Not gonna do a detail one Company: Fix tax rate. Probably better for big portfolio trader. CGT is higher than individual. But your main operation is trading, so all trade profit will be normal gross income. Dividend declared attracts dividend withholding tax. (at drawing of the profit from the company) Individual: Escalated tax rate. but better for small portfolio trader. CGT is lower, also has annual exemption, also tax rebates. (you will use that if you take private trading as your career) Remember all SA dividends received all exempt from tax as they were taxed at declaration (so taxes are not double accounted for) My suggestion, make a trust, then trust owns the company and trade. Or use the trust to trade without making a company. Of course the beneficiaries should be whoever you want to favour. Make an independant person as a member of the trustees to avoid legal issue if you or your trading company went busted. (That is too long to explain in detail)