Use TaxTim's free SARS income tax calculator to work out exactly how much PAYE (Pay-As-You-Earn) you owe, how much UIF is deducted, your taxable income and your monthly take-home pay for the 2026/2027 tax year (the 2027 SARS year of assessment, 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027). Just enter your gross salary, how often you are paid, your age and any pension, provident-fund, RAF or travel-allowance amounts, and the calculator applies the latest SARS tax brackets, rebates and thresholds for you.
The calculator first annualises your gross salary, then works out your taxable income by subtracting allowable deductions. Retirement-fund contributions (pension, provident fund and retirement annuity) are deducted under section 11F, limited to 27.5% of the greater of remuneration or taxable income, and capped at R430,000 per year for the 2027 tax year (the cap was R350,000 up to and including the 2026 year). If you receive a travel allowance, only 80% is taxable, so the calculator subtracts 20% of it. It then applies the SARS sliding-scale tax tables to your taxable income, subtracts the age-based tax rebates (primary, secondary and tertiary) to arrive at your annual PAYE, and deducts UIF at 1% of remuneration (capped at R177.12 per month for 2026/2027). The remainder is your take-home pay. Medical scheme members can further reduce PAYE with the section 6A medical scheme fees tax credit when filing.
Tax brackets — 2027 tax year (1 Mar 2026 – 28 Feb 2027):
| 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
Tax thresholds (no tax below): Under 65 R99,000 • 65–74 R153,250 • 75+ R171,300
UIF: 1% of remuneration, max R177.12/month (earnings ceiling R17,712/month)
Medical credit (s6A): R376/month main member, R376/month first dependant; R254/month each additional dependant
Retirement-fund deduction (s11F): 27.5% of the greater of remuneration or taxable income, capped at R430,000/year for 2027
Example (2027 tax year): Thabo, age 40, earns R30,000 per month (R360,000 per year), with no pension or travel allowance.
Figures are illustrative; your actual result depends on medical credits and other deductions.
PAYE is worked out by applying the SARS sliding-scale tax tables to your annual taxable income (gross salary minus allowable deductions like retirement-fund contributions under section 11F), then subtracting the age-based tax rebates. The result is divided by your pay periods to give the monthly amount your employer withholds for SARS.
For the 2027 tax year (1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027) you pay no income tax if you earn below R99,000 a year if under 65, R153,250 if aged 65 to 74, or R171,300 if 75 or older. These thresholds reflect the primary, secondary and tertiary rebates set in Budget 2026.
Gross salary is your total earnings before any deductions, including all benefits your employer pays you. Take-home pay (net pay) is what lands in your bank account after PAYE tax, UIF and any pension, provident-fund or RAF contributions are subtracted. This calculator shows both so you can see the deductions clearly.
Yes. UIF (Unemployment Insurance Fund) is deducted at 1% of your remuneration. For 2026/2027 the earnings ceiling is R17,712 per month, so the maximum employee UIF deduction is R177.12 per month. Your employer matches this with another 1%, but only your 1% reduces your take-home pay.
Contributions to a pension fund, provident fund or retirement annuity are deductible under section 11F, up to 27.5% of the greater of remuneration or taxable income, capped at R430,000 a year for 2027. Because the deduction lowers your taxable income, it directly reduces the PAYE you pay, making retirement saving tax-efficient.
It defaults to the 2027 tax year (1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027), the current SARS year of assessment with the latest Budget 2026 brackets, rebates and thresholds. You can also select earlier years from the dropdown to estimate tax for prior periods or to compare year on year.
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