PAYE Calculator (South Africa)
Work out your salary, UIF and take-home pay for the 2026/2027 SARS tax year.
Punch in your monthly or annual salary. This PAYE and UIF calculator works out the income tax coming off your payslip, the UIF contribution, and the take-home pay that lands in your bank account. It runs on the SARS tax tables for the 2026/2027 tax year (1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027), so the same numbers cover income tax, salary tax and net pay for South Africa.
SA PAYE & Net Salary Calculator (2026/2027)
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How PAYE is calculated in South Africa
- SARS taxes annual income on a sliding scale: 18% on the first R245,100, then higher rates on each next slice, up to 45% on income above R1,878,600.
- Everyone gets a primary rebate (R17,820 in 2026/2027). People 65 and older get an extra R9,765, and people 75 and older get a further R3,249. The rebate is subtracted from your tax, not your income.
- Members of a registered medical scheme get a fixed monthly tax credit per member. For 2026/2027 the credit is R376 for the first two members and R254 for each additional dependant.
- UIF takes another 1% off your salary up to a monthly cap of R17,712 (so the most UIF you pay is R177.12 a month).
- Retirement annuity contributions are deductible up to 27.5% of your gross income, capped at R350,000 a year, so they reduce the income SARS taxes you on.
- A travel allowance is treated as 80% taxable by default, dropping to 20% if you can show that more than 80% of your driving is for business.
Common questions
What is PAYE in South Africa?
PAYE (Pay-As-You-Earn) is the income tax your employer deducts from your salary each month and pays to SARS on your behalf. The amount depends on what you earn, your age, and a few allowances (medical aid, retirement annuity, travel).
What's the difference between gross and net salary?
Gross salary is what you earn before any deductions. Net salary (also called take-home pay) is what lands in your bank account after PAYE and UIF have been taken off. This calculator shows both so you can see exactly where the money goes.
Does this calculator include UIF?
Yes. UIF is 1% of your monthly remuneration, capped at R177.12 per month (the 1% on the gazetted ceiling of R17,712). It is added to your monthly deductions so the net salary figure reflects what you actually take home.
Are bonuses taxed differently?
No, a bonus is taxed at your normal income tax rate. SARS just adds it to your annual income, which can push part of it into a higher bracket. This calculator works out PAYE on a regular monthly salary; for a one-off bonus, run two calculations (with and without the bonus) and compare the tax.
What is the South African tax year?
The SA tax year for individuals runs from 1 March to the end of February. The 2026/2027 tax year covers 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027.
Are the 2026 PAYE figures up to date?
Yes. The brackets, rebates, medical credits, and UIF cap reflect the 2026/2027 figures announced by SARS in the February 2026 budget. The same numbers apply to a 2026 PAYE calculation, a salary tax calculation, and an after-tax salary calculation. We update the figures each year when Treasury changes them.
How does this differ from a SARS PAYE calculator?
It uses the same SARS tables a SARS PAYE calculator would, plus it adds UIF on top so the bottom-line number is your actual take-home pay rather than just the PAYE deduction. SARS publishes the tables and the EMP201 form; this tool runs the maths for you in one place.
This calculator is a guide. For tax returns or anything that needs to be exact, check with SARS or speak to a registered tax practitioner.