Payslip explainer
What are all these deductions?
Type in your payslip lines. See what each one means, how much of your pay it takes and whether UIF and PAYE look right.
Your payslip
R
Your pay before anything is taken off.
R
R
R
Your share only.
R
Your share only, not your employer's.
People on your medical aid2
Your age35
Anything else taken off
R
Where your pay goes
Taken off
R 9 077
30.3% of gross pay
Take-home pay
R 20 923
Money-Sense uses this number
| Line | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| PAYE (income tax) | R 4 300.00 | 14.3% |
| UIF | R 177.12 | 0.6% |
| Pension, provident or retirement fund | R 1 800.00 | 6.0% |
| Medical aid | R 2 800.00 | 9.3% |
| Take-home | R 20 922.88 | 69.7% |
PAYE (income tax). Income tax. Your employer takes it off each month and pays it to SARS for you. At the end of the year SARS works out whether you paid the right amount.
UIF. The Unemployment Insurance Fund. You and your employer each pay 1% of your pay, up to a monthly limit of R 17 712. It pays a limited benefit if you lose your job or go on maternity leave.
Pension, provident or retirement fund. Your retirement savings. You get tax relief on what you pay in. Many employers add their own contribution. Check your employer's share on the payslip.
Medical aid. Your medical scheme contribution. A tax credit for it reduces your PAYE each month, so part of the cost comes back.
A rough PAYE check. On this pay a typical PAYE figure is about R 3 461 a month (2026/27 tables). Your payslip shows R 4 300, which is R 839 higher. A gap is normal when you earn bonuses, allowances or fringe benefits. Ask payroll if it surprises you.
The estimate ignores other tax credits, travel allowances, bonuses and employer benefits. It is a guide to help you ask good questions, not a tax calculation.
Financial education, not financial advice. Money-Sense does not recommend any product and nothing here is personalised advice. Results depend on the figures you enter and on assumptions that can change. Speak to an authorised financial services provider before you make a financial decision.