Property Transfer Costs Calculator South Africa
Generated on: 16 Oct 2026 via www.propertytransfercosts.com
1. Standard Transfer Costs
| Description | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Duty (no VAT) | R 67 200 |
| Conveyancing attorney fee (Incl. VAT) | R 49 720 |
| Deeds Office Fee (no VAT) | R 2 408 |
| Postage & PettiesMinor office expenses incurred by the attorney, such as printing, courier fees, and phone calls. (Incl. VAT) | R 1 150 |
| Electronic Generation FeeFee for generating documents securely online via the LexisNexis or GhostConvey platforms. (Incl. VAT) | R 862 |
| FICAFinancial Intelligence Centre Act fee. The attorney must legally verify your identity and proof of address. (Incl. VAT) | R 460 |
| Deeds Office Searches (Incl. VAT) | R 445 |
| Rates Clearance FeesFee paid to the attorney to acquire a certificate from the municipality proving the seller has no outstanding debts. (Incl. VAT) | R 775 |
| Total Transfer Costs | R 123 020 |
Strategic Insight: You are adding R 2 500 000 to your asset base.
See how this property impacts your future Estate Duty at EstateDuty.co.za.
View special exemptions (Divorce & Deceased Estates)
1. Divorce Endorsements (Section 45bis)
If spouses are married in community of property, divorce, and the property is awarded to one party as part of a divorce order or settlement. Transfer duty is zero and the conveyancing attorney fee is reduced to 75% (R 37 290).
Estimated Total for Endorsement: R 43 390If spouses are married with an antenuptial contract, and property transfers between them as part of a divorce order or settlement. Transfer duty is zero but the full conveyancing attorney fee is paid.
Estimated Total: R 55 820
The transfer duty estimates are based on the SARS transfer duty rates applicable from 1 April 2026. The conveyancing fees are as per the Legal Practice Council / Law Society of South Africa guidelines effective from 1 July 2026. The Deeds Office fees are based on those published in the Government Gazette applicable from 1 April 2026 to 28 Feb 2027.
Please note that all values generated are estimates and may change. We encourage you to discuss these figures with your conveyancing attorney. For an official quote, please email lawyer@capetownlawyer.co.za or WhatsApp us.
2026/2027 Quick-Reference Property Transfer Costs Table
Use the reference table below to compare SARS Transfer Duty, Conveyancing Attorney fees (including 15% VAT), Deeds Office fees, and total buyer costs across standard South African property brackets. Click any property value to load its interactive breakdown.
| Property Value | Transfer Duty | Conveyancing Fee | Total Transfer Costs (Cash) | Grand Total (With 100% Bond) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R 1 000 000 | R 0 | R 30 216 | R 35 454 | R 75 726 |
| R 1 210 000 | R 0 | R 35 092 | R 40 522 | R 85 862 |
| R 1 500 000 | R 8 700 | R 37 530 | R 51 660 | R 99 438 |
| R 2 000 000 | R 33 786 | R 42 406 | R 81 622 | R 134 276 |
| R 2 500 000 | R 67 200 | R 49 720 | R 123 020 | R 183 658 |
| R 3 000 000 | R 107 356 | R 54 596 | R 168 052 | R 233 566 |
| R 4 000 000 | R 217 356 | R 66 786 | R 290 242 | R 367 946 |
| R 5 000 000 | R 327 356 | R 78 976 | R 412 946 | R 503 354 |
| R 7 500 000 | R 602 356 | R 97 399 | R 706 927 | R 816 316 |
| R 10 000 000 | R 877 356 | R 109 681 | R 994 797 | R 1 117 056 |
Official SARS Transfer Duty Rates (Effective 1 April 2026)
SARS Transfer Duty is levied on a progressive sliding scale under the Transfer Duty Act (No. 40 of 1949) and applies equally to natural persons, companies, and trusts:
| Property Value Bracket (ZAR) | Marginal Rate & Base Transfer Duty |
|---|---|
| R 0 - R 1 210 000 | 0% (Exempt from Transfer Duty) |
| R 1 210 001 - R 1 663 800 | 3% on the value above R 1 210 000 |
| R 1 663 801 - R 2 329 300 | R 13 614 + 6% on the value above R 1 663 800 |
| R 2 329 301 - R 2 994 800 | R 53 544 + 8% on the value above R 2 329 300 |
| R 2 994 801 - R 13 310 000 | R 106 784 + 11% on the value above R 2 994 800 |
| Above R 13 310 000 | R 1 241 456 + 13% on the value above R 13 310 000 |
Specialised Property Transfer & Tax Calculators
Select a specialised calculator below to view tailored SARS exemptions, endorsement fees, and net proceeds calculations:
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays the property transfer costs in South Africa?
Must a plumbing certificate be obtained when selling property in Cape Town?
