South Africa Income Tax Calculator 2026
Calculate your exact net salary in South Africa after Personal Income Tax (PIT) and social security. All 6 tax brackets. Updated Q1 2026.
Your employer pays an additional R500 (1.0% of gross). Total employment cost = R50,500.
How income tax works in South Africa
Income tax in South Africa is administered by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) under Personal Income Tax (PIT). Primary rebate ZAR 17,235 (direct credit). UIF: employee 1%, employer 1%. Brackets in ZAR.
South Africa uses a progressive schedule of 6 brackets: each slice of income is taxed at the rate of the band it falls in — not your highest rate applied to the whole salary. Social security (1.0% of gross) is deducted first; income tax is then applied to the remainder band-by-band.
South Africa pays salaries across 12 monthly instalments.
Key tax dates in South Africa
| Event | Date / Note |
|---|---|
| Tax year start | 1 January |
| Tax year end | 31 December |
| Filing deadline | October–November (eFiling season) |
| Withholding regime | Personal Income Tax (PIT) |
Deductions and allowances
- ·Medical Scheme Fees Tax Credit ZAR 364/month + ZAR 246/dependant
- ·Retirement fund (up to 27.5%, max ZAR 350,000)
- ·Travel allowance (with logbook)
- ·Home office (if >50% WFH)
Primary rebate ZAR 17,235 (direct credit). UIF: employee 1%, employer 1%. Brackets in ZAR.
Special tax regimes
Foreign employment income exemption: first ZAR 1,283,000/year exempt if working outside SA >183 days (60 continuous).
Read full guide →All 6 brackets for 2026
| # | Income Range (R) | Marginal | Effective at Top |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | R0 — R237,100 | 18% | 18.8% |
| 02 | R237,100 — R370,500 | 26% | 21.6% |
| 03 | R370,500 — R512,800 | 31% | 24.4% |
| 04 | R512,800 — R673,000 | 36% | 27.3% |
| 05 | R673,000 — R857,900 | 39% | 29.9% |
| 06 | R857,900 — ∞ | 45% | — |
Source · South African Revenue Service (SARS) · Data updated Q1 2026
Frequently asked
What is the income tax rate in South Africa?+
South Africa applies progressive Personal Income Tax (PIT) rates from 18.0% on the lowest band up to 45.0% on the highest, across 6 brackets in 2026.
How much social security do you pay in South Africa?+
Employees pay 1.0% of gross salary as social security. Primary rebate ZAR 17,235 (direct credit). UIF: employee 1%, employer 1%. Brackets in ZAR.
What is the Personal Income Tax (PIT) personal allowance in South Africa?+
The main allowances are: Medical Scheme Fees Tax Credit ZAR 364/month + ZAR 246/dependant; Retirement fund (up to 27.5%, max ZAR 350,000). See §03 for the full list.
When do you file taxes in South Africa?+
The filing deadline in South Africa is October–November (eFiling season). Tax year runs 1 January to 31 December.
How much take-home pay on R360,000 gross in South Africa?+
On a R360,000 gross salary the effective rate is 21.5%, leaving approximately R282,704 net per year — about R23,559 per month across 12 payments. (For reference: R50,000 gross nets R40,590.)
Does South Africa have any special tax regimes for expats?+
Foreign employment income exemption: first ZAR 1,283,000/year exempt if working outside SA >183 days (60 continuous).
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