Two-Pot Withdrawal Tax Calculator
Thinking of withdrawing from your retirement savings pot? See how much tax SARS takes and how much you’ll actually get.
What you type is saved on this device only and isn’t sent anywhere. Your fund and SARS work out the final amount.
A guide to help you plan, not official advice. SARS and your retirement fund makes the final decision. Figures last checked against official sources on .
How it works
SARS taxes a savings withdrawal at your normal income tax rate, with no tax-free amount (SARS on two-pot tax directives). This calculator works out the tax on your yearly income plus the withdrawal, minus the tax on your income alone, using SARS’s rates of tax for individuals and rebates for your age. It gives the same answers as SARS’s own worked examples (SARS two-pot slides): R7 225 tax on R25 000 for someone earning R360 000.
The R2 000 minimum, one withdrawal per tax year and the seed capital rule come from the explanatory memorandum on the law. SARS deducts tax debt before you’re paid (SARS two-pot page). The Budget 2026 FAQ confirms withdrawals are still taxed at your marginal rate.
Your fund asks SARS for a tax directive, which uses the income SARS has on record for you, so the real figure can differ a little. Any difference is sorted out when you file your tax return. To see your monthly take-home pay, use the salary after tax calculator.
Figures last checked against official sources on .
Questions
How much tax will I pay on a two-pot withdrawal?
A savings pot withdrawal is taxed at your normal income tax rate, as if it were extra income for the year. There is no tax-free amount. If you earn R400 000 a year, most of a R20 000 withdrawal is taxed at 31%, so about R6 200 goes to SARS. Someone who earns below the tax threshold can pay nothing.
How much is in my savings pot?
On 1 September 2024 your fund moved a once-off amount into your savings pot: 10% of what you had saved on 31 August 2024, up to R30 000. Since then, a third of every contribution goes into the savings pot and two thirds into the retirement pot, which you can only use when you retire. Your fund statement or app shows your savings pot balance.
How often can I withdraw?
Once every tax year (1 March to the end of February) per retirement fund, and at least R2 000 each time. Once your fund has sent your request to SARS for a tax directive, you can’t cancel it.
Can SARS take money from my withdrawal?
Yes. If you owe SARS tax and have no payment arrangement, SARS takes what you owe from the withdrawal before your fund pays you. You also need to be registered for tax with all your returns submitted, or SARS won’t issue the directive.
Does my fund charge a fee?
Many funds charge an admin fee for each withdrawal. SARS doesn’t set it, so check your fund’s website or app and enter it above.