Transfer Cost Calculator
Calculate all costs when buying property in South Africa — transfer duty (2025 SARS rates), conveyancing fees, bond registration, and Deeds Office levies.
Quick Calculator Get a fast estimate
R
R
Enter your home loan amount to include bond registration costs.
Total Estimated Costs
R 62 360
Transfer Duty (SARS)
R 12 000
Conveyancing Attorney Fees
R 20 600
VAT on Conveyancing (15%)
R 3 090
Deeds Office Levy (Transfer)
R 1 100
Total Transfer Costs
R 39 290
Bond Registration Fees
R 17 800
VAT on Bond Registration (15%)
R 2 670
Deeds Office Levy (Bond)
R 1 100
Total Bond Registration Costs
R 23 070
Cash Needed on Transfer Day
R 212 360
Link copied to clipboard!
What Are Transfer Costs?
When buying property in South Africa, you pay several once-off costs in addition to the purchase price:
- Transfer Duty: Tax payable to SARS. Exempt on properties below R1.1m.
- Transfer Attorney Fees: The seller appoints an attorney to handle the transfer. You pay these fees (plus 15% VAT).
- Bond Registration Fees: If financing, your bank's attorney registers the bond. You pay these costs too.
- Deeds Office Levies: Fixed government levies for registering the transfer and bond.
- FICA Compliance Costs: Postage, petties, and FICA compliance (~R1,500-R2,500 total).
The Extended Calculator below adds a cost composition chart. The Professional Calculator provides multi-scenario comparison and the full SARS transfer duty table.
Need more detail?
Extended Calculator More options, charts, and scenario comparison
R
R
Total Transfer & Registration Costs
R 82 065
Transfer Duty
R 41 625
Conveyancing Fees
R 23 100
Bond Registration
R 17 340
Cost Composition
Transfer Duty: R 41 625Conveyancing: R 23 100Bond Registration: R 17 340
Detailed Cost Breakdown
| Cost Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Duty (SARS) | R 41 625 |
| Conveyancing Attorney Fees | R 17 000 |
| Transfer Deeds Office Fees | R 5 500 |
| Postage & Sundries | R 600 |
| Conveyancing Total | R 23 100 |
| Bond Registration Attorney Fees | R 12 400 |
| Bond Deeds Office Fees | R 4 340 |
| Postage & Sundries | R 600 |
| Bond Registration Total | R 17 340 |
| GRAND TOTAL | R 82 065 |
2025 Transfer Duty Rates
| Property Value | Rate | Transfer Duty |
|---|---|---|
| R0 – R1,100,000 | 0% | R0 |
| R1,100,001 – R1,512,500 | 3% on value above R1.1m | Up to R12,375 |
| R1,512,501 – R2,117,500 | R12,375 + 6% | Up to R48,675 |
| R2,117,501 – R2,722,500 | R48,675 + 8% | Up to R97,075 |
| R2,722,501 – R12,100,000 | R97,075 + 11% | Up to R1,128,600 |
| Above R12,100,000 | R1,128,600 + 13% | — |
Transfer duty is paid to SARS within 6 months of the sale date.
Total Transfer Cost Examples (2025)
| Property Price | Transfer Duty | Conveyancing | Bond Reg (90%) | Approx Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R800,000 | R0 | ~R14,500 | ~R13,200 | ~R32,000 |
| R1,500,000 | R12,000 | ~R20,600 | ~R18,400 | ~R57,000 |
| R2,500,000 | R62,675 | ~R28,600 | ~R25,000 | ~R124,000 |
| R5,000,000 | R370,075 | ~R38,000 | ~R34,500 | ~R455,000 |
Figures are estimates. Actual costs depend on your specific conveyancer and bank.
Need full precision?
Professional Calculator Complete parameters, sensitivity analysis, and detailed breakdown
Multi-Property Scenario Comparison
R
%
R
%
R
%
| Scenario | Price | Transfer Duty | Conv. Fees | Bond Reg. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Option | R 2 000 000 | R 41 625 | R 22 500 | R 16 740 | R 82 065 |
| Alternative (cheaper) | R 1 600 000 | R 17 625 | R 20 020 | R 14 940 | R 53 785 |
| New Development | R 2 200 000 | Exempt | R 23 540 | R 17 640 | R 42 380 |
Transfer Duty Table (SARS 2025/2026)
| Property Value | Transfer Duty Rate | Cumulative Tax |
|---|---|---|
| R0 – R1,100,000 | 0% | R0 |
| R1,100,001 – R1,512,500 | 3% | R12,375 |
| R1,512,501 – R2,117,500 | 6% | R48,675 |
| R2,117,501 – R2,722,500 | 8% | R97,475 |
| R2,722,501 – R12,100,000 | 11% | R1,128,600 |
| R12,100,001+ | 13% | — |
Total Cost vs Purchase Price Chart
Frequently Asked Questions
Transfer duty is a tax paid to SARS when buying property. Properties up to R1,100,000 are exempt. Progressive rates apply above that: 3%, 6%, 8%, 11%, and 13% depending on purchase price.
Conveyancing fees are charged by the transfer attorney on a sliding scale based on purchase price. VAT at 15% is added. Typical fees range from R10,000 for a R500,000 property to R25,000+ for properties over R2m.
Yes. Bond registration costs are paid to the bank's attorney to register the mortgage bond at the Deeds Office. These are separate from transfer attorney fees, and both are due on the day of transfer.
Transfer duty is fixed by SARS and cannot be negotiated. Conveyancing fees are guided by the Law Society scale but some attorneys may negotiate. The biggest variable is your property price.