 | ZAR 7.92 |
Per 1 liter bottle of sparkling wine | ZAR 16.52 | ZAR 15.51 |
Per 1 liter bottle of spirits, including whisky, gin or vodka | ZAR 245.15 | ZAR 230.18 |
The excise duty on cigarettes per packet of 20 cigarettes increased from ZAR 18.79 to ZAR19.82 and per 25 grams of piped tobacco increased from ZAR 6.26 to ZAR 6.63, effective from 23 February 2022.
Carbon Tax
The carbon tax rate on greenhouse gas emissions has been increased to ZAR 144 from ZAR 134 per ton of carbon dioxide equivalent of the greenhouse gas emissions of a taxpayer. This amendment is deemed to have come into operation on 1 January 2022.