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Home/Calculators/Tax Refund Calculator

Tax Refund Calculator

Estimate whether you will receive a SARS tax refund or owe additional tax. Enter your income, PAYE paid, and deductions to get an instant result.

Updated March 2026 · Current SARS rates

Refund Estimate

See instantly if you qualify for a SARS tax refund

All Deductions

Include pension, medical, donations, and travel claims

SARS 2026/2027

Latest tax brackets and rebate amounts applied

How to check if you qualify for a SARS tax refund

To check if you qualify for a SARS tax refund: compare the total PAYE deducted from your salary (shown on your IRP5) with your actual tax liability after applying all rebates, medical aid credits, pension deductions, and other allowable deductions. If your employer deducted more PAYE than you actually owe, SARS will refund the difference.

Key deductions that can increase your refund include retirement fund contributions (up to 27.5% of income, max R430,000), medical aid credits (Section 6A and 6B), and Section 18A donations (up to 10% of taxable income). Enter your figures above for an instant personalised estimate.

Refund = PAYE Paid − (Gross Tax − Rebates − Medical Credits)

SARS Tax Refund Estimator

Enter your details to estimate your refund

R

Your total gross income for the tax year before any deductions

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The total PAYE deducted from your salary as shown on your IRP5 certificate

R

Total annual contributions to pension, provident, or retirement annuity funds (max 27.5% of income, capped at R430,000)

Total members on your medical aid (you + dependants) for Section 6A credits

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Your total monthly medical aid premium (used for Section 6B additional medical credits)

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Qualifying medical costs not reimbursed by your medical aid during the year

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Donations to SARS-approved public benefit organisations — deductible up to 10% of taxable income

Ready to Calculate

Enter your annual income and total PAYE paid to instantly estimate whether you are due a SARS refund

2026/2027 Medical Aid Tax Credits

Section 6A credits reduce your tax liability rand-for-rand each month

Main Member

R376 / month

Credit for the primary medical aid member

First Dependant

R376 / month

Same credit for the first registered dependant

Each Additional

R254 / month

Credit for each additional dependant beyond the first

Personal Rebates

Applied against gross tax before calculating your liability

Primary Rebate

R17,820

All taxpayers under 65 years of age

Secondary Rebate

R9,765

Additional rebate for taxpayers 65 to 74

Tertiary Rebate

R3,249

Additional rebate for taxpayers 75 and over

Tax Refund Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SARS tax refunds and how to maximise your return

Compare the total PAYE deducted from your salary (shown on your IRP5) with your actual tax liability after applying all rebates, medical aid credits, pension deductions, and other allowable deductions. If your employer deducted more PAYE than you actually owe, SARS will refund the difference. You can use this calculator to get an instant estimate.
SARS typically processes auto-assessments and pays refunds within 72 hours of a completed return if no audit is triggered. If you file manually and SARS selects your return for verification or audit, it can take 2–4 weeks or even 6+ weeks. Ensure your banking details are up to date on eFiling to avoid delays.
The main deductions and credits available to individuals in South Africa include: retirement fund contributions (up to 27.5% of income, capped at R430,000 per year); medical scheme fees tax credits (Section 6A); additional medical expenses credits (Section 6B); Section 18A donations to approved public benefit organisations (up to 10% of taxable income); and travel allowance deductions where a logbook is kept.
Auto-assessments (where SARS pre-populates your return): refunds typically arrive within 72 hours of you accepting the assessment. Manual filing via eFiling: usually 2–4 weeks if no issues. If SARS requests supporting documents or raises an audit: the process can take 6 weeks or longer. Keeping your bank details updated on eFiling and submitting supporting documents promptly speeds things up.
Yes. SARS requires you to submit a tax return (ITR12) so it can calculate your actual tax liability and determine whether you are owed a refund. Even if SARS sends you an auto-assessment, you must review and accept (or edit) it before any refund is processed. Without a filed return, no refund will be paid out.
Section 6B provides an additional tax credit for 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.

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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.