MRA PAYE Calculator: Malawi Net Pay After Tax
Enter your monthly taxable pay to see your PAYE and take-home pay under the bands MRA has used since January 2026.
Rates checked 9 Nov 2026 against official sources (listed below).
Tax bands (a month)
- MWK 0 – MWK 170,0000%
- MWK 170,001 – MWK 1,570,00030%
- MWK 1,570,001 – MWK 10,000,00035%
- Above MWK 10,000,00040%
Take-home pay (a month)
MWK 611,000
PAYE
MWK 189,000
Effective tax rate
23.6%
Taxable income
MWK 800,000
| Item | MWK |
|---|---|
| Gross pay | MWK 800,000 |
| − Pension contribution | MWK 0 |
| Taxable income | MWK 800,000 |
| Tax on bands | MWK 189,000 |
| − PAYE | MWK 189,000 |
| Take-home pay | MWK 611,000 |
MRA PAYE bands in force since January 2026: MK170,000 a month tax-free, then 30%, 35% and 40%.
The full explanation, with worked examples and what to watch for: PAYE in Malawi: MRA Tax Bands and How to Calculate It
About this calculator
On MK800,000 a month, PAYE is MK189,000, leaving MK611,000 before any pension or other deductions.
How it's worked out
- Any pension contribution you enter comes off your pay first.
- What's left is taxed in MRA's monthly bands: 0% on the first MK170,000, 30% up to MK1,570,000, 35% up to MK10,000,000 and 40% above that.
The bands changed in January 2026. Some calculators online still use the old MK150,000 tax-free amount and the 25% band. See our PAYE in Malawi guide for the old and new bands side by side.
Take-home pay at common salaries
Worked out with the same bands as the calculator above, with no pension or other optional deductions.
| Monthly pay | PAYE | Take-home |
|---|---|---|
| MK150,000 | MK0 | MK150,000 |
| MK300,000 | MK39,000 | MK261,000 |
| MK500,000 | MK99,000 | MK401,000 |
| MK800,000 | MK189,000 | MK611,000 |
| MK1,500,000 | MK399,000 | MK1,101,000 |
| MK3,000,000 | MK920,500 | MK2,079,500 |
Before you rely on the result
- Check what your payslip calls taxable pay. Allowances, overtime and bonuses are usually taxed too, so use your full taxable pay, not just basic salary.
- Compare with your payslip. If your employer's PAYE is far off this figure, ask HR or payroll which bands and deductions they used. Payroll software that hasn't been updated is a common cause.
- Other deductions aren't included unless they're listed above: loans, union dues, medical aid and voluntary savings all come off separately.
Frequently asked questions
How much PAYE do I pay on MK500,000 in Malawi?
MK99,000 a month under the 2026 bands: 30% of the MK330,000 above the MK170,000 tax-free amount.
What is the tax-free amount in Malawi in 2026?
MK170,000 a month. It went up from MK150,000 in January 2026, but the next band is now 30% instead of 25%.
Did PAYE go up or down in Malawi in 2026?
Down for people earning up to about MK250,000 a month, and up for most people above that, because the 25% band was removed.
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