The two-pot retirement system has been running since 1 September 2024, and South Africans have been withdrawing from their savings pots at a pace that surprised even SARS. Now, heading into April 2026, a new tax year begins — and it arrives alongside VAT increases that affect the purchasing power of every rand you withdraw.
This guide cuts through the noise: how two-pot withdrawals are actually taxed, what the April 2026 changes mean for your retirement money, and how to time or structure withdrawals to keep more of your money.
In case you need a refresher: from 1 September 2024, all retirement fund contributions split into two pots:
The savings pot grows slowly — roughly 4-5% of your salary per year flows into it. After 18 months of the system running, most South Africans have accumulated R5,000–R40,000 in their savings pot depending on their salary and contribution rate.
This is where most people get confused. Savings pot withdrawals are not taxed like retirement lump sums. They are added to your gross income for the tax year and taxed at your marginal income tax rate.
Here's what that means in practice:
SARS issues a "tax directive" to your fund administrator before the withdrawal is processed. The administrator deducts the tax upfront and pays you the net amount. You don't receive the full withdrawal and then pay tax later — it happens at the source.
The new tax year (1 March 2026 – 28 February 2027) brought updated tax brackets. Here's what South Africans pay:
| Taxable Income | Rate | Tax Owed |
|---|---|---|
| R0 – R237,100 | 18% | 18% of each rand |
| R237,101 – R370,500 | 26% | R42,678 + 26% above R237,100 |
| R370,501 – R512,800 | 31% | R77,362 + 31% above R370,500 |
| R512,801 – R673,000 | 36% | R121,475 + 36% above R512,800 |
| R673,001 – R857,900 | 39% | R179,147 + 39% above R673,000 |
| R857,901 – R1,817,000 | 41% | R251,258 + 41% above R857,900 |
| R1,817,001+ | 45% | R644,489 + 45% above R1,817,000 |
Primary rebate: R17,235 (reduces the tax you owe — everyone under 65 gets this).
Secondary rebate (65+): Additional R9,444.
Tax threshold: If your annual income is below R95,750, you pay no tax.
| Annual Salary | Withdrawal Amount | Marginal Rate | Tax Deducted | You Receive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R180,000/yr | R10,000 | 18% | R1,800 | R8,200 |
| R300,000/yr | R20,000 | 26% | R5,200 | R14,800 |
| R450,000/yr | R30,000 | 31% | R9,300 | R20,700 |
| R600,000/yr | R40,000 | 36% | R14,400 | R25,600 |
| R800,000/yr | R50,000 | 39% | R19,500 | R30,500 |
Tax deducted is calculated at the marginal rate only for illustrative purposes. Actual amounts depend on your full tax position for the year.
Several changes took effect or were announced for the 2026/27 tax year that retirement savers need to know:
SARS increased the retirement contribution deduction cap from R350,000 to R430,000 for 2026/27. This is the maximum you can deduct from taxable income for retirement fund contributions. High earners contributing to RAs now have more room to reduce taxable income — which directly affects your marginal rate when you withdraw from your savings pot.
The 10% seed capital transferred from the vested pot to the savings pot in September 2024 (capped at R30,000) is still in most members' savings pots. If you withdrew this seed capital in the 2024/25 tax year, it would have been reflected on your IRP5. Make sure your tax return for the 2024/25 year correctly reflects any withdrawal you made — SARS cross-references the directives issued against your tax submission.
From 1 March 2026, you have a fresh annual withdrawal allowance from your savings pot. If you withdrew in the 2025/26 year (even in February 2026), you can withdraw again from March 2026 onwards — subject to having a minimum R2,000 in the pot and your fund administrator's processing rules.
The VAT rate increased from 15% to 15.5% on 1 May 2025, and again to 16% on 1 April 2026. This doesn't affect the tax on your withdrawal itself — but it does affect what your withdrawal buys.
