Pay and tax · 4 min read
RSSB pension goes to 14% in January 2027: what it does to your take-home pay
Rwanda's total pension rate goes from 12% to 14% on 1 January 2027. If it stays shared equally you'd pay 7%, so gross RWF 400,000 would leave RWF 3,980 less a month.
The rise itself is settled: Presidential Order 086/01 sets it, and it steps up every January until 2030. What the Order doesn't say is how the 14% is split between you and your employer. Today it's 6% and 6%. So every figure below that shows your own pay starts with an if: if it stays shared equally, as it is now. We'll update this page and our calculator when it takes effect.
The rates, year by year
- Since 1 January 2025: 12%
- From 1 January 2027: 14%
- From 1 January 2028: 16%
- From 1 January 2029: 18%
- From 1 January 2030: 20%
These are totals. Article 2 of the Order says the rate may be reviewed on the recommendations of an actuarial study, so the later steps could change.
What it does to your pay in January 2027
These are monthly figures for a first job, with all pay counting for pension and no RAMA, if your share goes from 6% to 7%.
- Gross 200,000: net falls from 162,583 to 160,593, which is 1,990 less.
- Gross 400,000: net falls from 289,346 to 285,366, which is 3,980 less.
- Gross 1,000,000: net falls from 669,635 to 659,685, which is 9,950 less.
The drop is a little under 1% of gross, because CBHI is worked out on what's left and shrinks slightly. PAYE doesn't move: it's charged on gross, so the rise gives you no tax relief.
A worked example on RWF 400,000
PAYE = 84,000 (no change) RSSB pension, 7% = 28,000 (was 24,000) RSSB maternity, 0.3% = 1,200 (no change) Left before CBHI = 286,800 CBHI, 0.5% of 286,800 = 1,434 (was 1,454) You take home 285,366 (was 289,346)
Looking further ahead
If each step were shared equally all the way to 2030, your share would reach 10%. On gross 400,000 with no pay rise, your take-home would go like this. It's arithmetic on today's other rates, not a forecast.
- 2026, you pay 6%: 289,346
- 2027, you pay 7%: 285,366
- 2028, you pay 8%: 281,386
- 2029, you pay 9%: 277,406
- 2030, you pay 10%: 273,426
That's 15,920 a month less by 2030 than today, unless your pay goes up. It's going into your own pension record, though, and it's not a tax.
What you get for the higher rate
RSSB's scheme pays a pension from 60, or from 55 if you retire early. With 15 years or more of contributions, you're paid monthly. The portal says your pension salary is your average gross salary from the past five years. It also says contributions can only be accessed at that age. Invalidity and survivors' pensions are separate.
What it costs your employer
If the split stays equal, your employer's share also goes from 6% to 7%. On a salary of 400,000 that's 28,000 a month in place of 24,000, and it isn't part of your taxable pay. An employer setting next year's pay will have that extra cost in mind, so it's a fair thing to raise at a pay review.
What to do before January
- Read your January 2027 payslip line by line, and compare the pension line with last month's.
- Ask HR how your employer will apply the new rate. If your contract states your pay as net, ask who carries the change.
- If you're negotiating an offer now, ask about it. To keep 300,000 in your pocket at a 7% share you'd need about 424,000 gross, not 417,000.
- Check your record on RSSB's Imisanzu portal, so that any gap is fixed while it's small.
- Budget for the change now, if you're on a tight month.
Sources and further reading
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Frequently asked questions
Will all of the 14% come out of my salary?
The Order states only the total and doesn't name the shares. Today it's 6% from you and 6% from your employer. We opened no RSSB page that states the 2027 split, so check your payslip and ask your employer.
Does the rise change my PAYE?
No. PAYE is on your gross pay, and your own contribution doesn't reduce it. Only your employer's contribution is left out of taxable pay.
Does the rise apply to public servants too?
The Order sets one rate for the mandatory scheme, and RSSB's pension page lists public servants among the people who contribute. Your own share is the part to confirm.
Can the rate still change?
Yes. Article 2 of the Order says the rate may be reviewed on the recommendations of an actuarial study. This page gives the rates as they stood on 2 November 2026.