i What this calculator does
Securities transfer tax is a 0.25% levy on the purchase of listed shares in South Africa. It applies to the buyer, not the seller, and it is collected through the broker rather than paid separately to SARS.
It is one of several costs layered onto a JSE trade. Brokerage, the Strate settlement fee and the investor protection levy sit alongside it, and together they set the price move a trade needs before it breaks even.
This calculator is for educational purposes only. Results are estimates and may vary depending on market conditions, spreads, commissions, platform settings, and exchange rates. It should not be considered financial advice.
How to use the Securities Transfer Tax Calculator
Every field has a working default, so the calculator produces a result the moment the page loads. Replace the defaults with your own figures and the output updates when you press the button.
- 1. Trade Value (R)
- 2. Direction
- 3. Brokerage Rate (%)
- 4. Minimum Brokerage (R)
- 5. Strate Fee (R) Settlement, usually capped
- 6. VAT Rate (%) On brokerage and Strate, not on STT
The result panel reports:
- ' + h.label + '
Alongside the headline figures, the calculator reports strate settlement, vat, round-trip breakeven, trade value. Those are the numbers that usually explain why the headline result came out where it did.
The breakdown below the result shows every step of the arithmetic, so you can check the figure rather than trust it. The formula panel names each input as it is used, which is useful if you want to reproduce the calculation in a spreadsheet.
Frequently asked questions
What is securities transfer tax?
A tax of 0.25% on the transfer of listed securities in South Africa, payable by the buyer. It applies to shares bought on the JSE and is collected by the broker rather than paid to SARS directly. It is levied under the Securities Transfer Tax Act.
Is STT charged when I sell?
No. It applies to the purchase side only, which is why a round trip carries it once rather than twice. Sellers still pay brokerage, Strate and VAT.
Does STT apply to ETFs and CFDs?
Purchases of JSE-listed ETFs are generally subject to it, since they are listed securities. A CFD is a contract rather than a transfer of the share, so STT does not apply, though CFD costs appear as spread and overnight financing instead.
What is the Strate fee?
Strate operates the settlement system for South African securities and charges a fee per transaction, usually with a minimum and a cap. It is small in absolute terms but a meaningful share of a very small trade.
Why does trade size matter so much?
Because of the minimum brokerage. On a R2,000 trade a R70 minimum is 3.5% before anything else, and the round trip needs 7% before you break even. On a R50,000 trade the same minimum is negligible. This is the strongest argument for fewer and larger purchases.
Is VAT charged on the STT?
No. VAT applies to brokerage and settlement fees, which are services, but not to the transfer tax itself. The calculator applies it to the right components.
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