Tax-free investing is one of the most powerful wealth-building tools available to South Africans. Here's why 300,000 EasyEquities clients are already using it — and why the other million should be too.

We've just hit a milestone worth celebrating: 300,000 funded Tax-Free Savings Accounts on EasyEquities.

That's 300,000 South Africans who decided that paying unnecessary tax on their investment returns wasn't for them. 300,000 people quietly building wealth, completely tax-free, year after year.

But here's the other number that keeps us up at night: we have over 1.3 million users on EasyEquities. Which means more than a million people are either sitting on an unfunded TFSA, or haven't opened one yet.

That's a million people leaving one of the greatest legal wealth-building tools on the table.

What a Tax-Free Savings Account Actually Does

A Tax-Free Savings Account lets you invest up to R46,000 per year, with a lifetime limit of R500,000 -  and every cent of growth, dividends and interest you earn inside it is completely tax-free. Forever.

No capital gains tax. No dividends tax. No income tax on returns.

In a world where SARS takes a cut of almost everything, a TFSA is one of the few places where your money gets to work entirely for you.

What R46,000 a year turns into over time

The S&P 500 — one of the most popular investments in EasyEquities TFSA accounts — has delivered an average annual return of 11.18% over the past 20 years, with dividends reinvested. That's not a projection. That's history.

So what does that look like if you invest R46,000 per year into a TFSA at that rate?

All of it. Tax-free.

Time is your greatest asset, the longer you stay invested, the harder compounding works for you. And inside a TFSA, every cent of that growth belongs entirely to you.

Now imagine doing this for your spouse too. And opening one for your child the day they're born.

What are 300,000 South Africans actually investing in?

On EasyEquities, TFSA investors have access to over 100 ETFs — from global giants tracking the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, to local stalwarts tracking the JSE Top 40, to dividend-focused funds, tech-focused funds, Shariah-compliant options and everything in between.

Here's what the data actually shows about how South Africans are investing their TFSAs on EasyEquities:

Largest holding by value
The single biggest holding across all EasyEquities TFSA accounts is the Satrix MSCI World ETF, a globally diversified fund tracking 1,500+ companies across 23 developed markets. Our clients are thinking long-term and global.

Most bought over the past 12 months

• By number of buyers: Satrix 40 ETF — South Africa's most iconic index fund, tracking the JSE's top 40 companies
• By rand value: Satrix MSCI World ETF — our clients putting the most money to work are going global

Best performing instruments over the past 12 months
For those who wanted more than index returns, these three delivered:

• EasyETFs AI World Actively Managed ETF +85%
• EasyETFs Global Equity Actively Managed ETF +76%
• Sygnia Itrix MSCI Emerging Markets 50 ETF +60%

All of this. Inside a TFSA. Tax-free.


The people behind the numbers

The data tells a story that goes beyond percentages.

Somewhere on EasyEquities, there is a 41-year-old with a TFSA worth R1.53 million -  built entirely through consistent, disciplined, tax-free investing. Not a hedge fund. Not a lucky stock pick. A TFSA.

And he or she is not alone. 16 EasyEquities clients have TFSA accounts worth over R1 million. They range in profile — 63% male, 37% female — with an average age of 63. People who started early, stayed invested, and let compounding do the heavy lifting.

That could be you. It should be you.

16,000+ clients have already maxed out their TFSA this financial year

Since 1 March 2026 , the start of the new tax year, over 16,900 EasyEquities clients have already deposited the full R46,000 annual limit. That's R46,000 in, tax-free, for the year. Done.

Are you one of them? If not, there's still time.

"A TFSA is one of the best wealth-building tools available to South Africans," says Higgo van Biljon, Head of Product at EasyRetire. "I have one, my wife has one, and the moment our children are born, they'll have one too. When you combine compound growth over 10, 20, 30, 40 years, all completely tax-free, the numbers are astounding. It also instils discipline. It keeps you invested."

Three things you can do right now

1. If you have a TFSA but haven't fully funded it — top it up. You have until the end of February to use your R46,000 annual allowance. Any unused portion doesn't roll over.

2. If you have an EasyEquities account but no TFSA — open one today. It takes minutes, and your future self will thank you.

3. If someone you know doesn't have a TFSA — share this article. A TFSA is one of the best financial gifts you can give someone. Parents, siblings, friends — everyone should have one.

300,000 South Africans have already made the decision. The question is: when will the next million?

Figures are illustrative and based on the S&P 500's historical 20-year annualised return of 11.18% with dividends reinvested (as of May 2026). Past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Contributions are subject to the annual limit of R46,000 and lifetime limit of R500,000. Once the lifetime limit is reached, no further contributions can be made, though existing investments continue to grow tax-free. All TFSA data and instrument performance figures are as at 30 June 2026. Performance figures apply to instruments that were on the platform for the full 12-month period under review.

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Any opinions, news, research, reports, analyses, prices, or other information contained within this research is provided by an employee of EasyEquities an authorised FSP (FSP no 22588) as general market commentary and does not constitute investment advice for the purposes of the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, 2002. First World Trader (Pty) Ltd t/a EasyEquities (“EasyEquities”) does not warrant the correctness, accuracy, timeliness, reliability or completeness of any information (i) contained within this research and (ii) received from third party data providers. You must rely solely upon your own judgment in all aspects of your investment and/or trading decisions and all investments and/or trades are made at your own risk. EasyEquities (including any of their employees) will not accept any liability for any direct or indirect loss or damage, including without limitation, any loss of profit, which may arise directly or indirectly from use of or reliance on the market commentary. The content contained within is subject to change at any time without notice.