Here's the real-world impact:
| Item (Pre-VAT Price) | Cost at 15% VAT | Cost at 16% VAT | Extra Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| R5,000 appliance | R5,750 | R5,800 | +R50 |
| R20,000 vehicle repair | R23,000 | R23,200 | +R200 |
| R50,000 home improvement | R57,500 | R58,000 | +R500 |
The VAT increase on its own is modest. But combined with income tax on the withdrawal, inflation, and the long-term cost of losing compounding growth in your retirement pot, the real cost of withdrawing early is substantial.
When you apply to your fund for a savings pot withdrawal, the fund administrator doesn't just pay you the money. They must first apply to SARS for a tax directive. Here's the process:
Total processing time is typically 7–21 working days end-to-end. Some administrators (particularly large ones like Alexander Forbes, Old Mutual, and Sanlam) process faster. Smaller employer funds can take longer.
SARS calculates your marginal rate based on your prior year's income from your tax records. If your income changed significantly (e.g., you were retrenched), the directive might withhold too much. You can then claim a refund when you submit your annual tax return. Alternatively, if SARS withholds too little, you'll owe the difference at assessment.
You can't avoid tax on savings pot withdrawals, but you can reduce it legitimately:
If you're retrenched, on maternity/paternity leave (unpaid), or taking a sabbatical, your annual income will be lower. A R20,000 withdrawal during a R120,000 income year is taxed at 18% (R3,600 tax). The same withdrawal during a R600,000 income year is taxed at 36% (R7,200 tax). Timing matters.
Retirement annuity contributions are deductible up to R430,000 (or 27.5% of taxable income). Increasing your RA contribution reduces your taxable income, potentially dropping you into a lower tax bracket before your savings pot withdrawal is added. This requires planning — you'd contribute more, then withdraw — but the net tax saving can be significant.
A withdrawal in March means you have the full year ahead to potentially offset other deductions. Withdrawing in February (month 12 of the tax year) with no remaining deduction opportunities is suboptimal.
If your salary puts you in the 36% or higher bracket, tax takes more than a third of your withdrawal. At 39%, you lose nearly two-fifths of every rand. Unless the need is urgent, the tax cost is severe. Consider alternative financing options (salary advance, personal loan) and compare the cost.
SARS doesn't have a dedicated two-pot calculator, but you can estimate your liability:
Example: Annual taxable income R350,000 + R25,000 withdrawal = R375,000 total. The R25,000 falls in the 31% bracket. Estimated tax: R25,000 × 31% = R7,750. You receive approximately R17,250.
The RetirementSorted calculator can help you model different withdrawal scenarios against your tax position. Use it before you apply — knowing the after-tax amount in advance prevents surprises.
Two-pot savings pot withdrawals are added to your gross income for the tax year and taxed at your marginal rate. SARS issues a tax directive to your fund administrator before the withdrawal — the fund deducts the applicable tax and pays you the net amount. There is no separate "lump sum" tax table for savings pot withdrawals.
The minimum withdrawal from the savings pot is R2,000. You can only make one withdrawal per tax year (March to February). There is no maximum, but you can only access what's in your savings pot — you cannot withdraw from the retirement pot before retirement age.
Not directly. The VAT increase to 16% affects goods and services, not retirement fund withdrawals. However, the VAT increases mean your withdrawal's purchasing power is reduced — R10,000 buys fewer goods than it did before the VAT increases.
Yes. The most effective strategies are: withdraw during a low-income year, maximise retirement annuity contributions to reduce taxable income before withdrawing, and avoid withdrawing if you're in the 36% or 39% bracket. The tax cost at those rates is severe.
SARS does not have a dedicated two-pot calculator, but you can use their income tax calculator on the SARS website to estimate your marginal rate. Add your planned withdrawal to your annual income and identify which bracket you fall into. The RetirementSorted calculator on our homepage can also help model different scenarios.
Two-pot withdrawals are real money that can help in a genuine emergency. But they're not free money — SARS takes their share first, the VAT increase erodes purchasing power, and the long-term compound cost is significant. If you need to withdraw, do it strategically: time it for a low-income period, maximise other deductions first, and understand exactly what you'll receive after tax before you apply.
Related reading: Should you withdraw from your two-pot? · Maximise your retirement tax deductions · Preservation fund vs retirement annuity