Bonus Tax Calculator for South Africa (2026/2027)
Mzansify's free bonus tax calculator for South Africa uses the official SARS 2026/2027 brackets and rebates. Enter your monthly salary and your bonus or 13th cheque to see the tax on the bonus, what you keep and your effective rate. No sign-up, and your numbers never leave your browser.
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Last reviewed: Tax year: 2026/2027Source: SARS — Rates of tax for individuals
Read the guide: Understanding South African Income Tax Brackets (2026/2027)
Example: a R30,000 a month salary with a R30,000 bonus (under 65, no medical aid or retirement contribution) means R8,145 tax on the bonus, so R21,855 reaches you, an effective rate of 27.2% on the bonus (2026/2027).
How a bonus is taxed in South Africa
There is no special tax rate for bonuses. SARS adds your bonus to your other income for the year and taxes the total at the normal income tax brackets. The tax on your bonus is therefore:
tax on (annual salary + bonus) − tax on annual salary
That is exactly what this calculator does. Your age, medical aid credits and retirement contributions are applied in both calculations, so rebates and credits are not counted twice.
Why is my bonus taxed so heavily?
Your bonus sits on top of your salary, so every rand of it is taxed at your top marginal rate, or higher if it pushes you into the next bracket. For most earners the rebates and lower brackets are already used up by the salary. If your salary is low, the rebates can absorb part of the tax on the bonus, so the effective rate on the bonus is lower than the marginal rate. Either way the bonus is not taxed more harshly; it is simply taxed at the rates that apply to your highest earnings.
Some employers withhold tax on a bonus at the highest rate the payroll system projects for the year. If too much was withheld, the difference comes back as a refund when SARS assesses your tax return.
Worked examples
R30,000/month salary and a R30,000 bonus
Annual salary R360,000, under 65, no medical scheme and no retirement contribution. 2026/2027 tax tables.
- Tax for the year on salary alone
- R56,172
- Tax for the year on R390,000 (salary + bonus)
- R64,317
- Tax on the bonus (difference)
- R8,145
- Marginal rate on the bonus
- 31.0%
- Effective rate on the bonus
- 27.2%
R15,000/month salary and a R15,000 bonus
Annual salary R180,000, under 65, no medical scheme and no retirement contribution. 2026/2027 tax tables.
- Tax for the year on salary alone
- R14,580
- Tax for the year on R195,000 (salary + bonus)
- R17,280
- Tax on the bonus (difference)
- R2,700
- Marginal rate on the bonus
- 18.0%
- Effective rate on the bonus
- 18.0%
Is a 13th cheque taxed differently from a bonus?
No. A 13th cheque is a bonus that is paid as an extra month’s salary, often in December. For tax it is treated as part of your annual remuneration, the same as any other bonus. To estimate it, enter your monthly salary as the bonus amount.
What this calculator leaves out
The estimate covers income tax only. UIF (1% of pay, up to a monthly ceiling) is not included, and other deductions on your payslip are not modelled. Your retirement contribution is held at the monthly amount you enter; if your fund also deducts a percentage of the bonus itself, the real tax on the bonus will be lower than shown. Your payslip may also show a different tax amount in the month the bonus is paid, because payroll spreads or projects tax differently from the final annual assessment. See your full income tax result for the whole year.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no separate bonus rate. SARS adds the bonus to your other income for the year and taxes the total at the normal 2026/2027 income tax brackets. The tax on the bonus is the tax on (annual salary + bonus) minus the tax on your annual salary. For example, on a R30,000 monthly salary with a R30,000 bonus (under 65, no medical aid or retirement contribution), the tax on the bonus is R8,145, so R21,855 reaches you.
Your bonus sits on top of your salary, so every rand of it is taxed at your highest marginal rate (31% in the example), or more if it pushes you into the next bracket. For most earners the rebates and lower brackets are already used up by the salary. If your salary is low, the rebates can absorb part of the tax on the bonus, so the effective rate on the bonus is lower than the marginal rate. The bonus is not taxed harder; it is simply taxed at the rates that apply to your top earnings.
No. A 13th cheque is a bonus paid as an extra month of salary, often in December. For tax it is part of your annual remuneration, exactly like any other bonus. To estimate it, enter your monthly salary as the bonus amount.
Yes, if too much was withheld. Some employers withhold tax on a bonus at a higher rate than your final rate for the year. SARS works out your actual tax when it assesses your annual return, and any over-payment is refunded. Retirement fund contributions, which are deductible up to a limit, can also reduce the tax.
No. It estimates income tax only. UIF and other payslip deductions are not included, and the tax shown on your payslip in the month the bonus is paid can differ from the annual figure because payroll projects tax differently from the final assessment.