South Africa ROI Calculator
This calculator estimates Return on Investment, CAGR, and Capital Gains Tax for an investment disposed of by a South African resident in the 2026/27 tax year (1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027). Calculations apply the SARS 40% inclusion rate, the R50,000 annual exclusion, and the R3,000,000 primary residence exclusion introduced in Budget 2026.
Enter Buy and Sell Prices
Input the purchase price, acquisition costs, sale price, and disposal costs in ZAR.
Set Holding Period and Income
Adjust the holding period slider and tick if disposing of a primary residence (R3m exclusion).
See Your Full Return
Results update automatically. View CAGR, included gain at 40%, after-tax ROI, and SARB repo benchmark.
ZA ROI Calculator
Return on Investment · SARS CGT 2026/27
Buy Price
Sell Price & Income
Holding Period & CGT
Your Return
ROI · After-tax position · Benchmarks
ROI Summary
Based on a total cost base of R510,000 and net sale proceeds of R742,000, the capital gain is R232,000.
The total ROI is 0% over 5 years, with a CAGR of 0% p.a. After estimated tax, the after-tax ROI is 0%.
CGT Impact on ROI
Per SARS, South African CGT for individuals uses the 40% inclusion rate — 40% of the net capital gain (after exclusions) is included in taxable income and taxed at the marginal rate. The maximum effective CGT rate is 18% (40% × 45% top marginal rate).
Effect of SARS Exclusions
SARS CGT Rates & Exclusions (Individuals, 2026/27)
| Item | 2026/27 Value |
|---|---|
| Inclusion rate (individuals & special trusts) | 40% |
| Inclusion rate (companies) | 80% |
| Inclusion rate (other trusts) | 80% |
| Max effective CGT rate (individuals) | 18% |
| Max effective CGT rate (companies) | 21.6% |
| Max effective CGT rate (other trusts) | 36% |
| Annual exclusion (individuals) | R50,000 |
| Year-of-death exclusion | R440,000 |
| Primary residence exclusion | R3,000,000 |
| Small business 55+ (market value ≤ R15m) | R2,700,000 |
Break-even & Target Sell Price
Based on the cost base and disposal costs, what sale price is needed? Enter a target ROI below, or see the prices required to break even, beat inflation, or beat the SARB repo rate.
How ROI Is Calculated
Return on Investment measures the percentage gain or loss on an investment relative to its full cost. The calculation captures every rand in and every rand out — purchase price plus acquisition costs on the way in, sale proceeds minus disposal costs on the way out, plus any income earned along the way.
Total ROI (period return)
Gross ROI compares total return to the cost base. Useful for a single snapshot of performance.
Total Return = Capital Gain + Income During Hold
Example: R500,000 + R10,000 cost; sold R750,000 − R8,000 = R742,000 net. Capital Gain R232,000 → ROI 45.5%.
CAGR (annualised return)
Compound Annual Growth Rate converts the total return into a consistent yearly rate, so investments held for different lengths of time can be compared on the same basis.
Example: R510,000 grows to R742,000 over 5 years → CAGR ≈ 7.8% p.a.
South African CGT Framework
Per SARS, South Africa uses an "inclusion rate" CGT model: a percentage of the net capital gain is included in taxable income, then taxed at the marginal rate. For individuals the inclusion rate is 40%, capping the effective CGT rate at 18% (40% × 45% top marginal rate). For companies it is 80%, capping at 21.6% (80% × 27%). For other trusts it is 80%, capping at 36% (80% × 45%).
Subject to CGT
- ✓Shares held outside a Tax-Free Savings Account or retirement fund
- ✓Investment property and second homes
- ✓Cryptocurrency (treated as an asset for CGT or income tax depending on intent)
- ✓Business assets and goodwill
- ✓Krugerrands and gold coins (held as investment)
Excluded or Differently Taxed
- –Primary residence (first R3,000,000 of gain — Budget 2026)
- –Gains within the R50,000 annual exclusion
- –Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs) up to limits
- –Retirement fund growth (RA, pension, provident — tax-deferred)
- –Personal-use assets (cars, household goods, boats)
- –Government / public benefit organisation bonds
SARS Individual Tax Brackets 2026/27
The SA tax year runs from 1 March to 28 February of the following year — not the calendar year. These brackets apply for the 2027 tax year (1 March 2026 – 28 February 2027), per SARS announcement of 25 February 2026.
