Estimate Your Transfer Costs

When you buy a property in South Africa, you'll need to budget for more than just the purchase price. Transfer costs are the once-off expenses that must be paid before ownership is officially registered in your name at the Deeds Office.

Transfer Duty

Transfer duty is a government tax paid to SARS. Properties valued up to R1.21 million are exempt. Above that threshold, duty is calculated on a sliding scale — rising from 3% to 13% on the highest-value properties. If the seller is a VAT-registered developer, transfer duty does not apply, but the purchase price will include VAT.

Conveyancing Attorney Fees

These fees are charged by the transfer attorney (conveyancer) who handles the legal process of registering the property in your name. The fees are subject to VAT at 15%. Although there are guideline tariffs published by the Law Society, actual fees vary between attorneys. MJ Kotze Inc offers a R20,000 fixed conveyancing fee (VAT inclusive) for standard residential transfers — significantly less than the guideline tariff at most price points.

Deeds Office Levies

A small, fixed government levy is payable when the transfer is registered at the Deeds Office. The levy increases in steps depending on the purchase price.

Postage and Petties

A standard disbursement for out-of-pocket expenses such as FICA verification, postage, and document preparation — usually around R1 500.

All figures in this calculator are estimates. Engage a qualified Pretoria conveyancer for an exact, binding quote tailored to your transaction.