SARS Tax Calculator 2026/2027: Estimate Your South African Income Tax
Use our SARS Tax Calculator to estimate your South African income tax for the current 2026/2027 tax year. Enter your salary, age group and pay frequency, and get an instant PAYE, take-home pay and effective tax rate estimate using the latest SARS tax brackets and rebates.
Calculate My Tax ↓SARS Tax Calculator
Enter your salary and details below, then press Calculate to see your estimated income tax and take-home pay.
Total Annual Tax
R 0
Estimated for the 2026/2027 tax year
Tax bracket breakdown
| Item | Amount |
|---|
This total is based on your gross annual income, using the 2026/2027 SARS tax brackets and rebates.
Your income tax is worked out by applying South Africa’s progressive tax brackets to your annual taxable income, then subtracting your age-based rebate. For the 2026/2027 tax year, running from 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027, individuals under 65 pay no tax on the first R99,000 earned in a year, rising to R153,250 for those aged 65 to 74 and R171,300 for those 75 and older. The top marginal rate is 45%, applied only to income above R1,878,600. Use the calculator above for your own estimate, and always confirm your final figure through SARS eFiling or a registered tax practitioner.
How to Use the SARS Tax Calculator
Three quick steps to an accurate tax estimate.
- 1 Choose your pay frequency. Select whether the amount you enter is your annual salary or your monthly salary.
- 2 Enter your salary and age group. Your age group determines which SARS rebate applies to you.
- 3 Press Calculate. Your total annual tax, monthly PAYE, take-home pay and effective tax rate appear instantly. Use “Copy Result” to save it for your own records.
The SARS Tax Calculation Formula
South Africa uses a progressive tax system, so each portion of your income is taxed at the rate for its own bracket.
Total Annual Tax = MAX( 0, Tax Before Rebate − Applicable Age Rebate )
Monthly PAYE = Total Annual Tax ÷ 12
Net Annual Income = Gross Annual Income − Total Annual Tax
Only the portion of your income that falls within each bracket is taxed at that bracket’s rate, not your entire salary. After the bracket calculation, your age-based rebate is subtracted directly from the tax amount, not from your income, which is what creates the tax-free threshold for each age group.
2026/2027 SARS Tax Brackets
These are the official brackets for the tax year running from 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027.
| Taxable Income | Rate of Tax |
|---|---|
| R0 to R245,100 | 18% of taxable income |
| R245,101 to R383,100 | R44,118 plus 26% of the amount above R245,100 |
| R383,101 to R530,200 | R79,998 plus 31% of the amount above R383,100 |
| R530,201 to R695,800 | R125,599 plus 36% of the amount above R530,200 |
| R695,801 to R887,000 | R185,215 plus 39% of the amount above R695,800 |
| R887,001 to R1,878,600 | R259,783 plus 41% of the amount above R887,000 |
| R1,878,601 and above | R666,339 plus 45% of the amount above R1,878,600 |
2026/2027 Tax Rebates and Thresholds
| Age Group | Annual Rebate | Tax-Free Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Under 65 (Primary rebate) | R17,820 | R99,000 |
| 65 to 74 (Primary + Secondary rebate) | R27,585 | R153,250 |
| 75 and over (Primary + Secondary + Tertiary rebate) | R30,834 | R171,300 |
These figures reflect the 2026 Budget Speech adjustments for the 2026/2027 tax year. Rates, rebates and thresholds are set by SARS and National Treasury and can change from year to year, so always check the official SARS website for the latest confirmed figures.
Worked Example
A real calculation using the 2026/2027 SARS tax brackets and the under-65 primary rebate.
Example: R420,000 annual salary, under 65
| Annual salary | R420,000 |
| Bracket applied | R383,101 to R530,200 |
| Tax before rebate | R79,998 + 31% of (R420,000 − R383,100) = R91,447 |
| Primary rebate | R17,820 |
| Total annual tax | R73,627 |
| Monthly PAYE | R6,136 |
| Net annual income | R346,373 |
| Effective tax rate | 17.5% |
Enter these same numbers into the calculator above to see the full breakdown for this scenario.
SARS Income Tax: The Complete Guide
South African income tax is calculated using a progressive system, meaning income is taxed in bands, with higher portions of your income taxed at higher rates. Understanding how this works helps you estimate your take-home pay, plan salary negotiations, and avoid surprises at tax time.
What is PAYE?
PAYE, or Pay As You Earn, is the tax SARS collects from your salary throughout the year. Your employer calculates PAYE based on your estimated annual income, applies the SARS tax brackets and your applicable rebate, then divides the result across your pay periods and pays it over to SARS on your behalf.
SARS tax rebates
Rebates are fixed amounts subtracted directly from your calculated tax, not from your income. Every taxpayer receives the primary rebate. Taxpayers aged 65 to 74 also receive the secondary rebate, and taxpayers aged 75 and older receive the tertiary rebate on top of that. Together these rebates create the tax-free threshold for each age group, below which no income tax is payable.
Effective tax rate versus marginal tax rate
Your marginal tax rate is the rate applied to the last rand you earn, the rate of the bracket your income falls into. Your effective tax rate is your total tax divided by your total income, and it is always lower than your marginal rate because of the progressive bracket system and your rebate. This calculator shows both your total tax and your effective rate so you can see the difference clearly.
Who should use this calculator?
- Salaried employees: Check whether your employer’s PAYE deduction looks correct.
- Job seekers: Compare take-home pay across different salary offers.
- Freelancers and contractors: Get a rough estimate of annual tax liability before submitting an official SARS assessment.
- Anyone planning a raise: See how a higher salary affects your tax bracket and take-home pay.
Methodology
This calculator applies the official 2026/2027 SARS tax brackets to your annualised gross salary, subtracts the rebate for your selected age group, and divides the result to show monthly PAYE and net monthly salary. It does not apply medical scheme fee tax credits, retirement fund contribution deductions, travel allowance adjustments, or UIF, since these depend on details beyond salary and age. For a detailed monthly PAYE breakdown including these deductions, use our PAYE Calculator.
Assumptions used in this calculator
- The salary entered is treated as your full gross income for the year, with no other deductions applied before tax.
- If you select Monthly pay frequency, the amount entered is multiplied by 12 to estimate your annual salary.
- This calculator does not apply medical tax credits, retirement fund deductions, travel allowances, bonuses, or UIF.
- Results are estimates for planning purposes only and are not an official SARS tax assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
The SARS Tax Calculator estimates how much income tax and PAYE you pay based on your salary, age group and pay frequency, using the current South African tax brackets and rebates.
Yes. The calculator estimates PAYE by applying the annual SARS tax rates to your income and converting the result into a monthly deduction.
This calculator covers the 2026/2027 South African tax year, running from 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027, using the tax brackets and rebates confirmed in the 2026 Budget Speech.
The calculator provides a close estimate of your tax liability based on your salary and age. Your final tax may differ if you have medical aid credits, retirement contributions, travel allowances, bonuses, or additional income sources.
Yes. Select Monthly as your pay frequency and enter your monthly salary. The calculator annualises this figure to estimate your total annual tax, monthly PAYE and net monthly salary.
No. This is an independent estimation tool and is not affiliated with SARS. For official assessments, always use SARS eFiling or consult a registered tax practitioner.