How much transfer duty will you pay in 2026?
, 4 minute read
Transfer duty is a tax the buyer pays to SARS when a property changes hands. It is usually the biggest cost on top of the price, and because the first R1.21 million is free of duty, it is also the cost that surprises people most when they move up a bracket.
The table that applies now
The thresholds below are in the SARS Budget 2026 tax guide and are the same as those that applied from April 2025. They apply when the seller is not charging VAT on the sale, which is the case for almost every private home.
| Purchase price | Transfer duty |
|---|---|
| Up to R1 210 000 | Nothing |
| R1 210 001 to R1 663 800 | 3% of the amount above R1 210 000 |
| R1 663 801 to R2 329 300 | R13 614 plus 6% of the amount above R1 663 800 |
| R2 329 301 to R2 994 800 | R53 544 plus 8% of the amount above R2 329 300 |
| R2 994 801 to R13 310 000 | R106 784 plus 11% of the amount above R2 994 800 |
| Above R13 310 000 | R1 241 456 plus 13% of the amount above R13 310 000 |
What that means at our prices
- A Melville cottage at R1 895 000: duty of R27 486.
- A Linden family home at R2 750 000: duty of R87 200.
- A Parkhurst home at R4 450 000: duty of R266 856.
You can try any price in our buying costs calculator, which uses the same table.
When it is paid, and by whom
The buyer pays it, in cash, before the transfer can be registered. It cannot be added to the bond. The transferring attorney calculates the amount, pays it to SARS through eFiling on your behalf and asks you for the funds early in the process, so it is worth having the money ready when you sign the offer.
Duty must be paid within six months of the date you buy, and SARS charges interest on late payment. In practice the transfer cannot move forward until it is paid, so it is almost always settled long before that.
Costs that are not transfer duty
The attorneys' fees for the transfer and, if you take a bond, for registering the bond are separate. They follow a guideline tariff and rise with the price. Ask the transferring attorney for a written estimate of both before you sign, and include them with transfer duty when you work out your budget.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Check the details with your conveyancing attorney before you sign.