What will SARS take from your two-pot withdrawal?
A savings-pot withdrawal is not tax free. It gets added to the rest of your income for the year and taxed at your own tax rate. Here's what that means in rands — and how to work out what will actually land in your bank account.
The three rules that catch people out
- It's added to your salary and taxed, not taxed at a flat rate. The more you earn, the more of the withdrawal SARS keeps.
- Old SARS debt is deducted first. If you owe SARS anything — including admin penalties for returns you never filed — it is taken off your payout before you see a cent.
- The fund also charges a fee for processing the withdrawal (often a few hundred rand), and the minimum withdrawal is R2 000.
Two-pot withdrawal tax calculator
Drag the sliders to see what SARS takes and what actually lands in your bank account.
Estimated tax
R8 275
SARS debt taken
R0
Net payout cash
R21 125
Minimum withdrawal is R2 000.
Old penalties or assessments are deducted first.
Make sure your withdrawal doesn't cost you extra
Most delayed or reduced payouts come down to one thing: SARS admin that was never sorted out. AfriTax Employed keeps your tax affairs clean for R89/month.
- Your annual return (ITR12) filed for you
- Old penalties and SARS debt identified early
- eFiling profile monitored so directives aren't blocked
- A real practitioner to ask before you withdraw
Common questions
How much tax do I pay on a two-pot withdrawal?
A savings-pot withdrawal is added to your other income for the year and taxed at your marginal rate, so between 18% and 45% depending on what you earn. There is no tax-free portion.
How often can I withdraw from the savings pot?
One withdrawal per tax year, with a minimum of R2 000, provided your savings pot has the balance available.
Will SARS take my withdrawal if I owe them money?
Yes. Your fund applies for a tax directive, and SARS can offset outstanding tax debt or penalties before the balance is paid to you.
Does a withdrawal affect my refund?
It can. The extra income can push you into a higher bracket and turn an expected refund into an amount owing, which is why it is worth checking before you withdraw.
Other free tools
This calculator uses the 2026/27 SARS individual tax tables and rebates and assumes your salary is your only other taxable income. It is an estimate, not tax advice. Your fund applies for a tax directive and SARS confirms the final amount.