| Taxable Income | Rate | Tax on Band |
|---|---|---|
| R0 – R245,100 | 18% | R44,118 (within band) |
| R245,101 – R383,100 | 26% | R35,880 |
| R383,101 – R530,200 | 31% | R45,601 |
| R530,201 – R695,800 | 36% | R59,616 |
| R695,801 – R887,000 | 39% | R74,568 |
| R887,001 – R1,878,600 | 41% | R406,556 |
| Above R1,878,600 | 45% | — |
Benchmarking Against Inflation & the SARB Repo Rate
A positive ROI in cash terms does not necessarily mean a positive real return. Two benchmarks help frame whether an investment delivered genuine value: cumulative Stats SA CPI inflation (preserves purchasing power) and the SARB repo rate (the policy interest rate set by the South African Reserve Bank).
Inflation — Stats SA CPI
Cumulative inflation measures how much prices have risen over the holding period. An after-tax ROI below cumulative inflation means a real-terms loss of purchasing power. Stats SA publishes the CPI monthly. SARB's inflation target is 3% with a tolerance band of ±1 percentage point (revised from the 3–6% range in 2025).
Latest CPI: 4.0% in April 2026, up from 3.1% in March (Stats SA).
SARB Repo Rate
The repurchase (repo) rate is the policy rate set by the South African Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Committee. Commercial prime lending rate is typically 3.5 percentage points above repo. A 25bp hike on 28 May 2026 took repo to 7.00% (effective 29 May 2026), with prime at 10.50%.
Current repo rate: 7.00% (effective 29 May 2026; SARB).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ROI calculation, South African Capital Gains Tax, cost base, and how different investment types are treated — answers verified against official SARS, SARB and Stats SA guidance.
Important Disclaimer
For educational and informational purposes only. This calculator produces estimates of Return on Investment (ROI), Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) and South African Capital Gains Tax based on the inputs provided and SARS 2026/27 settings. The 2026/27 tax year runs from 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027. South African CGT for individuals uses the 40% inclusion rate: 40% of the net capital gain (after exclusions) is added to taxable income and taxed at the marginal income tax rate, capping the effective CGT rate at 18% (40% × 45% top marginal rate). Budget 2026 (effective 1 March 2026) increased the annual exclusion to R50,000 (from R40,000), the primary residence exclusion to R3,000,000 (from R2,000,000), and the year-of-death exclusion to R440,000 (from R300,000) — first major increases in many years. Marginal income tax brackets (18% / 26% / 31% / 36% / 39% / 41% / 45%) and the 40% inclusion rate were unchanged. Income earned during the holding period is taxed separately under income tax at the marginal rate. Benchmark figures use Stats SA CPI of 4.0% (April 2026, up from 3.1% in March) and the SARB repo rate of 7.00%, hiked by 25 basis points on 28 May 2026 and effective from 29 May 2026 (prime lending rate 10.50%). Figures change from time to time and should be verified against the official source.
No warranty of accuracy. While Money Snap takes reasonable care to source figures from official authorities (SARS, SARB, Stats SA), this calculator is provided "as is" without any express or implied warranty as to accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or fitness for any particular purpose. Tax rates, inclusion rates, exclusions, rebates and benchmark rates change over time — figures shown may be out of date. Individual circumstances such as the application of small business 55+ relief (R2,700,000 exclusion), Tax-Free Savings Account exemption, retirement fund deferral, the trading-vs-investment distinction (potentially taxing gains as ordinary income at up to 45%), connected-person rules, primary residence apportionment for partial business or rental use, capital losses brought forward, the 7.5% non-resident withholding tax on immovable property disposals, year-of-death exclusion (R440,000), foreign capital gains rules, dividend withholding tax, or any other rule not captured by the inputs may materially affect actual CGT and after-tax returns. The CGT calculation assumes the disposal occurs in the 2026/27 tax year (sale agreement signed on or after 1 March 2026); pre-Budget 2026 disposals use lower exclusion amounts (R40,000 annual; R2,000,000 primary residence).
Not financial or tax advice. Information provided is general in nature only and does not take into account personal circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Results do not constitute financial advice, tax advice, or investment advice, and use of this calculator does not create an advisory relationship. Before relying on any figure shown, obtain advice from a qualified tax practitioner registered with SARS, a Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) authorised financial services provider, or directly from SARS.
Limitation of liability. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Money Snap accepts no liability for any loss, damage, cost, or expense — direct or indirect — arising from reliance on this calculator or the information it produces. Users are responsible for verifying all figures with the relevant authority before relying on them. Use of this calculator is subject to our Terms of Use.
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