i What this calculator does
This calculator works out South African estate duty owed, applying the R3.5 million abatement, then 20% on the dutiable amount up to R30 million and 25% on any amount above that.
Enter your gross estate value, allowable deductions, and abatement type, and the calculator returns the estate duty owed, worth planning for alongside your retirement annuity and other long-term structures.
This calculator is for educational purposes only, uses current SARS rates, and doesn't account for executor fees, CGT, or spousal bequest exemptions. Not financial or legal advice.
How to use the Estate Duty Calculator
You do not have to fill anything in to begin. Each field opens with a value that works, so you can change one and compare.
- 1. Gross Estate Value (R)
- 2. Liabilities & Debts (R)
- 3. Abatement
The result panel reports:
- Dutiable Amount After abatement
- Net to Heirs After estate duty
Alongside the headline figures, the calculator reports estate duty owed, dutiable amount, net to heirs, abatement used. Those are the numbers that usually explain why the headline result came out where it did.
The arithmetic is laid out below the result, in the order it was performed.
Treat the output as a starting point rather than a conclusion. Running the same calculation at a pessimistic set of inputs usually says more about the decision than the central case does.
Write down the assumptions with the answer. A result without its inputs is impossible to revisit, and revisiting is usually where the value is.
See also: Capital Gains Tax Calculator and Dividend Withholding Tax Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Does everything I own get included in my dutiable estate?
Generally yes, your estate includes property owned at death plus certain 'deemed property' treated as part of the estate even if not directly owned, various deductions under section 4 of the Estate Duty Act reduce this to arrive at the net, then dutiable value.
Is anything left to my spouse exempt from estate duty?
Yes, under Section 4(q) of the Estate Duty Act, any property bequeathed to a surviving spouse is fully exempt from estate duty, regardless of value, this is known as the spousal exemption.
What happens to my abatement if I leave everything to my spouse?
The deceased spouse's unused R3.5 million abatement can roll over to the surviving spouse, potentially giving their eventual estate a combined R7 million abatement, though this rollover isn't automatic, the first estate's executor must apply for it.
Does this calculator include executor fees or Master's fees?
No, this calculator focuses specifically on estate duty itself, executor fees (typically around 3.5% of gross estate value plus VAT) and Master of the High Court fees are separate costs worth budgeting for alongside estate duty.
Is South African estate duty charged on worldwide assets?
Yes, for South African tax residents, estate duty applies to worldwide property and deemed property, non-residents are taxed only on their South African property, worth understanding if you hold offshore assets.
Want to embed this calculator on your site?
Embed this calculator
Free to use on your own site. Copy the code below and paste it where you want the calculator to appear.
<iframe src="https://www.tradeanswers.co.za/embed/estate-duty-calculator.html"
width="100%" height="570" style="border:0;max-width:520px"
title="Estate Duty Calculator - TradeAnswers" loading="lazy"></iframe>
<p><a href="https://www.tradeanswers.co.za/estate-duty-calculator.html">Estate Duty Calculator</a> by <a href="https://www.tradeanswers.co.za/">TradeAnswers</a></p>