South Africa Salary Tax Calculator 2026/27

Questions people ask

Which rates does this use?

The 2026/27 bands as published, applied cumulatively to annual income. Primary rebate of R17,820 credited against tax; secondary R9,765 and tertiary R3,249 apply from ages 65 and 75. The tax threshold is R99,000 under 65, R153,250 at 65 to 74 and R171,300 at 75 and over. UIF at 1% of pay, capped at R177.12 a month, is deducted separately and is not modelled here.

Does it include social contributions?

Only where the country's scheme on this page lists a contribution rate. Other deductions, allowances and local surcharges are named in the notes and not modelled.

Is this tax advice?

No. It applies the published bands to the number you enter. Your circumstances may differ; confirm with a qualified adviser or the tax authority.

What is the difference between the effective and the marginal rate?

The effective rate is the tax you pay across all your income. The marginal rate is what applies to the next unit you earn. The marginal rate is always the higher of the two once you are past the first band, which is why a raise never arrives whole.

Why is my payslip different from this?

This applies the published 2026/27 bands to the gross you enter. A real payslip also carries allowances, benefits in kind, loan repayments and employer schemes that no general calculator can know about. Treat a gap as something to ask your payroll about, not proof that either is wrong.

Does it handle a bonus or a thirteenth month?

Not separately. Many countries tax a bonus differently from regular pay, sometimes at a flat rate and sometimes by spreading it. Adding a bonus to the monthly figure here will overstate the tax. Ask South African Revenue Service (SARS) how your country treats it.

Can I use this to check my employer?

As a cross-check, yes, and that is the most useful thing it does. It is not authoritative: your employer holds your tax code, your reliefs and your year-to-date figures. If the two disagree by more than a rounding difference, that is a conversation worth having.