SARS Tax Calculator 2025/2026 – Calculate Your South African Income Tax

A SARS tax calculator estimates your income tax using the South African progressive tax system. This means the more you earn, the higher the tax percentage applied to portions of your income.

The calculator works by:

• Taking your annual salary
• Applying SARS tax brackets for 2025/2026
• Deducting applicable tax rebates
• Estimating PAYE (Pay As You Earn)
• Showing your net income after tax

This gives you a realistic view of what SARS may deduct from your salary.

PAYE (Pay As You Earn) is the tax SARS deducts from your salary each month. Employers calculate PAYE based on your estimated annual income and submit it to SARS on your behalf.

PAYE is:

• Mandatory for most employees
• Calculated monthly
• Adjusted if your salary changes
• Reduced by applicable tax rebates

👉 If you want to see your PAYE breakdown in detail, use our PAYE Calculator to estimate your monthly and annual tax accurately.

South Africa uses a progressive income tax system, meaning income is taxed in levels (brackets).

Each portion of your income is taxed at a different rate, not your entire salary at one percentage. This ensures fairness and allows lower earners to pay less tax.

Understanding tax brackets helps you:

• See why your tax increases as income grows
• Estimate your effective tax rate
• Plan salary negotiations better
• Avoid PAYE surprises

Your final tax depends on which brackets your income falls into.

SARS applies tax rebates to reduce how much tax you pay.

Common SARS Rebates:

• Primary rebate – Applies to all taxpayers
• Secondary rebate – Applies if you are 65 or older
• Tertiary rebate – Applies if you are 75 or older

Rebates reduce your total tax payable, which means lower PAYE deductions and higher take-home pay.

A good SARS income tax calculator automatically includes these rebates when estimating your tax.

This calculator is useful if you are:

• A salaried employee paying PAYE
• Planning a salary increase
• Budgeting your monthly expenses
• Comparing job offers
• Checking if your PAYE looks correct

Even freelancers and contractors can use it as a rough estimate of income tax before submitting official SARS assessments.

Using an online tax calculator allows you to:

• Instantly estimate your tax
• Avoid manual calculations
• Understand deductions clearly
• Plan finances better
• Reduce surprises during tax season

It’s fast, free, and designed to match SARS tax rules for the current tax year.

This SARS tax calculator provides a close estimate based on:

• Official SARS tax brackets
• PAYE calculation rules
• Current rebates

However, final tax assessments may differ if you have:

• Medical aid credits
• Retirement contributions
• Travel allowances
• Bonuses or commissions
• Additional income sources

For official calculations, always confirm through SARS eFiling or a registered tax practitioner.

The SARS Tax Calculator 2025/2026 is a powerful tool to help you understand PAYE, tax brackets, and take-home pay. Whether you’re budgeting, planning a raise, or checking deductions, this calculator gives you clarity before SARS does.