TSS Payroll
Real Example

ETI Calculation Examples

Worked examples of how much Employment Tax Incentive you can claim per qualifying employee, using the official formula. See our full ETI guide for eligibility rules.

Example 1: Employee earning R3,500/month

R3,500 falls in the R2,000–R4,500 band — the flat-rate band.

  • Months 1–12: R1,500/month ETI
  • Months 13–24: R750/month ETI
  • Over 2 years: R1,500 × 12 + R750 × 12 = R27,000 total

Example 2: Employee earning R5,500/month

R5,500 falls in the R4,501–R6,500 band — ETI reduces linearly.

Formula: (6,500 − remuneration) ÷ 2,000 × R1,500

  • (6,500 − 5,500) ÷ 2,000 × 1,500 = 0.5 × 1,500 = R750/month (Year 1)
  • Year 2: half of Year 1 = R375/month

Example 3: Employee earning R1,800/month

R0 ETI — below the R2,000 minimum remuneration threshold, so no incentive applies regardless of age or other qualifying criteria.

Example 4: Employee earning R7,000/month

R0 ETI — above the R6,500 ceiling, even if the employee is aged 18–29 and otherwise qualifies.

Example 5: Business with 4 qualifying employees

4 employees each earning R3,500/month, all in Year 1:

4 × R1,500 = R6,000/month reduction in the business's PAYE liability — with no reduction to any employee's take-home pay.

ETI is claimed on the EMP201, reducing the employer's PAYE payment directly. If the ETI claimable exceeds the month's PAYE liability, the excess rolls forward — see our ETI guide for the full claiming process.

People Also Ask

Does ETI reduce an employee's salary?

No — ETI reduces the employer's PAYE liability to SARS; it has no effect on what the employee is paid.

What happens if ETI exceeds the month's PAYE?

The excess rolls forward to the next month's EMP201, and any remaining balance is settled at EMP501 reconciliation.

Does ETI apply automatically?

No — the employer must identify qualifying employees and declare the ETI amount on the EMP201; it isn't applied by SARS automatically.

Related Resources

ETI, calculated automatically

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