Rates & sources
Compound growth assumes reinvested returns and no platform fees. Past performance is not a guide to future returns.
Source: FCA — Investment basics — figures refreshed at the start of each tax year.
When to use this calculator
- Before choosing between saving, investing, or increasing your monthly contribution.
- When you want to compare best-case, base-case, and cautious return assumptions.
- When you need a quick projection before making a longer-term portfolio decision.
- When you are deciding how many more years of contributions are needed to reach a specific target balance.
- When you want to see whether starting earlier versus contributing more each month produces a bigger outcome.
A realistic South Africa planning example
Use these sample inputs as a quick scenario test, then change one variable at a time to compare outcomes.
Gross Dividend (R)
R400,000
Shareholder Type
SA resident individual (20% WHT)
Total Annual Dividend Income (R — for tax return)
R400,000
After entering these figures, review withholding tax, net dividend received and wht rate together rather than in isolation — each metric tells a different part of the story. Then rerun the tool with one input adjusted to see which variable has the biggest effect on all three outputs before you settle on a plan.
How to read your results
Withholding Tax
Review this figure alongside your gross income so you can understand the true cost of deductions and plan around any thresholds before the tax year closes. If the figure looks higher than expected, check whether any pension or gift-aid contributions could reduce your taxable income.
Net Dividend Received
Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.
WHT Rate
Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.
Effective Rate
The effective rate lets you compare options on a true like-for-like basis rather than being misled by different compounding periods or fee structures. Use it to cut through headline marketing rates when shortlisting providers or products.
Annual WHT on Total Dividends
This is the headline outcome of the calculation, but it is most useful when read alongside the supporting metrics below it rather than in isolation. Try changing one input at a time and watching how this total moves to understand which driver has the biggest impact.
Method & assumptionsAuthoritative sources
South African dividend withholding tax (DWT) was introduced on 1 April 2012, replacing the previous secondary tax on companies (STC). Administered by SARS under section 64D to 64N of the Income Tax Act, DWT is levied at 20% on dividends paid by resident companies. The tax is withheld by the company before it pays the net amount to shareholders, making compliance straightforward for investors — you simply receive your net dividend and the DWT is settled on your behalf. South African resident companies are exempt from DWT entirely under the participation exemption, while non-residents may qualify for a reduced treaty rate where South Africa has a double taxation agreement with their country of residence.
When planning your investment income, it is important to factor DWT into your expected after-tax return. A R100,000 gross dividend paid to a resident individual results in a R20,000 DWT deduction, leaving a net receipt of R80,000. For non-residents under a 15% treaty rate, the net receipt rises to R85,000. The effective yield on your investment is therefore materially affected by your shareholder status and residency. Always ensure you have submitted the correct SARS declaration to the paying company before the dividend date, as the default 20% rate applies automatically if no declaration is on record. Use this calculator alongside your broader tax planning to model the net impact of dividend income on your annual financial position.
Common mistakes
- !Assuming a constant return without checking a more conservative growth rate.
- !Forgetting to include ongoing contributions, fees, or tax wrappers where relevant.
- !Focusing only on the final balance instead of the path required to reach it.
- !Ignoring the drag of platform fees or fund charges, which can reduce the real compounded return significantly over ten or more years.
- !Comparing ISA and general investment account projections without adjusting for the tax treatment of interest, dividends, or capital gains.
What to do next
- Test a cautious, expected, and optimistic growth rate instead of relying on a single projection.
- Compare this result with related savings or retirement tools before committing more money.
- Use the linked guides to understand which assumptions matter most over longer periods.
- Consider running the same figures in an ISA and a general account scenario to see how the tax treatment changes the outcome over ten or more years.
- If the projected balance falls short of your target, use the tool to work backwards — increase the monthly contribution until the result meets your goal.
Frequently asked
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End-of-article next steps
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