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Tax Tables

What you need to know about tax rates


Q

What are the current income tax rates?

A

These are the income tax rates - referred to as the marginal tax rates - for individuals and special trusts.

2026 tax year (Mar 1 2025 - Feb 28 2026) 2027 tax year (Mar 1 2026 - Feb 28 2027)
Taxable Income  Rate of Tax  Taxable Income  Rate of Tax 
R1 - R237 000 18% of taxable income R1 - R245 100 18% of taxable income
R237 101 - R370 500 R42 678 + 26% of taxable income above R237 100 R245 101 - R383 100 R44 118 + 26% of taxable income above R245 100
R370 501 - R512 800 R77 362 + 31% of taxable income above R370 500 R383 101 - R530 200 R79 998 + 31% of taxable income above R383 100
R512 801 - R673 000 R121 475 + 36% of taxable income above R512 800 R530 201 - R695 800 R125 599 + 36% of taxable income above R530 200
R673 001 - R857 900 R179 147 + 39% of taxable income above R673 000 R695 801 -R887 000 R185 215 + 39% of taxable income above R695 800
R857 901 - R1 817 000 R251 258 + 41% of taxable income above R857 900 R887 001 - R1 878 600 R259 783 + 41% of taxable income above R887 000
R1 817 001 and above R644 489 + 45% of taxable income above 1 817 000 R1 878 601 and above R666 339 + 45% of taxable income above 1 878 600

 

REMEMBER: Apply the relevant income tax rebate to the amount you calculate from these tables. The tax you owe may also be reduced by any rebate for medical scheme contributions and unrecouped medical expenses you have paid. 

READ MORE: How do the income tax brackets work and what is my marginal tax rate?

 

Q

How much income can I earn before I need to pay income tax?

A

You only start paying income tax when your income is above the tax threshold. The threshold is usually increased each year and depends on your age. The threshold is taken into account when the tax rebate is applied and reduces the amount of tax calculated from the tax tables.

 

2026 tax year (Mar 1 2025 - Feb 28 2026) 2027 tax year (Mar 1 2026 - Feb 28 2027)
Age Tax Threshold Age Tax Threshold
Below age 65 R95 750 Below age 65 R99 000
Age 65 to below 75 R148 217 Age 65 to below 75 R153 250
Age 75 and over R165 689 Age 75 and over R171 300

Q

What are the current tax rebates?

A

The tax rebates reduce the tax calculated by applying the tax tables to take into account the tax threshold - the level of income you can earn before you start paying tax.

2026 tax year (Mar 1 2025 - Feb 28 2026) 2027 tax year (Mar 1 2026 - Feb 28 2027)
Primary R17 235 Primary R17 820
Secondary (Persons 65 and older) R9 444 Secondary (Persons 65 and older) R9 765
Tertiary (Persons 75 and older) R3 145 Tertiary (Persons 75 and older) R3 249
All rates quoted for individuals (natural persons)

Q

What are the tax credits for medical scheme contributions?

A

If you are a taxpayer who pays medical scheme contributions you can calculate your medical tax credit and subtract it from the tax you owe.

2026 tax year (Mar 1 2025 - Feb 28 2026) 2027 tax year (Mar 1 2026 - Feb 28 2027)
R364 a month for the main member R376 a month for the main member
R364 a month for the first dependant registered R376 a month for the first dependant registered
R246 a month for each additional dependant registered R254 a month for each additional dependant registered

READ MORE: What is a medical tax credit?

Q

How much interest can you earn on investments before you pay tax?

A

Every taxpayer enjoys a tax exemption for this level of interest earned from a South African source (bank deposit or investment).
  • Under age 65:  R23 800 a year
  • 65 years and older:  up to R34 500 a year

These rates are fixed and will not increase.

 

Q

How much tax do I pay on dividends I earn from my investments?

A

If a South African company pays you dividends, dividends tax, at a rate of 20 percent, must be withheld and paid to SARS on your behalf.
Investments held in a tax-free savings account or retirement fund are exempt from dividends tax.

Q

How much capital gains tax will I pay if I make a taxable capital gain?

A

Exclusions

Primary residence

  • 2025/2026: R2 million exclusion on the disposal of primary residence
  • 2026/2027: R3 million exclusion on the disposal of primary residence

Annual exclusion

  • 2025/2026: R40 000
  • 2026/2027: R50 000

On deemed disposal in the year of your death

  • 2025/2026: R300 000
  • 2026/2027: R440 000

On disposal of a small business

  • 2025/2026:  R1.8 million for business with a market value not exceeding R10 million when the taxpayer is at least 55 years old. 
  • 2026/2027:  R2.7 million for business with a market value not exceeding R15 million when the taxpayer is at least 55 years old. 
Inclusion rate
40% of the taxable capital gain on assets must be included in your taxable income

Tax rate

The taxable capital gains included in your taxable income is taxed at your marginal tax rate

As a result of the inclusion rate, the maximum effective rate for individuals on the highest marginal tax rate (45%) is: 18%

For trusts, capital gains tax is applied at flat rate of 36% and the exemptions do not apply

READ MORE: What is capital gains tax?

Q

How much transfer duty will I pay if I buy property?

A

Transfer duty depends on the value of the property. Find the appropriate value of the property and apply the rate. These rates apply from April 1 2025, on transactions that are not subject to VAT.

Value of the property Rate
R1 - 1 210 000 0% of the value
R1 210 001 – R1 663 800 3% of the value above R1 210 000
R1 663 801 – R2 329 300 R13 614 + 6% of the value above R 1 663 800
R2 329 301 - R2 994 800 R53 544 + 8% of the value above R2 329 300
R2 994 801 - R13 310 000 R106 784 +11% of the value above R2 994 800
R13 301 001 and above R1 241 456 + 13% of the value exceeding R13 310 000

 

Q

How much tax will I pay if I withdraw money from my vested retirement savings before retirement?

