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Executor Fee Calculator

Calculate executor fees for estate administration across South Africa (3.5% tariff), UK, and USA.

🇿🇦 SA · UK · USA✔ Official Tariffs

📝 Executor Fee Calculator

Results update instantly

🇿🇦 South Africa
🇬🇧 UK
🇺🇸 USA
R
Executor Fee
R 0
3.5% of gross estate + VAT (SA)
Executor Fee
R 0
Fee ex-VAT
R 0
% of Estate
0%
ℹ️ SA: Executor's fees are subject to Master of the High Court approval. The 3.5% tariff is the statutory maximum under the Administration of Estates Act.

Executor Fees — Jurisdiction Guide

🇿🇦 South Africa

The Master of the High Court sets a statutory maximum of 3.5% of the gross estate value for executor's remuneration, plus VAT at 15% (if the executor is a VAT vendor). This is capped by the Administration of Estates Act 66 of 1965. The actual fee may be reduced by the Master if it appears unreasonable relative to the work done.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Lay executors (friends/family) are generally not paid. Professional executors (solicitors, banks) typically charge 1–4% of the estate plus hourly fees. There is no statutory cap — fees are subject to the "reasonable remuneration" standard under the Trustee Act 2000.

🇺🇸 United States

Executor fees vary by state — most states allow either a statutory percentage (typically 2–4% of the estate) or "reasonable compensation." California uses a sliding scale: 4% of first $100k, 3% of next $100k, 2% of next $800k, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. An executor is not obligated to take the full statutory fee. Family members who are appointed as executors often waive the fee (or take a nominal amount) to preserve more of the estate for beneficiaries. Waiving the fee is done by signing a waiver before the Master of the High Court.
Executor fees are deductible for estate duty purposes — they reduce the dutiable estate before estate duty is calculated. The fee itself is subject to VAT (if the executor is a registered VAT vendor) and is an income tax event in the hands of the executor.
⚠️ Disclaimer Estimates only. Not financial or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional.