Free planning tools
Retirement & investment calculators
Get a clear, illustrative picture of your retirement income, tax savings and investment growth — then book a free consultation to turn the numbers into a plan.
How much income could your retirement annuity provide?
South African retirement rules require at least two-thirds of your retirement fund to be used to buy an annuity that pays you a regular income — the remaining third may usually be taken as cash. Compare the monthly income you could receive with and without the retirement annuity you're considering.
Without the new retirement annuity
- Projected savings at retirement
- R0
- Two-thirds (compulsory annuity capital)
- R0
- One-third (max. cash lump sum)
- R0
- Estimated monthly income
- R0
With the new retirement annuity
- Projected savings at retirement
- R0
- Two-thirds (compulsory annuity capital)
- R0
- One-third (max. cash lump sum)
- R0
- Estimated monthly income
- R0
Assumptions & disclaimer
- Assumes a constant 10% per year gross investment growth rate, less the fee percentage you enter, compounded monthly. Real investment returns fluctuate and are never guaranteed.
- If you set a contribution escalation, your monthly contributions are assumed to increase by that percentage on each anniversary of today.
- Assumes exactly two-thirds of the projected capital is compulsorily annuitised and converted to income using the living annuity drawdown rate you select (2.5%–17.5% per year, as prescribed by law).
- The one-third cash lump sum shown is the maximum generally available and is before any lump-sum tax — see the Living Annuity Calculator for an estimate of this tax.
- Actual guaranteed (life) annuity quotes from insurers will differ from a living annuity drawdown and depend on your age, gender, health and market conditions at retirement.
- This is an estimate only and not financial advice. Speak to an authorised adviser before making retirement decisions.
How much tax could you save with a retirement annuity?
Contributions to a retirement annuity, pension or provident fund are tax-deductible up to 27.5% of your taxable income (capped at R350,000 per tax year). See how much tax you could save this year.
Without the new contribution
- Taxable income
- R0
- Estimated annual tax
- R0
With the new contribution
- Taxable income
- R0
- Estimated annual tax
- R0
Assumptions & disclaimer
- Based on the {{TAX_YEAR}} SARS individual income tax brackets and rebates. Tax brackets, rebates and deduction limits change every tax year (usually announced in the February Budget Speech) — please confirm current figures with SARS or a registered tax practitioner.
- The retirement fund deduction is capped at 27.5% of taxable income, limited to R350,000 per tax year; contributions above the remaining allowance are not deductible this year (though they may usually be carried forward).
- The multi-year projection assumes your taxable income and the SARS tax tables stay unchanged, and only your contribution escalates by the percentage you set each year. In reality both income and tax tables usually change over time.
- Ignores other deductions, rebates (e.g. medical tax credits) and provisional tax considerations.
- This is an estimate only and not tax advice.
Living annuity income & tax calculator
Estimate the lump sum, tax and monthly income you could receive if you convert your retirement savings into a living annuity.
Cash lump sum
- Projected capital at retirement
- R0
- Lump sum taken
- R0
- Estimated lump-sum tax
- R0
- Net lump sum
- R0
Living annuity income
- Capital invested in living annuity
- R0
- Gross monthly income
- R0
- Estimated monthly tax (PAYE)
- R0
- Net monthly income
- R0
- Your capital could last
- —
How long could your living annuity last at other drawdown rates?
Estimated for each drawdown rate, using your living annuity capital, a monthly income set at the start, and your assumed net growth rate. Your currently selected rate is highlighted.
Monthly income figures below are the starting amount for each rate; with your escalation setting, actual income increases each year from there.
| Drawdown rate | Starting monthly income | Capital could last |
|---|
Assumptions & disclaimer
- Lump-sum tax is estimated using the {{TAX_YEAR}} SARS retirement fund lump sum benefit tax table, treated as a first-time withdrawal. In reality this table is cumulative with any previous retirement or severance lump sums you have received, which this calculator does not account for.
- The "capital could last" figures assume a monthly income starting at today's drawdown amount, increasing each year by the escalation percentage you set (0% means a level income), while your remaining capital grows at the assumed net return each month. A living annuity that recalculates its rand income each year off your remaining balance behaves differently in practice — use this as a general guide to sustainability, not a precise forecast. Figures shown as "60+ years" indicate the capital is not projected to deplete within a 60-year planning horizon.
- If your total retirement interest is R247,500 or less, South African law generally allows the full amount to be withdrawn as cash (the "de minimis" rule) — adjust the lump sum percentage above accordingly.
- Living annuity income is taxed as ordinary income (PAYE) using the {{TAX_YEAR}} SARS income tax tables and your age-based rebate.
- You must draw between 2.5% and 17.5% of your living annuity capital each year by law. A living annuity's capital can be depleted if withdrawals and market performance don't keep pace — unlike a guaranteed (life) annuity, income is not guaranteed for life.
- This is an estimate only and not financial or tax advice.
Investment growth & tax-free savings calculator
Compare growing your money in a Tax-Free Savings Account against an equivalent taxable investment, and see the tax benefit build up over time.
Tax-Free Savings Account
- Projected value
- R0
- Total contributed
- R0
- Growth (tax-free)
- R0
Equivalent taxable account
- Projected value
- R0
- Total contributed
- R0
- Growth (after tax drag)
- R0
This estimate does not apply any tax to your investment returns. Tax implications (for example interest, dividend or capital gains tax) may apply depending on the type of investment and your personal tax position.
| Year | TFSA value | Taxable value | Cumulative tax benefit |
|---|
Assumptions & disclaimer
- Assumes a constant 10% per year gross investment growth rate, less the fee percentage you enter, compounded monthly, in both accounts. If you set a contribution escalation, your monthly contribution is assumed to increase by that percentage on each anniversary of today.
- The taxable account comparison applies a single simplified "effective tax rate on growth" that you choose. Real-world tax on a taxable investment depends on the mix of interest, dividend and capital gains income, personal exemptions and your marginal tax rate, and will differ from this simplified estimate.
- Tax-Free Savings Accounts are currently subject to an annual contribution limit of R46,000 and a lifetime limit of R500,000; contributions above these limits are taxed at 40%. Please confirm current SARS limits, as these can change.
- This is an estimate only and not financial or tax advice.
Want these numbers turned into a real plan?
These calculators are a starting point. Book a free, no-obligation consultation and we'll help you choose the right retirement annuity, living annuity or investment for your goals.