Leave Days Calculator
Leave Days Calculator South Africa
BCEA leave entitlements: 21 consecutive days annual leave per year (= 15 working days on a 5-day week, 18 on a 6-day week).
Uses Department of Employment and Labour figures, checked 29 July 2026.
Leave Days Calculator
Leave Entitlement Results
Your annual leave entitlement will show here.
About the Leave Days Calculator
How it's worked out
How to calculate leave days under the BCEA: annual, sick, family responsibility, maternity and paternity entitlements. Free leave calculator for SA employees.
Sick leave: 30 working days per 36-month cycle (5-day week). Family responsibility leave: 3 paid days per year (employers with 5+ employees). To count the working days in a leave period, use the working days calculator.
BCEA Leave Entitlements
Complete leave entitlements under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (Sections 20-27)
| Leave Type | Entitlement | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Leave | 21 consecutive days (15 or 18 working days) | Per 12-month cycle |
| Sick Leave | 30 working days (5-day) / 36 working days (6-day) | Per 36-month cycle |
| Family Responsibility | 3 paid days | Per year (birth, illness, or death of family) |
| Maternity Leave | 4 consecutive months | Starting at least 4 weeks before due date |
| Paternity Leave | 10 consecutive days | From date of birth of child |
| Adoption Leave | 10 consecutive days | From date child is placed with adoptive parent |
Important notes:
Accrual rate (5-day week): 1 day for every 17 days worked
Accrual rate (6-day week): 1 day for every 13 days worked
Sick leave first 6 months: 1 day for every 26 days worked
Leaving your job: Work out your BCEA notice period and last working day
Family responsibility: Applies to employers with 5+ employees and employees with 4+ months service
Leave Pay Calculator: How Is Leave Pay Taxed?
SARS treats leave pay paid out on resignation or encashment as an annual payment, taxed like a bonus and shown under IRP5 code 3605. Example: on a R25,000 monthly salary, 10 days of leave is worth R11,537 (daily rate R1,154), about R3,000 PAYE is deducted, and you receive R8,537 (SARS 2026/27 tables).
Daily rate = monthly salary ÷ 21.67 working days (the common payroll convention for a 5-day week; about 26 for a 6-day week). Payout = daily rate × leave days. This is a convention, not a figure the BCEA sets: your contract or payroll policy may differ. Under section 40 of the BCEA, an employer must pay out annual leave that is due and untaken when employment ends. During employment, the BCEA does not allow your employer to pay you out for the statutory minimum annual leave instead of letting you take it (section 20(11)). Only leave above that minimum can be cashed in while you are still employed, if your contract or policy allows it.
Sources: SARS: What does SARS mean by annual payments?; BCEA sections 20(11) and 40 (leave pay and payment on termination). Estimate only. It assumes you earn this salary for the whole tax year. If you leave mid-year and have no other income, the PAYE taken may be more than your final tax, and SARS refunds the difference on assessment.
Leave Pay Calculator
Your Leave Pay After Tax
Your leave pay after PAYE will show here.
Leave Days Calculator FAQs
Common questions about leave entitlements under the BCEA in South Africa
Next step
Being retrenched? Unused leave is paid out with your package.
Important Disclaimer
Accounter does not provide accounting, tax, business or legal advice. This calculator has been provided for information purposes only. You should consult your own professional advisors for advice directly relating to your business.