About the South Africa Salary Calculator
This South Africa salary calculator estimates the PAYE income tax, UIF and take-home pay on a monthly salary. It uses the SARS progressive tax tables from 18% to 45%, subtracts the primary rebate (plus the secondary and tertiary rebates if you are 65 or 75 and older), and applies medical scheme fees tax credits and the tax deduction for retirement fund contributions.
Use it to check a payslip, compare a job offer, decide whether a bigger pension or retirement annuity contribution is worth it, or see how a 13th cheque affects your annual tax. Results show monthly and annual net pay, your effective and marginal tax rates, and a full breakdown of deductions.
Figures are based on the SARS tables for the 2027 year of assessment (1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027), as announced in Budget 2026: a tax threshold of R99,000 below 65, a primary rebate of R17,820, a retirement deduction cap of R430,000 and UIF at 1% on earnings up to R17,712 a month. Tax years before 1 March 2026 used lower brackets and rebates. Bonuses are annualised with salary, as SARS does over the tax year.
With the default inputs, the net salary (monthly average) is R25,141.88. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the south africa salary calculator
- 1Enter your gross monthly salary before deductions.
- 2Add any annual bonus or 13th cheque.
- 3Choose your age group so the right rebates apply.
- 4Enter your pension or RA contribution rate and medical aid members.
- 5Read your monthly net salary, PAYE and UIF in the results.
Formula and method
Annual gross remuneration is 12 months of salary plus any bonus. Pension, provident and retirement annuity contributions are deducted up to 27.5% of remuneration and R430,000 a year. Tax on the remaining taxable income comes from the 2027 SARS brackets (18% up to R245,100, rising to 45% above R1,878,600).
The primary rebate (R17,820) is subtracted from everyone’s tax, with an extra R9,765 from age 65 and R3,249 from age 75. Medical scheme fees tax credits of R376 a month for the main member and first dependant and R254 for each additional dependant reduce tax further. UIF is 1% of monthly remuneration up to R17,712 (maximum R177.12 a month).
- Gross
- 12 × monthly salary + annual bonus
- Tax(x)
- Tax from the SARS progressive brackets
- Rebates
- Primary, secondary and tertiary rebates by age
- UIF
- Unemployment Insurance Fund contribution, employee share
Worked examples
R30,000 a month, under 65, no deductions
Annual pay of R360,000 is taxed at R44,118 on the first R245,100 plus 26% of R114,900 (R29,874) = R73,992. Subtracting the R17,820 primary rebate leaves PAYE of R56,172 a year, or R4,681 a month. UIF is capped at R177.12, so net pay averages R25,141.88 a month.
R50,000 a month with 10% pension and 3 on medical aid
The R60,000 pension contribution is fully deductible, so taxable income is R540,000, which carries R129,127 of tax from the tables (R125,599 + 36% of R9,800). Subtracting the R17,820 primary rebate and medical credits of R376 + R376 + R254 = R1,006 a month (R12,072 a year) leaves PAYE of R99,235. After UIF and the pension contribution, net pay averages R36,553.30 a month.
Pensioner aged 67 earning R12,000 a month
R144,000 a year is below the R153,250 tax threshold for people aged 65 to 74, because the primary and secondary rebates (R27,585) wipe out the R25,920 of tax. Only UIF of R120 a month is deducted.
Frequently asked questions
How is PAYE calculated in South Africa?+
Your employer annualises your monthly remuneration, subtracts deductible retirement contributions, applies the SARS tax brackets, deducts the age-based rebates and any medical scheme fees tax credit, then divides the annual tax by 12 to get the monthly PAYE.
What is the tax threshold in South Africa?+
For the 2027 year of assessment (March 2026 to February 2027) you pay no income tax if you earn up to R99,000 a year under 65, R153,250 if you are 65 to 74, or R171,300 if you are 75 or older.
How much is UIF?+
Employees contribute 1% of remuneration to the Unemployment Insurance Fund and employers add another 1%. Contributions are capped at a remuneration ceiling of R17,712 a month, so the maximum employee deduction is R177.12.
Do retirement annuity contributions reduce tax?+
Yes. Contributions to pension, provident and retirement annuity funds are deductible up to 27.5% of the greater of remuneration or taxable income, capped at R430,000 a year from 1 March 2026 (R350,000 before). Excess contributions carry forward to later years.
What is the medical tax credit for 2027?+
For the 2027 tax year the medical scheme fees tax credit is R376 a month each for the main member and the first dependant, and R254 a month for each additional dependant. It reduces tax payable but cannot create a refund below zero.
Why does my bonus month have more tax?+
SARS treats a bonus as part of annual income, so the extra tax on the whole bonus is taken in the month it is paid, often at your marginal rate. Over a full year the total tax matches the annual calculation shown here.
Tax results are estimates based on published rules and simplified assumptions. They are not tax advice — check official guidance or a tax professional for your situation.