When are transfer costs payable?
Do I pay transfer duty if I buy a house for less than R1.21 million?
Does paying a deposit reduce my transfer or bond costs?
How is Capital Gains Tax (CGT) calculated when selling property in South Africa?
- Primary Residence Exclusion: The first R3,000,000 of capital gain or loss on the disposal of a primary residence is excluded for individuals and special trusts. (If married in community of property or holding 50/50 joint ownership, the R3,000,000 exclusion is apportioned between the co-owners).
- Annual Exclusion: Individuals and special trusts receive an annual exclusion of R50,000 per person (or R100,000 combined for spouses married in community of property), which increases to R440,000 in the year of death.
- Small Business Exclusion: Individuals aged 55 years or older disposing of an active small business asset qualify for a R2,700,000 capital gains exclusion (where total small business market value does not exceed R15,000,000).
- Effective CGT Rates: After exclusions, 40% of the net gain for individuals and special trusts is included in taxable income (maximum effective rate of 18%), while 80% is included for companies (21.6% effective rate) and other trusts (36% effective rate).
Can I include transfer costs in my bond (home loan)?
How long does the property transfer process take?
The Realities of Property Transfer: What the Calculator Doesn't Show
Calculating your transfer costs is only the first step. The conveyancing process in South Africa involves multiple stakeholders, stringent compliance, and several variables that can affect both your timeline and your wallet.
- FICA Compliance: Under the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, conveyancing attorneys are accountable institutions. They are legally obligated to verify your identity and the source of your funds before proceeding. A common bottleneck occurs when buyers fail to provide updated proof of residence or marriage certificates. Any delay in FICA verification halts the drafting of transfer documents.
- Deeds Office Delays: Once your documents are lodged at the Deeds Office (whether in Cape Town, Pretoria, or elsewhere), the standard examination process takes between 10 - 15 working days. However, this is a best-case scenario. Backlogs, system downtimes, or a rejection note from a deeds examiner (which requires the documents to be withdrawn, corrected, and re-lodged) can easily add weeks to your transfer timeline.
- The "Hidden" Costs of Moving: Beyond the statutory transfer duty and conveyancer fees, buyers must budget for ancillary expenses:
- Rates and Taxes Clearance: Municipalities often require rates to be paid 3 - 6 months in advance before issuing a clearance certificate.
- Bond Registration Fees: If you are financing the purchase, the bank's appointed attorney will charge a separate fee for registering the bond, which is not included in the property transfer costs.
- Occupational Rent: If you take occupation of the property before the official transfer date at the Deeds Office, you are liable for occupational rent as stipulated in your Offer to Purchase.
How This Calculator Works: Legislative and Actuarial Accuracy
This transfer cost calculator is not an estimate; it is a precision tool built on the latest gazetted legislative frameworks governing South African property law.
- Transfer Duty: The underlying algorithm maps exactly to the tiered Transfer Duty tables published annually by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) under the Transfer Duty Act (No. 40 of 1949).
- Capital Gains Tax (CGT): Seller CGT calculations adhere to the Eighth Schedule of the Income Tax Act (No. 58 of 1962), incorporating the 25 February 2026 Budget updates (R3,000,000 primary residence exclusion, R50,000 annual exclusion, R440,000 year-of-death exclusion, and R2,700,000 small business exclusion).
- Conveyancing Fees: Professional fees are calculated strictly according to the latest fee guidelines published by the Legal Practice Council (LPC).
- Deeds Office Fees: The administrative costs applied in our calculations are hard-coded to reflect the current schedule of fees prescribed by the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, and implemented via the relevant Chief Registrar's Circulars (CRCs). These schedules dictate the exact lodgement fees based on the purchase price brackets.
Specific Property Types and Entities
Sectional Title Transfer Costs
Purchasing a sectional title unit (such as a townhouse or apartment) involves specific nuances. In addition to standard municipal rates clearance, the conveyancer must obtain a levy clearance certificate from the Body Corporate. Furthermore, if the unit includes an exclusive use area (like a parking bay or garden) that is registered via a notarial deed rather than the sectional plan, an additional notarial fee will apply. Our tool assumes a standard sectional title transfer, but buyers should account for these potential extra administrative costs.
Transfer Costs: Companies vs. Individuals
Historically, juristic persons (companies, close corporations, and trusts) paid a flat, higher transfer duty rate. This is no longer the case. Transfer duty applies equally to natural persons and companies based on the same SARS sliding scale.
However, buying in the name of a company requires distinct legal preparation. Conveyancers will require the company's CIPC registration documents, memorandums of incorporation, and formal resolutions authorising the purchase. While the transfer duty remains the same, the administrative burden - and the resulting FICA and verification costs charged by the attorney - may be marginally higher.