Ghana PAYE Calculator: SSNIT, Tax Bands and Take-Home Pay
Enter your basic monthly salary to see what comes off for SSNIT and PAYE, and what you take home.
Rates checked 8 Oct 2026 against official sources (listed below).
Tax bands (a month)
- GH₵0 – GH₵5880%
- GH₵589 – GH₵6685%
- GH₵669 – GH₵76810%
- GH₵769 – GH₵3,66817.5%
- GH₵3,669 – GH₵19,66825%
- GH₵19,669 – GH₵50,00030%
- Above GH₵50,00035%
Take-home pay (a month)
GH₵3,939
PAYE
GH₵786
Effective tax rate
15.7%
Taxable income
GH₵4,725
| Item | GHS |
|---|---|
| Gross pay | GH₵5,000 |
| − SSNIT (5.5%) | GH₵275 |
| Taxable income | GH₵4,725 |
| Tax on bands | GH₵786 |
| − PAYE | GH₵786 |
| Take-home pay | GH₵3,939 |
Monthly PAYE bands under the Income Tax (Amendment) Act, 2026 (Act 1178), which the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) confirmed took effect on 1 September 2026. Your 5.5% employee SSNIT contribution comes off your basic salary before PAYE is worked out; your employer adds a further 13% (18.5% combined), capped at the 2026 maximum insurable earnings of GH₵69,000 a month. Non-resident employees pay a flat 25% on chargeable income instead of these bands.
The full explanation, with worked examples and what to watch for: PAYE in Ghana: Tax Bands, SSNIT and What You Take Home
About this calculator
It uses the Ghana Revenue Authority's (GRA) monthly tax bands in force since 1 September 2026.
How it's worked out
- SSNIT comes off first. Your 5.5% employee SSNIT contribution is deducted from your basic salary before GRA works out PAYE, because it's one of the deductions allowed against employment income.
- What's left is taxed in seven monthly bands: nil up to GH₵588, then 5%, 10%, 17.5%, 25% and 30%, rising to 35% on chargeable income above GH₵50,000.
- Your employer pays more, but not from your pocket: a further 13% of your basic salary goes to SSNIT, for a combined 18.5%. Of that total, 13.5% is remitted to SSNIT's Tier 1 scheme and 5% goes to a licensed Tier 2 private trustee.
- High earners have a cap. SSNIT contributions apply only up to the 2026 maximum insurable earnings of GH₵69,000 a month, so the most SSNIT can take from your pay is GH₵3,795.
Frequently asked questions
What is the tax-free threshold for PAYE in Ghana in 2026?
Monthly chargeable income (basic salary minus your 5.5% SSNIT contribution) of GH₵588 or less is tax-free — about GH₵7,056 a year. The threshold rose from GH₵490 when the Income Tax (Amendment) Act, 2026 took effect on 1 September 2026.
How much SSNIT do I pay in Ghana?
You pay 5.5% of your basic salary, and your employer adds a further 13%, for a combined 18.5%. SSNIT caps contributions at the 2026 maximum insurable earnings of GH₵69,000 a month, so the most you can personally pay is GH₵3,795 a month.
Does SSNIT reduce my taxable income?
Yes. The Ghana Revenue Authority deducts your 5.5% employee SSNIT contribution from your basic salary before working out PAYE, so you only pay tax on what's left.
How much tax do I pay on a basic salary of GH₵5,000 a month?
SSNIT takes GH₵275, leaving GH₵4,725 taxable. PAYE on that comes to GH₵785.75, so you take home about GH₵3,939.25.
What is the top PAYE rate in Ghana?
35%, charged on chargeable income above GH₵50,000 a month (GH₵600,000 a year). Non-resident employees pay a flat 25% on chargeable income instead of the graduated bands.
Do I pay anything else out of my salary besides SSNIT and PAYE?
Not by default. Some employers offer optional reliefs, for example for dependants, that can lower your PAYE further. Check GRA's Personal Tax Relief page or ask your payroll department what you qualify for.
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