Medical Aid Tax Credits Calculator

Section 6A medical aid tax credits are monthly credits that directly reduce your income tax liability rand for rand. For the 2026/2027 tax year, SARS provides R376 per month for the main member and first dependant on your medical aid, and R254 per month for each additional dependant. These credits are subtracted from your gross tax after applying personal rebates.

Section 6B provides an additional credit based on your total qualifying medical expenses. For taxpayers under 65, the credit is 25% of the amount by which qualifying medical expenses exceed four times the annual Section 6A credit plus 7.5% of taxable income. For taxpayers aged 65 and over, the credit is 33.3% of qualifying out-of-pocket expenses plus medical scheme fees above three times the annual Section 6A credit.

Yes, taxpayers under 65 can claim a Section 6B additional medical expenses credit, but the threshold is higher. Your qualifying expenses must exceed four times your annual Section 6A credits plus 7.5% of taxable income. For a single member, four times the annual Section 6A credit is R18 048,00 before the income-based threshold is added.

Qualifying medical expenses for Section 6B purposes include: doctor and specialist consultations, dentist and orthodontist fees, optometrist consultations and prescribed glasses or contact lenses, prescribed medication and pharmacy costs, hospital and private clinic fees, qualifying medical devices and aids, and costs paid for a dependant's care. Cosmetic surgery and procedures not of a medical nature do not qualify.

A family of four on a medical aid saves at least R15 120,00 per year from Section 6A credits alone. Here is the calculation: 2 members × R376/month plus 2 additional members × R254/month. Additional Section 6B savings depend on total medical spend, age, and taxable income. These credits reduce your actual tax bill, not just your taxable income.