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South African tax, calculated clearly. Know exactly what you owe and what you keep. No surprises when tax season arrives.
The South African tax year runs from 1 March to 28/29 February the following year. For example, the 2026/27 tax year covers 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027.
When you file your return (typically July to October each year), SARS assesses all income you earned during that full 12-month period. This calculator lets you estimate your liability for any of the available tax years so you can plan ahead.
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| Item | 2024/25 | 2025/26 | 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary rebate | R 17 235 | R 17 235 | R 17 820 |
| Secondary rebate (65+) | R 9 444 | R 9 444 | R 9 765 |
| Tertiary rebate (75+) | R 3 145 | R 3 145 | R 3 249 |
| Tax threshold (under 65) | R 95 750 | R 95 750 | R 99 000 |
| Tax threshold (65–74) | R 148 217 | R 148 217 | R 153 250 |
| Tax threshold (75+) | R 165 689 | R 165 689 | R 171 300 |
| RA deduction cap | R 350 000 | R 350 000 | R 430 000 |
| Medical credit (main and first dependant) | R 364/mo | R 364/mo | R 376/mo |
| Medical credit (additional) | R 246/mo | R 246/mo | R 254/mo |
| CGT annual exclusion | R 40 000 | R 40 000 | R 50 000 |
| CGT inclusion rate | 40% | 40% | 40% |
| Dividends withholding tax | 20% | 20% | 20% |
| UIF employee rate | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| UIF monthly cap | R 177.12 | R 177.12 | R 177.12 |
Got a question, spotted an error in the numbers, or want to suggest a feature?
File your personal income tax return online via the SARS eFiling portal. Required for all individual taxpayers.
Visit SARS eFiling →Download official SARS tax rate tables, rebates, and thresholds directly from the SARS website.
View official rates →Provisional taxpayers must submit estimates and make payments twice yearly. Learn who qualifies and how it works.
Learn about provisional tax →Understand Section 6A and Section 6B medical tax credits, scheme membership, and how to maximise your credit.
Medical credits guide →RA contributions are tax-deductible up to 27.5% of your remuneration or taxable income, subject to an annual rand cap (R350 000 for 2024/25 and 2025/26; R430 000 for 2026/27).
RA deductions explained →CGT applies when you sell assets for a profit. Individuals have an annual exclusion (R40 000–R50 000 depending on the tax year) and a 40% inclusion rate.
CGT guide →Donations to SARS-approved Public Benefit Organisations (PBOs) are deductible up to 10% of your taxable income. Always obtain a valid Section 18A receipt from the organisation — without it, SARS will disallow the deduction on assessment.
A free, transparent tool built to help South Africans understand exactly what they owe — and why. No subscriptions, no hidden fees, no guesswork.
Tax in South Africa is complex. Most calculators give you a number without showing their work. We built SA Tax Tools to change that — every output is backed by a step-by-step breakdown referencing the exact SARS legislation so you can verify each calculation yourself.
Full SARS tables for 2024/25 through 2026/27, updated with each Budget Speech.
Salary, bonus, commission, rental, interest, dividends, and capital gains — handled correctly.
RA contributions with the correct cap, medical credits (Section 6A and 6B), and age-based rebates.
Every result is expandable with a full formula breakdown — no black boxes.
Compare your PAYE deducted against your actual tax liability to see if SARS owes you a refund.
Compare two packages side by side and see the real after-tax take-home difference.
All tax tables, rebates, thresholds, medical credits, and exemption limits are sourced directly from SARS official publications and the annual Budget Speech. Where figures have not yet been published (e.g. interim tax years), this is explicitly noted.
This tool is for estimation and educational purposes. It does not constitute professional tax advice. Always consult a registered tax practitioner (RTP) or tax attorney for your personal tax affairs.
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| Description | Asset type / rate | Cost price (R) | W&T / yr |
|---|
If you own your home and claim a home office deduction, SARS may treat the office portion as not qualifying for the primary residence exclusion (R2 million for 2024/25 and 2025/26; R3 million for 2026/27). When you eventually sell, a proportional portion of the gain may attract CGT. Weigh this trade-off carefully — especially if your home has appreciated significantly.
Keep a floor plan or sketch showing measurements, all utility bills and bond/lease statements for the full tax year, and proof that your employer requires you to work from home (a letter or employment contract clause). SARS may request these on assessment or audit — retain records for at least 5 years.
| Description | Asset type / rate | Cost price (R) | W&T / yr |
|---|
| Description | Cost (R) | |
|---|---|---|
This calculator is for indicative purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. Primary residence CGT involves nuanced facts — the exclusion, apportionment, and valuation date rules each require careful consideration. Consult a registered tax practitioner for advice on your specific situation.
This tool is for indicative purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. Your actual refund or liability depends on the final SARS assessment. Consult a registered tax practitioner for personalised advice.
This comparison is indicative only and does not constitute tax advice. The 80% travel allowance assumption applies where no business-use logbook is maintained (s8(1)(b)). Actual take-home depends on your full tax position and payroll deductions. Consult a registered tax practitioner for personalised advice.
Run a calculation first to get a personalised checklist. Otherwise the full generic list is shown below. Tick off each document as you gather it before filing on SARS eFiling.
This checklist is a guide only. Requirements may vary based on your full tax profile. Always verify with a registered tax practitioner or the SARS eFiling system. Documents should be retained for 5 years after assessment.
| Vehicle value (incl. VAT) | Fixed cost (p.a.) | Fuel (c/km) | Maint (c/km) |
|---|
Section 8(1)(b) of the Income Tax Act deals with travel allowances. An allowance paid to an employee to cover travel for business purposes must be included in gross income, but a deduction is allowed for the business travel portion.
The key rules:
Your employer must withhold PAYE on your travel allowance. The default is:
This is a provisional withholding position. Your actual tax is settled at assessment based on your logbook evidence. If you over-deducted, SARS will raise an additional assessment. If you under-deducted (employer used 80% but you had more business travel), you'll receive a refund.
SARS requires a detailed logbook to support any travel deduction. Each trip must record:
You must also record your opening and closing odometer readings for the full tax year (1 March to 28/29 February).
Private trips (commuting, personal) must be excluded. Commuting from home to your regular workplace is not deductible business travel.
SARS provides a free logbook template at sars.gov.za.
Fixed allowance (s8(1)(b)): A set amount regardless of actual km travelled. Flexible but requires a logbook at year-end to claim the deduction. Risk: if your actual business travel is low, you may owe more tax at assessment.
Reimbursement per km: You are paid only for actual business km at an agreed rate. If the rate is at or below the SARS approved rate, the entire reimbursement is tax-free — no logbook required beyond the employer's records. Simpler and often more tax-efficient for employees with predictable business travel.
Key consideration: If your employer pays above the SARS approved rate per km, the excess is taxable income. The SARS approved rate is updated annually via government gazette.
Instead of tracking actual fuel, maintenance, and other costs, SARS allows you to use deemed costs from Appendix A to GN R 1384. These are fixed tables based on the vehicle's value (incl. VAT).
The deemed cost calculation:
The vehicle value used is the original purchase price including VAT, or a value as determined by SARS if the vehicle was acquired via a company scheme.
Note: You cannot claim Appendix A costs for a vehicle that has been allocated as a fringe benefit (company car).