Transfer cost calculator

Transfer duty, attorney fees and Deeds Office fees for buying a home, using the SARS table, the Deeds Office tariff from 1 April 2026 and the Law Society fee guideline from 1 July 2026.

Total cash needed for costs

R 113 529

6,3% of the purchase price, paid before registration. Transfer duty is 1,2% of the price.

Transfer duty R 21 786
Transfer fees R 44 638
Bond costs R 47 106

Transfer costs

Transfer duty (SARS)	R 21 786,00
Conveyancing attorney feeLaw Society guideline, negotiable	R 34 755,00
VAT on attorney fee (15%)	R 5 213,25
Deeds Office registration fee	R 1 738,00
FICA verification	R 431,25
Searches, rates clearance, postageEstimate	R 2 500,00
Transfer total	R 66 423,50

Bond registration costs

Bond attorney feeLaw Society guideline	R 32 635,00
VAT on attorney fee (15%)	R 4 895,25
Deeds Office bond fee	R 1 738,00
Postage, petties, e-lodgementEstimate	R 1 800,00
Bank initiation feeTypical	R 6 037,50
Bond total	R 47 105,75

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Who pays what

The buyer pays transfer duty, the transferring attorney's fees and, with a bond, the bond attorney's fees. The seller usually chooses the transferring attorney and pays the agent's commission and any bond cancellation costs.

Attorney fees follow the Law Society of South Africa guideline, which most firms use. They are negotiable, so it's worth asking for a quote. Deeds Office fees are fixed by government gazette.

These costs are payable in cash before registration. Most banks will not add them to your bond.

Transfer duty table

Property value	Duty
R 1 – R 1 210 000	0%
R 1 210 001 – R 1 663 800	3% above R 1 210 000
R 1 663 801 – R 2 329 300	R 13 614 + 6% above R 1 663 800
R 2 329 301 – R 2 994 800	R 53 544 + 8% above R 2 329 300
R 2 994 801 – R 13 310 000	R 106 784 + 11% above R 2 994 800
R 13 310 001 – and above	R 1 241 456 + 13% above R 13 310 000

SARS table for properties acquired from 1 April 2025.

Read the guide: Transfer costs on a R1,5 million home

Transfer costs at common prices

Purchase price	Transfer duty	Transfer costs	Bond costs (100% bond)	Total
R 750 000	R 0	R 29 618	R 34 524	R 64 141
R 1 000 000	R 0	R 34 694	R 39 600	R 74 293
R 1 500 000	R 8 700	R 50 900	R 47 106	R 98 005
R 2 000 000	R 33 786	R 80 862	R 51 982	R 132 843
R 2 500 000	R 67 200	R 122 260	R 59 966	R 182 225
R 3 000 000	R 107 356	R 167 292	R 64 842	R 232 133
R 5 000 000	R 327 356	R 412 186	R 89 736	R 501 921

Transfer costs include the duty, the transferring attorney's fee and VAT, and Deeds Office fees. Bond costs include the bond attorney's fee, Deeds Office fee and a typical bank initiation fee. Disbursements are estimates; your attorney's pro forma account is final.

Quick answers

Is there transfer duty on a home under R 1 210 000?

No. There is no transfer duty on a home costing up to R 1 210 000. Above that, the rate starts at 3% of the amount over R 1 210 000.

How much is transfer duty on a R2 million house?

R 33 786, from the SARS transfer duty table effective 1 April 2025.

What are the total costs of buying a R1,5 million home?

About R 98 005 with a 100% bond: R 50 900 in transfer costs (including R 8 700 transfer duty) and R 47 106 to register the bond.

Do I pay transfer duty on a new home from a developer?

Usually not. If the seller is a VAT vendor, as most developers are, the price includes 15% VAT and no transfer duty is payable. Tick "Buying new from a VAT-registered developer" in the calculator.