Double taxation treaty · signed 1997
United States & South Africa double tax treaty
United States and South Africa have a double taxation agreement, signed in 1997, in force. It decides which country taxes your cross-border income and caps the withholding tax on payments between the two, so the same income is not taxed twice.
Withholding tax caps under the treaty
| Payment | Max withholding tax |
|---|---|
| Dividends (qualifying / direct holding) | 5% |
| Dividends (portfolio) | 15% |
| Interest | 0% |
| Royalties | 0% |
Rates from the ICTD Tax Treaties Explorer (coded from the treaty text). Reduced rates usually require you to be a treaty resident and the beneficial owner; confirm the article and any limitation-on-benefits clause before relying on it.
What the United States-South Africa treaty means for you
If you are tax-resident in United States or South Africa and receive dividends, interest or royalties from the other country, the treaty caps the tax withheld at source at the rates above, and you generally credit that against tax at home. It also sets tie-breaker rules that decide your single country of residence if both would treat you as resident, which matters when you relocate mid-year.
Compare the two countries head to head: United States or South Africa. Full profiles: United States tax · South Africa tax.
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