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Tax-free savings calculator

Project your TFSA at the new R46,000 annual limit and see when you will reach the R500,000 lifetime cap.

Updated for the 2026/27 tax year. Free, no sign-up needed.

What you plan to save

Before inflation. Nothing is guaranteed.

If you already have a TFSA

Every contribution since you opened it, across all providers. It counts against the R500 000 lifetime limit.

Your TFSA after 15 years

R1 178 009

R678 009 of that is growth you never pay tax on.

You pay in
R500 000
Tax-free growth
R678 009
Lifetime limit reached
In 10 years 11 months
Lifetime room left after
R0

Value, year by year

  • Paid in
  • Tax-free growth
Show the yearly values
YearPaid inGrowthValue
0R0R0R0
1R45 996R1 868R47 864
2R91 992R8 043R100 035
3R137 988R18 914R156 902
4R183 984R34 903R218 887
5R229 980R56 471R286 451
6R275 976R84 120R360 096
7R321 972R118 396R440 368
8R367 968R159 897R527 865
9R413 964R209 272R623 236
10R459 960R267 232R727 192
11R500 000R334 531R834 531
12R500 000R409 639R909 639
13R500 000R491 507R991 507
14R500 000R580 742R1 080 742
15R500 000R678 009R1 178 009
You reach the R500 000 lifetime limit inside this period. Contributions stop there and the balance keeps growing tax-free.
Value after 15 yearsR1 178 009See breakdown

How the calculation works

We grow the balance month by month at your expected return, compounded monthly, and add your contribution each month. From 2026/27 you may pay in up to R46 000 a tax year and R500 000 over your lifetime, so contributions above either limit are left out rather than invested.

Tax-free growth is the final value less everything paid in. In a normal investment account, the interest, dividends and capital gains behind that number would be taxed along the way or when you sell.

Each projection year starts with a full year's contribution room, and the limits are held at today's levels. Returns are an assumption, not a forecast.

Questions people ask

How much can I put into a TFSA?

R46,000 per tax year from 1 March 2026 (up from R36,000), and R500,000 over your lifetime. Unused annual room does not roll over to the next year.

What happens if I go over the limit?

SARS adds a penalty of 40% of the excess contribution to your tax bill, so contributions above the limit cost you money rather than earning anything.

Can I put back money I withdrew?

Withdrawals do not restore your contribution room. Taking R20,000 out and putting it back later uses R20,000 of both your annual and lifetime limits again.

What is tax-free about a TFSA?

Interest, dividends and capital gains earned inside the account are never taxed, and withdrawals are tax-free. The longer the money stays invested, the more that matters.

Allowances

Stop re-typing your numbers.

WealthDashboard watches your TFSA contributions from your bank transactions and warns you before you cross a limit. Free to start, no card.

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Estimates use the SARS tables for the 2026/27 tax year and the assumptions shown. They are for planning only and are not tax or financial advice. For a submission, use your actual figures or speak to a registered tax practitioner.