South Africa has 7 progressive brackets from 18% to 45% for the 2026/27 tax year (1 March 2026 – 28 February 2027). The system uses tax rebates rather than a formal tax-free threshold: the primary rebate of R17,820 means under-65s effectively pay no tax on the first R99,000/year. UIF (unemployment insurance) adds 1% employee contribution, capped at R17,712/month. A R600,000 earner pays roughly R116,547 income tax (19.4% effective) + R2,125 UIF = R118,672 total (19.8%). South Africa taxes residents on worldwide income—significant for expats. Medical tax credits reduce liability for those with medical aid. Retirement contributions up to 27.5% of remuneration are tax-deductible. The tax year runs 1 March to 28 February. eFiling deadline for non-provisional taxpayers is typically October 21. Use our calculator to estimate your South African tax liability.
This hub links to every South Africa tax guide and calculator on CountryTaxCalc — covering income tax rates, expat obligations, and tools to calculate your take-home pay.
Detailed South Africa tax guides on CountryTaxCalc:
South Africa's income tax uses 7 tax brackets from 18% to 45%. Use the calculator to estimate your take-home pay after income tax:
| Income | Rate |
|---|---|
| R0 - R245,100 | 18% |
| R245,100 - R383,100 | 26% |
| R383,100 - R530,200 | 31% |
| R530,200 - R695,800 | 36% |
| R695,800 - R887,000 | 39% |
| R887,000 - R1,878,600 | 41% |
| Over R1,878,600 | 45% |
| Tax-free threshold (under 65) | R99,000 (via primary rebate) |
| UIF (employee) | 1% (capped at R17,712/month) |
South Africa tax connects with these hubs on CountryTaxCalc:
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