South Africa Take-Home Pay Calculator (2026/27)
South African take-home pay is salary minus PAYE income tax and UIF (1%, at most R177.12 a month). For 2026/27 tax runs from 18% to 45%, less a primary rebate of R17,820 (more from age 65 and 75), so under-65s pay no tax up to R99,000 a year. Pension and retirement annuity contributions reduce your tax.
| Yearly | Monthly |
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· Calculated with AiStaffo
Tax and deduction rules (2026/27)
| Tax brackets 2026/27 | 18% to R245,100; R44,118 + 26% to R383,100; R79,998 + 31% to R530,200; R125,599 + 36% to R695,800; R185,215 + 39% to R887,000; R259,783 + 41% to R1,878,600; R666,339 + 45% above. |
|---|---|
| Rebates | Primary R17,820; secondary (65+) R9,765; tertiary (75+) R3,249. |
| Tax thresholds | No tax up to R99,000 (under 65), R153,250 (65–74), R171,300 (75+). |
| UIF | Employee 1% and employer 1% of pay up to R17,712 a month: at most R177.12 each. |
| Retirement contributions | Pension, provident and RA contributions are deductible up to 27.5% of income, capped at R430,000 a year from 1 March 2026 (was R350,000). |
| Tax year | 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027 (the 2027 year of assessment). |
Worked example
Thandi, aged 35, earns R30,000 a month (R360,000 a year) and makes no retirement contributions. Tax on R360,000 is R44,118 + 26% of R114,900 = R73,992, less the primary rebate of R17,820 = R56,172 a year (R4,681 a month). UIF is 1% of R17,712 = R177.12 a month.
Take-home pay: R301,702.56 a year, or R25,141.88 a month.
What changed on 1 March 2026
For the first time in two years SARS adjusted the tax brackets and rebates for inflation: the primary rebate rose from R17,235 to R17,820 and the under-65 tax threshold from R95,750 to R99,000. The yearly cap on tax-deductible retirement fund contributions rose from R350,000 to R430,000.
For employers
Running payroll by hand (tax tables, contributions, payslips, filings) is routine work that AI workers now handle with almost no staff time. See what an employee really costs you, or book a free automation audit for your payroll.
Please note: figures follow the published 2026/27 rates as checked on 21 October 2026 for a resident employee in the standard case. Not included: medical scheme fees tax credits, travel and other allowances, fringe benefits, bonuses, and employer contributions to retirement funds treated as fringe benefits. This is a guide, not tax advice; your payslip can differ because of tax codes, benefits and timing.
Sources
Questions people ask
How much tax do I pay on R30,000 a month in 2026/27?
What is the tax threshold for 2026/27?
What is the UIF maximum?
Do retirement annuity contributions lower my tax?
Does this include medical aid tax credits?
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