Guides

South African wealth guides

No-BS explainers for the questions Libevyn was built to solve — starting with where your next contribution goes. Planning information only — not financial or tax advice.

• How to compare TFSA vs RA for your next contribution

  Same-rand comparison of TFSA room, Section 11F headroom, current-year tax effect, and access — with a link to the free calculator.

• How Section 11F retirement deduction room works in South Africa

  Lesser-of tests for 2026/27: 27.5% rule, R430,000 cap, employer contributions, and how to estimate remaining deductible headroom.

• TFSA contribution limits for 2026/27

  Annual R46,000 and lifetime R500,000 limits, tax year dates, penalty rules, and what counts as a contribution.

• How to track TFSA room across multiple providers

  Why each provider only shows their slice, and how to see your combined annual and lifetime room before a 40% penalty.

• TFSA transfer vs withdrawal in South Africa

  Formal certificate transfer preserves contribution room; DIY withdraw-and-redeposit can burn lifetime room and trigger a 40% excess penalty.

• SARS interest exemption vs idle cash and TFSA room

  R23 800 / R34 500 local interest exemption, when idle cash is taxed at the margin, and why emergency cash in a TFSA can waste lifetime room.

• How much do I need to retire in South Africa?

  FIRE number from expenses and a withdrawal rate, plus why accessible vs locked RA wealth changes the date. Free calculator.

• How long will your money last in a South African retirement?

  Accessible vs locked, living-annuity 2.5–17.5%, two-pot is not a TFSA, and the 50–55 bridge. Not a US 4% law.

• Two-pot savings withdrawal tax in South Africa (2026/27)

  Marginal-rate tax on savings-component withdrawals, directive withholding vs assessment, and what to check before you apply.

• How to track net worth across EE, RA, TFSA and property

  Why no single provider shows your full ZAR net worth, what to track by tax bucket, and spreadsheet vs wealth-first tools.

• 22seven and Vault22 alternative for wealth tracking

  Honest comparison: budgeting vs net worth, bank sync vs manual entry, TFSA room, and who each tool is for.