Use our free SARS tax refund calculator to estimate how big your income tax refund could be when you submit your return for the 2026 tax year (1 March 2025 – 28 February 2026). A refund happens when the PAYE and provisional tax you already paid is more than the tax you actually owe after deductions, rebates and medical credits. Enter your income, the tax withheld and any deductions to get an instant Rand estimate before you file with SARS.
The calculator works out your refund as tax already paid minus tax actually owed. First it adds up your gross income (IRP5 code 3699 employment income, IT3a annuity income, interest, business profit and other income), then applies the local interest exemption under section 10(1)(i), which is R23,800 if you're under 65 and R34,500 if you're 65 or older. It subtracts allowable deductions: retirement fund contributions under section 11F (limited to the lesser of 27.5% of the greater of remuneration or taxable income, R350,000, or taxable income), section 18A donations (capped at 10% of taxable income), travel and wear-and-tear claims. The SARS tax tables and rebates are applied to the result, then the section 6A medical scheme fees tax credit and the section 6B additional medical expenses credit reduce the tax further. Finally it deducts the PAYE (codes 4102/4115) and provisional tax you already paid. If that exceeds your tax owed, the difference is your refund.
2026 tax year (1 March 2025 – 28 February 2026): figures used by the calculator
Income tax brackets (taxable income → tax):
| Taxable income (R) | Tax |
|---|---|
| 0 – 237,100 | 18% of taxable income |
| 237,101 – 370,500 | 42,678 + 26% above 237,100 |
| 370,501 – 512,800 | 77,362 + 31% above 370,500 |
| 512,801 – 673,000 | 121,475 + 36% above 512,800 |
| 673,001 – 857,900 | 179,147 + 39% above 673,000 |
| 857,901 – 1,817,000 | 251,258 + 41% above 857,900 |
| 1,817,001+ | 644,489 + 45% above 1,817,000 |
Example (2026 tax year): Thandi is 40, earns R420,000 employment income (IRP5 code 3699), contributes R3,500/month (R42,000/year) to a retirement annuity and is the sole member of a medical aid. Her employer withheld R72,000 PAYE.
Actual results vary; SARS may hold extra information.
A refund arises when the PAYE and provisional tax you paid during the year exceed your actual tax liability after rebates, medical credits and deductions. When you file your return, SARS recalculates the correct tax. Overpaying is common after job changes, unclaimed RA contributions or medical credits, and SARS pays back the difference.
It uses the official SARS 2026 tax tables, rebates, section 6A medical credits and section 11F retirement caps, so it gives a close estimate. Your actual refund may differ because SARS holds third-party data (IRP5, IT3 certificates) you may not capture, or you enter different figures on your return. Treat it as an indicator.
You likely overpaid PAYE. Each employer deducts PAYE without knowing your full year, so job changes, unemployment gaps or bonuses can cause over-deduction. Deductions you only claim on your return (retirement annuity contributions, out-of-pocket medical, donations, travel and wear-and-tear) also reduce your tax below what was withheld, creating a refund.
SARS aims to pay valid refunds (over R100) within about 72 hours of a completed return, provided your banking details are verified and no audit is triggered. If your return is selected for verification you may need to upload supporting documents, which can extend the wait to 21 business days or more. These are service targets, not guarantees.
The biggest refund boosters are retirement fund contributions (section 11F, up to 27.5% of income, max R350,000), medical scheme credits (section 6A) plus out-of-pocket expenses (section 6B), section 18A donations to registered PBOs (up to 10% of taxable income), and travel allowance and wear-and-tear claims if you qualify.
Choose the tax year you're filing for. During the 2026 Filing Season (which opens in July 2026) you file for the 2026 tax year (1 March 2025 – 28 February 2026), and the calculator defaults to that year. You can also select an earlier year so the matching SARS rates, rebates and credits apply.
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