How much tax will I pay on my bonus? (2026/27)
Figures for the 2026/27 tax year. Prime rate checked 2 October 2026; tax tables and fees checked 30 September 2026. By AfroTech.
A bonus or 13th cheque always feels smaller than a month's salary. That's not because bonuses have a special tax: it's because the whole bonus is taxed at your highest rate. Here's what you keep at different salaries in 2026/27.
What you keep from a one-month bonus
| Monthly salary | Bonus | Tax on the bonus | You receive | Tax rate on the bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R 15 000 | R 15 000 | R 2 700 | R 12 273 | 18% |
| R 25 000 | R 25 000 | R 6 500 | R 18 500 | 26% |
| R 30 000 | R 30 000 | R 8 145 | R 21 855 | 27% |
| R 40 000 | R 40 000 | R 12 400 | R 27 600 | 31% |
| R 60 000 | R 60 000 | R 23 400 | R 36 600 | 39% |
| R 100 000 | R 100 000 | R 41 000 | R 59 000 | 41% |
Under 65, no medical aid or retirement deductions, 2026/27 SARS tables. "You receive" is after tax and any UIF.
Why it's taxed at your top rate
Your employer works out PAYE on your salary for the year. A bonus is extra income on top, so it falls in your highest bracket, or pushes part of it into the next one. On R 30 000 a month, your R 30 000 bonus is taxed R 8 145, about 27%, while your average tax rate on your salary is only 15,6%.
Is the tax on a bonus final?
Yes, in most cases. PAYE on a bonus is your employer's best estimate of the extra tax for the year, and it's usually close. When you file your return, SARS works out your tax on your total income, including the bonus, so any difference is settled then.
Can you reduce the tax on a bonus?
The main legal way is to contribute part of it to a retirement annuity, within the 27,5% deduction limit. On R 30 000 a month, putting the whole R 30 000 bonus into an RA would cut your tax for the year from R 64 317 to R 56 172: the RA contribution is deducted at your top rate. The money is then locked in until retirement, apart from the two-pot savings component.
Try it with your own numbers. The ZARWise calculator uses the same figures as this page.
Work out the tax on your bonus