SARS Tax Tables 2026/27
South Africa — Complete Statutory Reference
The SARS 2026/27 tax tables set out the statutory figures for the year of assessment running from 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027. They encode the seven individual income tax brackets from 18% to 45%, the three rebates, the tax-free thresholds by age, the medical scheme fees tax credit, and supplementary tables for corporate tax, transfer duty, and retirement fund benefits.
What Are the SARS Tax Tables for South Africa?
SARS 2026/27 Tax Tables Explained
SARS publishes a set of statutory tax tables after every February Budget that govern all personal income tax calculations for the year of assessment. For 2026/27, the year of assessment runs from 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027. Every PAYE calculation, provisional tax estimate, income tax return, and retirement fund directive issued in that period is governed by these tables. No other figures are authoritative — not prior year tables, not estimates, not approximations.
The individual income tax table has seven brackets. The lowest bracket taxes the first R245,100 of taxable income at 18%. The highest bracket taxes income above R1,878,600 at 45%. But the effective rate a taxpayer actually pays is always lower than the marginal rate because the rebates — which are fixed-rand deductions applied after the bracket calculation — reduce the tax payable significantly. A taxpayer on R300,000 taxable income does not pay 26% on all of their income — they pay the bracket formula and then deduct the R17,820 primary rebate.
This reference tool fetches the live tables from the SA Financial Services MCP Server — the same server that powers the income tax, PAYE, provisional tax, and retirement fund calculators across this platform. The figures are sourced from the SARS Budget 2026/27 Tax Pocket Guide and confirmed against the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962.
2026/27 SARS Tables — Live Reference
Fetch the Tax Tables
Select Tables to Fetch
Awaiting fetch
Select the tables you need and click Fetch Tax Tables. The individual income tax brackets, rebates, thresholds, and medical credits are always included.
Individual Income Tax Table 2026/27
Seven Tax Brackets — 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027
The individual income tax brackets for the 2026/27 year of assessment, as published in the SARS Budget 2026/27 Tax Pocket Guide. These rates apply to natural persons and, with modifications, to special trusts. The bracket formula gives the tax before rebates — the primary, secondary, and tertiary rebates are deducted after the bracket calculation.
Source: SARS Budget 2026/27 Tax Pocket Guide · Income Tax Act 58 of 1962 · Year of assessment: 1 March 2026 – 28 February 2027
Rebates and Thresholds
Tax Rebates, Thresholds, and Medical Credits — 2026/27
Rebates are fixed-rand amounts deducted from the gross tax calculated using the bracket table. They are not deductions from income — they reduce tax payable directly. The primary rebate of R17,820 applies to every individual taxpayer. The secondary and tertiary rebates are cumulative additions for older taxpayers. The tax threshold is the income level at which the total applicable rebates exactly equal the bracket tax — below the threshold, no tax is payable.
Worked Example
How the Tax Table, Rebates, and Credits Work Together
A 45-year-old taxpayer has a taxable income of R680,000 and is the main member on a medical aid with two dependants (three persons covered in total). The calculation below shows how the bracket formula, primary rebate, and medical scheme fees tax credit combine to produce the final tax liability.
Common Mistakes
Three Mistakes Practitioners Make with the Tax Tables
1. Applying the marginal rate to the full taxable income
The most common misunderstanding is calculating tax as simply 'income multiplied by marginal rate'. South Africa uses a progressive bracket system — only the income above each bracket threshold is taxed at the higher rate. A taxpayer earning R700,000 does not pay 39% on R700,000. They pay 18% on the first R245,100, 26% on the next portion, and so on up through the brackets. The bracket formula shortcuts this — apply it correctly and deduct the rebates to arrive at the actual liability.
2. Confusing the tax year with the financial year
South Africa's tax year for individuals runs from 1 March to 28 February — not from 1 January to 31 December like a calendar year, and not from 1 April to 31 March like a company's financial year. A taxpayer who receives income in January 2027 is still in the 2026/27 tax year. Using the wrong year's table — applying 2025/26 figures to a 2026/27 assessment, for example — produces an incorrect result. Always confirm the applicable tax year before selecting which table to use.
3. Omitting the medical scheme fees tax credit from PAYE calculations
The medical scheme fees tax credit reduces the tax withheld on PAYE — it is not just an annual return adjustment. Employers are required to apply the monthly credit (R376 for main member and first dependant, R254 for each additional dependant) when calculating monthly PAYE withholding. Omitting the credit means the employee's take-home pay is understated each month, and a refund will only materialise at annual assessment. This is especially consequential for employees with large families on their medical aid.
Frequently Asked Questions
SARS Tax Tables 2026/27 — Practitioner Questions
What are the income tax brackets for South Africa in 2026/27?
The 2026/27 individual income tax brackets are: 18% on income up to R245,100; 26% on R245,101 to R383,100; 31% on R383,101 to R530,200; 36% on R530,201 to R695,800; 39% on R695,801 to R887,000; 41% on R887,001 to R1,878,600; and 45% above R1,878,600. These rates apply to the year of assessment from 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027. Source: SARS Budget 2026/27 Tax Pocket Guide — Income Tax Act 58 of 1962.
What is the primary tax rebate in South Africa for 2026/27?
The primary tax rebate for 2026/27 is R17,820 — deducted directly from the gross tax after the bracket calculation, and it applies to all individual taxpayers. The secondary rebate is R9,765 for persons aged 65 and older. The tertiary rebate is R3,249 for persons aged 75 and older. The rebates are cumulative — a person aged 75 and older receives all three: R30,834 in total. They are not deductions from income; they reduce the tax payable.
What is the tax-free threshold for South Africa in 2026/27?
The tax-free threshold is R99,000 for persons under age 65, meaning no income tax is payable on taxable income below this level after applying the primary rebate. The threshold is R153,250 for persons aged 65 to below 75, and R171,300 for persons aged 75 and older. These figures represent the income level at which the applicable rebates reduce the bracket tax to exactly zero. Source: SARS Budget 2026/27 Tax Pocket Guide.
What is the medical scheme fees tax credit for 2026/27 in South Africa?
The monthly medical scheme fees tax credit is R376 for the main member and R376 for the first dependant. For each additional dependant from the third person onwards, the monthly credit is R254. Multiply by 12 for the annual credit, which is deducted from tax payable after rebates. The credit is not refundable — it reduces tax to zero but does not generate a cash refund. Employers must apply the monthly credit in the PAYE calculation, not only at annual assessment.
What is the South African company income tax rate for 2026/27?
The standard company income tax rate is 27% of taxable income for years of assessment ending between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027. Small business corporations qualifying under section 12E benefit from a reduced table: 0% on taxable income up to R99,000; 7% from R99,001 to R365,000; R18,620 plus 21% from R365,001 to R550,000; and R57,470 plus 27% above R550,000. Trusts pay 45%, and special trusts are taxed at individual rates. Source: SARS Budget 2026/27.
Related Tools