A

Note that withdrawals from the savings pot of your retirement fund are taxed at income tax or marginal tax rates.
2026 tax year (Mar 1 2025 - Feb 28 2026) 2027 tax year (Mar 1 2026 - Feb 28 2027)
Sum withdrawn (R) Rate of Tax (R) Sum withdrawn (R) Rate of Tax (R)
R1 - R27 500 0%  R1 - R27 500 0% 
R27 501 -
R726 000
18% of lump sum above
R27 500
R27 501 -
R726 000
18% of lump sum above
R27 500
R726 001 -
R1 089 000
R125 730 + 27% of lump sum above R726 000 R726 001 -
R1 089 000
R125 730 + 27% of lump sum above R726 000
R1 089 001 and above  R223 740 + 36% of lump sum above R1 089 000 R1 089 001 and above R223 740 + 36% of lump sum above R1 089 000

Q

How much tax will I pay on a lump sum taken from my retirement savings at retirement?

A

 
2026 tax year (Mar 1 2025 - Feb 28 2026) 2027 tax year (Mar 1 2026 - Feb 28 2027)
Lump sum (R) Rate of Tax (R) Lump sum (R) Rate of Tax (R)
R1 - R550 000 0%  R1 - R550 000 0% 
R550 001 -
R770 000
18% of lump sum above
R550 000
R550 001 -
R770 000
18% of lump sum above
R550 000
R770 001 -
R1 155 000
R39 600 + 27% of lump sum above R770 000 R770 001 -
R1 155 000
R39 600 + 27% of lump sum above R770 000
R1 155 001 and above R143 550 + 36% of lump sum above R1 155 000 R1 155 001 and above R143 550 + 36% of lump sum above R1 155 000

Q

Do I need to register for provisional tax?

A

 

You may need to register for provisional tax if you earn:

  • Income from an employer that is not registered for tax;

  • Business income or income from professional or consulting fees;

  • Rental income or investment income or dividends.

You do not need to register for provisional tax if you do not earn business income and:

  • Your taxable income will not exceed the tax threshold for the tax year; or

  •  Your taxable income from interest, rental from the letting of fixed property and/or remuneration from an unregistered employer, will not exceed R30 000 for the tax year.
 

 

Q

What is the estate duty rate?

A

Duty rate
Where the dutiable value of an estate is less than R30 million: 20% 
Where the dutiable value of an estate is more than R30 million: 25%

Duty exemption or abatement
R3.5 million; or
Up to R7 million for a surviving spouse using the unused portion of the exemption of the first-dying spouse

Q

What is the donations tax rate?

A

Donations tax exemption
In the 2025/2026 tax year R100 000 can be donated each year without donations tax.

In the 2026/2027 tax year R150 000 can be donated each year with donations tax.

Donations tax rate
Donations tax at a rate of 20% is payable on the cumulative value of donations above the annual exemption and not exceeding R30 million since 1 March 2018.
Donations tax at a rate of 25% is payable on the cumulative value of donations above the annual exemption and exceeding R30 million since 1 March 2018.

Tax deductions for donations made
Donations to public benefit organisations up to 10% of taxable income can be deducted each year and 10% can be carried over to the next tax year.

Q

What are the turnover tax rates for small businesses?

A

For businesses with a turnover of less than R1 million a year.

Turnover tax rates for the 2026 tax year (March 1 2025 – February 28 2026)
Taxable turnover Rate of tax
R1 – R335 000 0% of taxable turnover
R335 001 – R500 000 1% of taxable turnover above R335 000
R500 001 – R750 000 R1 650 + 2% of taxable turnover above 500 000
R750 001 and above R6 650 + 3% of taxable turnover above R750 000

For businesses with a turnover of less than R2.3 million a year.

Turnover tax rates for the 2027 tax year (March 1 2026 – February 28 2027)
Taxable turnover Rate of tax
R1 - R600 000 0% of taxable turnover
R600 001 - R950 000 1% of taxable turnover above R600 000
R950 001 - 1 400 000 R3 500 + 2% of taxable turnover above 950 000
R1 400 001 and above R12 500 + 3% of taxable turnover above R1 400 000

 

Q

What tax rates do small business corporations pay?

A

For businesses with:

An annual gross income of R20 million or less;

Natural persons as shareholders;

Shareholders who are not shareholders in other unlisted companies; and

Not earning more than 20% of its income from investments or by rendering a personal service (with some exceptions).

Small business corporation tax rates for 2026
(For the years of assessment April 1 2025 – March 31 2026)
Taxable income Rate of tax
R1 – R95 750 0%
R95 751 – R365 000 7% of taxable income above R95 750
R365 001 - R550 000 R18 848 plus 21% of the amount by which taxable income exceeds R365 000
R550 001 and above R57 698 plus 27% of the amount by which taxable income exceeds R550 000

 

Small business corporation tax rates for 2027
(For the years of assessment April 1 2026 – March 31 2027)
Taxable income Rate of tax
R1 – R99 000 0%
R99 000 – R365 000 7% of taxable income above R99 000
R365 001 - R550 000 R18 620 plus 21% of the amount by which taxable income exceeds R365 000
R550 001 and above R57 470 plus 27% of the amount by which taxable income exceeds R550 000

 

Q

What tax rates do companies pay?

A

Company tax rates
Years of assessment ending on any date between 1 April 2025 and 30 March 2026
Companies Rate of Tax 27% of taxable income

 

Company tax rates
Years of assessment ending on any date between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027
Companies Rate of Tax 27% of taxable income

Q

What is the income tax rate for trusts other than special trusts?

A

Flat rate of tax:  45%

No rebates