SARS Income Tax Calculator 2026 — Salary & Take-Home Pay ☆ Stoor
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The 2026/27 tax tables — and why they changed
Budget 2026 adjusted the brackets by 3.4% for inflation — the first adjustment since 2023/24. That matters: for three years the brackets were frozen, so inflation quietly pushed people into higher effective tax (bracket creep). Any calculator or article still using 2025/26 figures is now wrong.
These tables apply from 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027:
| Taxable income (per year) | Rates of tax |
|---|---|
| R1 – R245,100 | 18% |
| R245,101 – R383,100 | R44,118 + 26% of the amount above R245,100 |
| R383,101 – R530,200 | R79,998 + 31% above R383,100 |
| R530,201 – R695,800 | R125,599 + 36% above R530,200 |
| R695,801 – R887,000 | R185,215 + 39% above R695,800 |
| R887,001 – R1,878,600 | R259,783 + 41% above R887,000 |
| R1,878,601 and above | R666,339 + 45% above R1,878,600 |
Rebates and thresholds
Everyone gets the primary rebate of R17,820 deducted from their tax. Older taxpayers get more:
| Age | Rebate | You pay no tax below |
|---|---|---|
| Under 65 | R17,820 | R99,000 |
| 65 – 74 | +R9,765 | R153,250 |
| 75 and older | +R3,249 | R171,300 |
Medical tax credits
R376 a month for the first two members, then R254 for each additional member. These are credits — deducted from your tax, not from your income — which makes them worth more than a deduction of the same size.
What take-home actually looks like
Generated by the same engine that powers the calculator above (under 65, no medical aid):
| Gross / month | PAYE / month | UIF | Take-home | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R15,000 | R1,215 | R150.00 | R13,635 | 9.1% |
| R25,000 | R3,381 | R177.12 | R21,442 | 14.2% |
| R35,000 | R6,135 | R177.12 | R28,688 | 18.0% |
| R50,000 | R11,076 | R177.12 | R38,747 | 22.5% |
| R75,000 | R20,608 | R177.12 | R54,215 | 27.7% |
Read the effective rate, not your bracket. Someone on R75,000 a month sits in the 41% bracket but loses 27.7% overall — because only the slice inside each band is taxed at that band's rate. Confusing the two is the most common tax misunderstanding in South Africa, and it leads people to turn down raises and overtime that would genuinely leave them better off. A raise can never reduce your take-home.
UIF caps sooner than most people realise
UIF is 1% of your salary, but only up to a ceiling of R17,712 a month — so the contribution maxes out at R177.12. Anyone earning above that ceiling pays exactly R177.12, and a payslip showing more is worth querying.
How to pay less, legitimately
- Retirement contributions. Deductible up to 27.5% of the greater of remuneration or taxable income, capped at R430,000 a year (raised from R350,000). This is the largest legal lever most salaried South Africans have — see the tax refund calculator;
- Claim your medical credits if you are on a scheme — enter members in the calculator above;
- Use your tax-free savings allowance — R46,000 a year, R500,000 lifetime, with all growth tax free. See the TFSA calculator;
- Keep your interest exemption in mind — R23,800 a year under 65, R34,500 at 65 and over;
- File a return even if you think you are below the threshold — refunds are commonly missed.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my PAYE different from this estimate?
Common reasons: a medical aid or retirement deduction your employer applies, a travel or other allowance, or a bonus in that month. The calculator models the standard case — check your IRP5 against it and query differences with payroll.
Do I have to submit a tax return?
Not everyone does, but filing is often worth it even when not required — retirement contributions and medical credits frequently produce a refund. See the refund calculator.
Should I refuse a raise to stay in a lower bracket?
Never. Brackets are marginal — only the portion above the threshold is taxed at the higher rate, so more gross is always more net.
What changed in Budget 2026?
Brackets and rebates rose 3.4%; the retirement cap went R350,000 → R430,000; the CGT annual exclusion R40,000 → R50,000 and the primary-residence gain exclusion R2m → R3m; transfer duty was restructured. VAT stayed at 15%.
What is the difference between my bracket and my effective rate?
Your bracket is the rate on your last rand. Your effective rate is total tax ÷ total income — always lower. The table above shows both.
Figures are the 2026/27 SARS tables (1 March 2026 – 28 February 2027) per the Budget 2026 tax guide. Worked examples are generated by this calculator's own engine. General information, not tax advice — confirm with SARS or a registered tax practitioner.