Income tax brackets in South Africa for 2025: an easy guide

Income tax brackets in South Africa for 2025: an easy guide

Income tax is necessary to keep the country's economy going, playing a vital role in funding government operations, including public services and government obligations. The amount of tax payable depends on your income, with the value increasing with higher-paying jobs. What are the income tax brackets in South Africa for 2025?

The salary scale for SARS
The salary scale for SARS determines what tax brackets you fall under. Photo: d3sign and staticnak1983 (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Tax rates for individuals vary depending on their income. Those earning less income pay less taxes than those involved in higher-paying jobs. Tax brackets in South Africa are subject to change yearly but have not changed from last year to this year.

The 2025 tax year is from March 1, 2024, to February 28, 2025. Using an accountant will help you make the tax filing process more manageable and help identify the relevant deductions and credits you may be eligible for, saving you money.

What salary is taxable in South Africa?

According to Quick Books, you are eligible to pay income tax under the following conditions:

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  • You earn over R95,750 and are younger than 65 years old.
  • If you are 65 or older but younger than 75, the tax threshold is R165,689.

How much tax will I pay if I earn R6,000?

TaxTim mentioned that tax brackets are relevant from an annual earning of R73,650. Salaries of less are not eligible for income tax, including a monthly earning of R6,000.

What is the tax bracket for 2025 in South Africa?

SARS tax brackets determine what you will pay in annual income taxes, regarding, but not limited to, your income. What are the tax brackets in SA? Here are the SARS tax tables for the 2025 tax season, with information from the SARS tax tables on the SARS website.

2024 tax year

The 2025 tax year is the same as the 2024 one, with no changes. Here are the values between March 1, 2023 to February 29, 2024:

Taxable income in rands

Tax rates in rands

R1 to R237,100

18% of taxable income

R237,101 to R370,500

R42,678 + 26% of taxable income above R237,100

R370,501 to R512,800

R77,362 + 31% of taxable income above R370,500

R512,801 to R673,000

R121,475 + 36% of taxable income above R512,800

R673,001 to R857,900

R179,147 + 39% of taxable income above R673,000

R857,901 to R1,817,000

R251,258 + 41% of taxable income above R857,900

R1,817,001 and above

R644,489 + 45% of taxable income above R1,817,000

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SARS tax tables for the 2025 tax season
The SARS tax tables for the 2025 tax season show notable changes. Photo: Shih-Wei
Source: Getty Images

Tax from previous years

Knowing the country's income tax values from previous years gives you valuable insight into how the income tax rates have fluctuated in South Africa, especially when inflation is involved. How do the last years compare?

2023 tax year

Certain values remained similar to the 2022 tax year, whereas others in the higher income brackets notably increased. Here are the relevant values:

Taxable income in rands

Tax rates in rands

R1 to R226,000

18% of taxable income

R226,001 to R353,100

R40,680 + 26% of taxable income above R226,000

R353,101 to R488,700

R73,726 + 31% of taxable income above R353,100

R488,701 to R641, 400

R115,762 + 36% of taxable income above R488,700

R641,401 to R817,600

R170,734 + 39% of taxable income above R641,400

R817,601 to R1,731,600

R239,452 + 41% of taxable income above R817,600

R1,731,601 and above

R614,192 + 45% of taxable income above R1,731,600

2022 tax year

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There are no values to compare the tax year to others, but the values slightly increase yearly. These were the 2022 tax year values:

Taxable income in rands

Tax rates in rands

R1 to R216,200

18% of taxable income

R216,201 to R337,800

R38,916 + 26% of taxable income above R216,200

R337,801 to R467,500

R70,532 + 31% of taxable income above R337,800

R467,501 to R613,600

R110,739 + 36% of taxable income above R467,500

R613,601 to R782,200

R163,335 + 39% of taxable income above R613,600

R782,201 to R1,656,600

R229,089 + 41% of taxable income above R782,200

R1,656,601 and above

R587,593 + 45% of taxable income above R1,656,600

tax brackets 2025
Factors that impact your income taxes are age. Photo: Hispanolistic
Source: Getty Images

What is a tax rebate?

According to TaxTim, a tax rebate is a value for which SARS reduces the taxes owed depending on specific circumstances. SARS calculates the amount owed through your annual income and expenses, and if certain conditions are applicable, the amount is reduced.

Age is the most common rebate factor, and the amounts are changed yearly to three different levels based on an individual's age, with a more significant reduction in money owed to SARS with each level. The three levels for South Africans eligible for income tax include:

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  • A primary rebate (under 65 years old)
  • A secondary rebate (between 65 and 75 years old)
  • A tertiary rebate (over 75 years old)

Tax Rebates

There are no reported changes from last year regarding the February 21, 2024, tax rebate values. Here are the values for each level:

Tax rebate​​

Tax year

Tax year

Tax year

Tax year

2025

2024

2023

2022

​Primary

R17,235

R17,235

R16,425

​R15,714

​Secondary (65 and older)

R9,444

R9,444

R9,000

R8,613

​Tertiary (75 and older)

R3,145

R3,145

R2,997

​R2,871

What are tax thresholds?

SmartAboutMoney reports that under South Africa's tax system, each individual is entitled to a particular value of income which is not taxed. The tax threshold is the financial limit regarding the income eligible for deduction, and the threshold is higher as you age. Tax thresholds for February 21, 2024, have no reported changes from the year prior. These are the following relevant figures:

Age

Tax year

Tax year

Tax year

Tax year

2025

2024

2023

2022

Under 65

R95,750

R95,750

R91,250

R87,300

​65 and older

R148,217

R148,217

R141,250

R135,150

​75 and older

R165,689

R165,689

R157,900

​R151,100

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What salary is taxable in South Africa?
Anything from a monthly earning of R6,000 under is not eligible for income tax. Photo: Pixdeluxe
Source: Getty Images

How to calculate tax from salary

Various online platforms provide a digital calculator to establish your tax income, including details about the other aspects of your income, like pension and provident funds, that impact it. The calculator includes:

  • The year you wish to calculate income tax for.
  • Your total salary before deductions.
  • The frequency in which you are paid (weekly, fortnightly, monthly, and yearly).
  • Whether your salary includes contributions to a pension, provident fund or RAF.
  • Whether your salary provides money for a travel allowance.
  • Your age (for tax rebate purposes).

The tax process may seem daunting and complicated, but the above tax bracket figures that SARS uses to determine the tax value make the concept easier to understand and enable you to work out your tax owed. However, an accountant could help you out, too, to avoid confusion.

DISCLAIMER: This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility.

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Authors:
Justine De Lange avatar

Justine De Lange (Lifestyle writer) Justine De Lange has over 6 years of experience in lifestyle, corporate and freelance writing. She started at Now Media for their lifestyle publication 'Let's Go', then joined 'travSIM' and 'Metavaro'. She now writes for Briefly News as a content writer, working with beats such as studies, services, business tips, and celebrity biographies (joined in 2022). In 2023, Justine finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can contact her directly via JustinedeLange14@gmail.com.

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