Medical tax credit system: 1 March 2026 – 28 February 2027
Medical scheme tax credits – applies to all taxpayers (section 6A)
This is in respect of medical scheme contributions (paid to a registered medical scheme) made by the taxpayer, or their employers (to the extent that the amount has been included in the income of the taxpayer as a taxable benefit) on their behalf.
The monthly tax credits are as follows:
- R376 per month for the taxpayer and first dependant,
- R254 per month for each additional dependant.
Qualifying medical expenses as an additional tax credit – different formulas apply to different taxpayers (section 6B)
This is an additional tax credit, which is deducted from the tax payable. It is non-refundable and cannot exceed the tax payable in that year of assessment. This is all expenses paid out of the taxpayer’s own pocket, the taxpayer must retain the invoices as proof.
The expenses that qualify are as follows:
- Any amounts other than those recovered by the medical scheme, paid by the taxpayer to a duly registered medical practitioner, dentist, optometrist, homeopath, naturopath, osteopath, herbalist, physiotherapist, chiropractor, orthopaedist for professional services to the taxpayer or a dependant.
- Amounts paid to a nursing home, hospital, enrolled nurse, midwife or nursing assistant in respect of an illness or confinement.
- Amounts paid to a pharmacist for medicine supplied on prescription.
- Amounts which were paid in respect of expenditure incurred outside South Africa for medicines supplied which is substantially similar to those provided in South Africa as noted above.
- Any expenditure the Commissioner prescribes.
Taxpayers under the age of 65
The total tax credit available is calculated by applying the following formula:
Where the result of this calculation is less than zero, there is no tax credit.
Example: Peter is 32 and earns a salary of R250 000 per annum. He belongs to a medical scheme and the total monthly contribution made by him and his employer amounts to R3 500 with respect to him and his wife. His wife is his only dependant. He incurred additional qualifying medical expenses of R12 100. He has no other qualifying tax deductions.
The following steps can be followed to determine the total medical tax credit:
Step 1 – Medical scheme tax credits for him and his dependant
= (R376 + R376 per month) x 12 = R9 024 per annum
Step 2 – Additional medical tax credit
Step 3 – Applying the tax credit to reduce the total tax payable
| Taxable income | R250 000.00 |
| Tax payable (using 2026/2027 tax rates) | R45 392.00 |
| less primary rebate | R17 820.00 |
| plus unemployment insurance fund (UIF) | R2 125.44 |
| less medical tax credit | R9 024.00 |
| Tax payable | R20 673.44 |
Taxpayers over the age of 65 and those under 65 with a family member with a disability
The total tax credit available is calculated by applying the following formula:
Where the result of this calculation is less than zero, there is no tax credit.
Example: Peter is 68 and earns a pension of R250 000 per annum. He belongs to a medical scheme and the total monthly contribution made by him and his employer amounts to R3 500. His wife is his only dependant. He incurred additional qualifying medical expenses of R12 100. He has no other qualifying tax deductions.
The total medical tax credit is determined as follows:
Step 1 – Medical scheme tax credits for him and his dependant
= (R376 + R376 per month) x 12 = R9 024 per annum
Step 2 – Additional medical tax credit
Step 3 – Applying the tax credit
| Taxable income | R250 000.00 |
| Tax payable (using 2026/2027 tax rates) | R45 392.00 |
| less primary rebate | R27 585.00 |
| plus unemployment insurance fund (UIF) | R2 125.44 |
| less medical tax credit | R18 024.32 |
Tax payable | R1 908.12 |
Tax treatment of HealthSaver+
The tax treatment of HealthSaver differs from the tax treatment of medical scheme savings. Medical scheme savings are incorporated into the medical scheme contributions, while contributions made to the HealthSaver are funded from after-tax income. HealthSaver contributions are not tax deductible, but any expenses paid via the HealthSaver facility are tax deductible in the same way as healthcare expenses you incur.
If you have a HealthSaver account, you will receive a HealthSaver tax statement that may be used as proof of the healthcare expenses paid during the tax year, and deductions can be made accordingly. This is sufficient proof for tax purposes if you did not incur any medical expenses outside of HealthSaver and the medical scheme. If you did, you would have to retain all the receipts, including those claims paid from HealthSaver, for tax purposes.
Disclaimer: +Momentum Medical Scheme members may choose to make use of additional products available from Momentum Group Limited and its subsidiaries as well as Momentum Multiply (herein collectively referred to as Momentum). Momentum is not a medical scheme and is a separate entity to Momentum Medical Scheme. Momentum products are not medical scheme benefits. You may be a member of Momentum Medical Scheme without taking any of the products offered by Momentum.