Use TaxTim's free SARS company car fringe benefit calculator to work out the monthly taxable benefit on an employer-provided (right-of-use) motor vehicle for the 2026/2027 tax year (the 2027 SARS year of assessment, 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027). Under paragraph 7 of the Seventh Schedule the monthly benefit is 3.5% of the vehicle's determined value (including VAT), dropping to 3.25% where a qualifying maintenance plan was included when the employer acquired the car. Enter the determined value, your other income and (optionally) your logbook to see the monthly benefit, the portion included for PAYE and the indicative tax at your marginal rate.
The calculator first sets the determined value (incl. VAT). If the employer held the vehicle 12 or more months before granting you use (other than under an operating lease), the value is reduced by 15% per completed year on a reducing-balance basis. It then applies the monthly rate — 3.5%, or 3.25% with a qualifying maintenance plan — to give the monthly value of private use. Any monthly amount you pay the employer for use of the car (excluding licence, insurance, maintenance or fuel) is subtracted, giving the monthly cash equivalent (the taxable benefit).
For monthly PAYE, your employer includes 80% of the cash equivalent in your remuneration — reduced to 20% if the employer is satisfied at least 80% of your use will be for business. The calculator annualises that included amount, finds your marginal tax bracket from the SARS tables for the year you select, and shows the indicative monthly PAYE. On assessment, an accurate logbook reduces the benefit by your business kilometres (business km ÷ total km) and by the licence, insurance, maintenance and fuel costs you bear in full. The SARS income-tax brackets and rebates are always pulled from the official tables for your chosen year — never hardcoded.
Company car fringe benefit — 2027 tax year (1 Mar 2026 – 28 Feb 2027):
| Item | Rate / basis |
|---|---|
| Monthly benefit (no maintenance plan) | 3.5% of determined value |
| Monthly benefit (maintenance plan at acquisition) | 3.25% of determined value |
| Pre-grant depreciation | 15% per completed 12 months, reducing-balance |
| Determined value | Includes VAT (15%) since 1 March 2018 |
| Monthly PAYE inclusion | 80% of cash equivalent (20% if employer satisfied ≥ 80% business use) |
| Business-use reduction (assessment) | value of private use × business km ÷ total km |
| Licence / insurance / maintenance reduction | private km ÷ total km × full cost borne |
Deemed fuel cost (c/km) by determined-value band — 2027 scale:
| Determined value (R) | Fuel cost (c/km) |
|---|---|
| 0 – 115,000 | 132.9 |
| 115,001 – 230,000 | 148.4 |
| 230,001 – 345,000 | 161.2 |
| 345,001 – 460,000 | 173.4 |
| 460,001 – 575,000 | 185.5 |
| 575,001 – 690,000 | 212.8 |
| 690,001 – 805,000 | 216.5 |
| 805,001 and above | 220.1 |
Income tax brackets — 2027 tax year:
| Taxable income (R) | Rates of tax |
|---|---|
| 0 – 245,100 | 18% of taxable income |
| 245,101 – 383,100 | 44,118 + 26% above 245,100 |
| 383,101 – 530,200 | 79,998 + 31% above 383,100 |
| 530,201 – 695,800 | 125,599 + 36% above 530,200 |
| 695,801 – 887,000 | 185,215 + 39% above 695,800 |
| 887,001 – 1,878,600 | 259,783 + 41% above 887,000 |
| 1,878,601 and above | 666,339 + 45% above 1,878,600 |
Rebates: Primary R17,820 • Secondary (65+) R9,765 • Tertiary (75+) R3,249
Example (2027 tax year): A car with a determined value of R400,000 (incl. VAT) and a maintenance plan included at acquisition; the employer is not satisfied on 80% business use; no consideration is paid. Other taxable income is R600,000 and the employee is 40.
On assessment (logbook: 36,000 km total, 17,000 business; full licence R650, full insurance R16,200, full private fuel):
Figures are illustrative; your actual result depends on your logbook and other deductions.
Under paragraph 7 of the Seventh Schedule, the monthly taxable benefit is 3.5% of the vehicle's determined value (including VAT). It drops to 3.25% if a qualifying maintenance plan was included when the employer acquired the vehicle. You subtract any amount you pay the employer for using the car, and the result is taxed at your marginal income-tax rate.
For a car the employer bought, it's the original cash cost to the employer including VAT (but excluding finance charges and interest). For a leased car or one acquired under a right of use, it's the retail market value including VAT when the employer first obtained it. If the employer held the car 12 or more months before giving it to you (other than under an operating lease), the value is first reduced by 15% per completed year on a reducing-balance basis. VAT has been included since 1 March 2018.
Only when a bona-fide maintenance plan — covering all maintenance for at least 3 years or 60,000 km — was in place at the time the employer acquired the vehicle. A top-up or add-on plan taken out later does not qualify, so the 3.5% rate applies. Once 3.25% applies it stays even after the plan expires.
For monthly PAYE, the employer includes 80% of the fringe benefit in your remuneration. If the employer is satisfied that at least 80% of the vehicle's use in the year will be for business, only 20% is included. This is a cash-flow timing rule — your actual tax is finalised on assessment using your logbook, so the 20% election does not reduce the tax you ultimately owe.
Yes, on assessment. Keep an accurate logbook: the benefit is reduced in proportion to your business kilometres (business km ÷ total km). You can further reduce it for licence, insurance, maintenance and fuel costs you bear in full yourself — by private km ÷ total km of those costs, and for fuel by private km × the SARS deemed fuel rate per km. No reductions are allowed without a logbook, and you cannot claim maintenance if the car has a maintenance plan.
Yes. Private use is deemed to have no value if the car is a pool vehicle available to staff generally, your private use is infrequent or merely incidental, and it isn't kept at your home after hours — or if your duties require regular after-hours business use and you may only use it privately for travel between home and work plus incidental trips.
Yes. The taxable benefit is added to your other taxable income (salary, etc.) and taxed at your marginal rate, so it can push part of your income into a higher bracket. Enter your other income in the calculator to see the realistic tax impact rather than tax on the benefit alone.
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