Bonus tax

A bonus isn't taxed at a special rate. It's added to your year's income, so it's taxed at your top rate. This shows the extra tax and what you'll actually get.

Bonus after taxR21,855Tax on the bonus: R8,145 (27.2%)

Tax on salary aloneR56,172
Tax on salary plus bonusR64,317
Tax on the bonusR8,145
UIF on the bonus month · UIF is capped at R17,712 a month of payUsually nil

How it works, with your numbers

Salary for the year: R30,000 × 12 = R360,000. Tax on that: R56,172.
Add the bonus: R360,000 + R30,000 = R390,000. Tax on that: R64,317.
The difference is the tax on the bonus: R64,317 − R56,172 = R8,145.
You keep R30,000 − R8,145 = R21,855.

Good to know

Putting part of a bonus into a retirement annuity before the end of February lowers the tax, up to the 27.5% limit.

See how much an RA top-up would give back.

RA calculator

Uses SARS rates for the 2027 tax year. For illustration only. This is a guideline to help you plan, not tax advice: a registered tax practitioner must review and approve the final figures before you file.

Related calculators

Income tax and take-home payPAYE, UIF and what lands in your account each month.Retirement annuity tax savingHow much tax an RA saves you, and how much room you have left.