How your take-home pay is worked out (2026/27)
In South Africa your take-home pay is your salary minus PAYE income tax and your UIF contribution. Income tax is worked out on the SARS brackets, then a rebate is subtracted. This calculator uses the official SARS rates for the 2026/27 tax year (1 March 2026 – 28 February 2027) for a taxpayer under 65.
Income tax brackets 2026/27
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| R0 – R245,100 | 18% |
| R245,101 – R383,100 | 26% |
| R383,101 – R530,200 | 31% |
| R530,201 – R695,800 | 36% |
| R695,801 – R887,000 | 39% |
| R887,001 – R1,878,600 | 41% |
| Above R1,878,600 | 45% |
Everyone under 65 gets the primary rebate of R17,820, subtracted from the tax. This means no tax is due below R99,000 a year.
UIF
You contribute 1% of your pay to the Unemployment Insurance Fund, on earnings up to R17,712 a month — a maximum of R177.12 a month.
Example: R500,000 salary (under 65)
Income tax is R116,237 minus the R17,820 rebate = R98,417, and UIF is R2,125. That leaves a take-home of about R399,458 a year, roughly R33,288 a month.
What this calculator does not include
- Medical-aid tax credits, retirement-fund contributions, travel allowances and other deductions.
- The higher rebates for ages 65–74 and 75+ (this assumes under 65).
- Provisional tax and fringe benefits.
Frequently asked questions
What is a rebate?
A fixed amount SARS subtracts from your calculated tax. The primary rebate (R17,820) applies to everyone; people 65+ get more.
Is UIF the only other deduction?
For a basic salary, yes — there's no separate social-security tax beyond UIF. Medical aid and retirement contributions are optional and reduce your tax further.
Which tax year is this?
The 2026/27 tax year runs 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027. Brackets rose 3.4% from the previous year.
More South Africa calculators
This calculator provides estimates for the 2026/27 tax year (under 65) based on published SARS rates and is for general information only — it is not financial or tax advice. It excludes medical-aid credits, retirement contributions and other deductions. For your exact position use the SARS or a reputable calculator such as TaxTim. Source: SARS (Rates of Tax for Individuals, UIF).