Deposit
Your own contribution to the purchase price. It reduces the loan amount but is not itself a tax.
The purchase price is not the full cash requirement.
Separate the deposit, SARS transfer duty, conveyancing, bond registration, Deeds Office charges and first-month ownership costs before you sign.
South Africa onlyPrimary-source checkedLast reviewed 17 Aug 2026
Transfer duty is banded — and the first band is currently zero.
For properties acquired on or after 1 April 2025, SARS publishes a 0% transfer-duty rate from R0 to R1,210,000. Above that threshold, progressive bands apply. The calculation is based on the value used for transfer-duty purposes, and the bands should be re-checked at the time you transact because tax rates can change.
Property valueCurrent transfer-duty formula
R0 – R1,210,0000%
R1,210,001 – R1,663,8003% of value above R1,210,000
R1,663,801 – R2,329,300R13,614 + 6% above R1,663,800
R2,329,301 – R2,994,800R53,544 + 8% above R2,329,300
R2,994,801 – R13,310,000R106,784 + 11% above R2,994,800
R13,310,001+R1,241,456 + 13% above R13,310,000
Primary source: SARS transfer-duty rates effective 1 April 2025
Do not call every upfront rand “transfer duty”.
The buyer's cash requirement can contain several different items. Transfer duty is a tax administered by SARS where applicable. Conveyancing and bond-registration fees relate to professional work. Deeds Office charges are prescribed separately. A deposit, if required by the sale agreement or financing structure, is another distinct amount.
Transfer duty
A SARS tax that depends on the applicable rules and property value. Some transactions may be treated differently, so your conveyancer must confirm.
Transfer / bond professional fees
Legal work performed by conveyancers and, where a bond is registered, the bond-registration attorneys.
Deeds Office fees
Registration-related charges published by the Deeds Registration branch. The current fee schedule is effective from 1 April 2026.
Use a cash-to-transfer budget.
- Start with the purchase price and proposed deposit.
- Check the current SARS transfer-duty band.
- Request a written estimate from the transferring conveyancer.
- If financing, include the bond-registration estimate.
- Add moving, immediate repairs, insurance and first-month rates/levies where relevant.
- Keep an emergency buffer rather than reducing your available cash to zero on registration day.
Questions South African property users ask
Is transfer duty charged on every property purchase?
Not necessarily. The applicable tax treatment depends on the transaction and current law. Confirm the position with the conveyancer and SARS guidance for the specific sale.
Are Deeds Office fees the same as conveyancer fees?
No. Deeds Office fees are prescribed registration charges; professional conveyancing fees are separate.
This guide is general information for South African property users, not legal, tax, credit or financial advice. Rules, fees and lender requirements can change. Verify the current position with the linked authority and the appropriate registered professional before committing to a transaction.