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Deductions Posts in Tax Q&A

Can I claim my prescription glasses as medical expenses?

  Written by Marc  

I cannot see without glasses and have been prescribed glasses for anytime use and driving. Can I claim this from my tax as medical expenses - they are very expensive!

Was I qualified to pay tax return in 2007-2008?

  Written by Marc  

I never submitted my tax return for 2007-2008. At that time, I was earning R69000 per annum. Also the tax return was done manually and unfortunately I can't find any copy. Now in 2012, SARS wants me to pay R8000 penalty.

My questions are:

1: was I qualified to pay my tax return?
2: What must do to dispute this penalty as I am not earning much currently?

Thanks in advance for your advice.
Ps: I am a permanent resident(SA).

How do I reflect UIF payouts as an income on my tax return?

  Written by Marc  

I lost my job and had to claim unemployment for a few months. I then recieved an income after that but need to reflect my UIF on my tax return as my return currently shows a negative income after pension etc.

Start of employment period on tax return

  Written by Marc  

I would like to know I am permanently employed and started my employment a few years ago and still am. Which dates should I fill in when asked to input earliest month of employment?

How to submit a dispute after IT34 notice

  Written by Marc  

I am a medical doctor working in a state hospital. I get an IRP5 from Western Cape department of Health. I also earned R12 020 in the last year doing private locums which I have declared. I understand that I will have to pay tax on this amount and have made provisions for this. When I received my IT34, it says I owe R11000 (almost as much as I earned in total). I usually get money back on my returns (from medical aid, income protection and retirement annuity) so I don't know how they calculat...



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Medical aid codes

  Written by Marc  

In my IRP5, under deductions/contributions, the following appears:

code 4005: R18 324
code 4474: R11 927

But after using the SARS calculator, under amounts assessed in the SARS calculations:
Code 3810 Medical aid contributions paid on behalf of employee: R11 927

Under tax calculator, deductions section:
Code 4008: Medical expenses (Total) R8640

Is this right? The amount of R18 324 does not reflect in the tax calculator's results.

Tax claim for medical expenses

  Written by Marc  

Hi Tim

I had to get two hearing aids but the medical aid only paid for one. I was told that I can claim the cost for the other one from tax but if I use the e-filing calculator it seems as if I will only get R5000 back of the R15000 I paid. Is that possible or how do I claim the full amount?

I am from the UK, but will get permanent residence in SA, but I have money overseas, will I pay tax

  Written by Marc  

If i bring funds into SA and earn interest do I have to pay tax on it, what is the free allowance and then how much is it thereafter please?

How long would my refund take to pay out if its under Verification Audit?

  Written by Marc  

I submitted my tax for 2009,2010, 2011 and 2012. they are doing a Verification Audit for 2012 and I submitted my documents, how long will that take and how long will my refuind take to get paid out?

Do I need actual sale slips or would bank statements suffice?

  Written by Marc  

I don't keep all the sales invoices / slips for medical expenses (OTC stuff). I do however have some expenses which I know will show up on my bank statements and also the monthly stuff like birth control which I pay for. Do I need the actual slips or will make bank statements do?

How do I deduct for donations made to a NGO?

  Written by Marc  

I make regular donations to a registered NGO - can I deduct this from my personal income tax (under contributions) and what source code should I use?

Income Tax Verification

  Written by Marc  

Hi Tim, My accountant has phoned and stated that "SARS now needs supporting documents to verify my return submitted by my accountant." Could this mean that I mite well be up for selection for an audit? if not, how long does this verification process take before I receive my return?

How long does it take to process a manual assessment?

  Written by Marc  

Is it true that a manual 2007 assessment can take upto 12 months to process. I am waiting for my refund from my 2012 assessment but will not get it until they assess 2007.
I have been overseas for 5 years and the accountant failed to submit my returns resulting in penalties. I currently owe R7500 and have a credit for my 2012 assessment. Will not get this until they assess the 2007 return. Please can you confirm the time it will take to process this. Can I pay the penalty in the interim to ...



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How do I go about submitting documentation for backdated claims?

  Written by Marc  

Two of my stepchildren have brain irregularities, one Dandy Walker syndrome, the other Landau Kleffner Syndrome. I have never claimed for any medical or other expenses ito these two children which are dependants on my medical aid. However when the one with DW Syndrome turned 21 I had to go through the motions of proving his dependance to keep him as adult dependant on my MA. Then I was told to indicate on my tax return that I have a disabled dependant. Question is, what is the procedure to claim...



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How does the taxation of freelance pilots income when they go on contract abroad?

  Written by Marc  

I am working as a freelance pilot, invoicing a company per daily perdiem, or s & t as its called in Dollar,they taxed me 25 % out of the blue. I have done contracts for a long time and it has never happened before as I comply with the exemption requirements always for the time spent in the other countries, please advise?

PAYE threshold and small business TAX, how does it work?

  Written by Marc  

I hope you can help me - my question is two-fold. My wife was working for the 2011/2012 tax period earning R3000-R4500 (as a salary). Do we need to submit a tax return for her? Since June this year she has started her own photography business from home (her only income) - we keep track of all expenses etc. Does she pay tax on the income or on the profit she makes? Does she need to register as a provisional taxpayer (the company is not registered & she trades under her own name)? If so is it ...



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What does deducting home office expenses imply for capital gains tax?

  Written by Marc  

I'm an academic and also do some mathematical consulting, so I work partly in my study at home. Firstly, am I entitled to deduct a fraction of my household expenses, and if so, is it equal to the percentage x of floor space taken up by my study? But then does this affect how much capital gains tax I'll pay on my flat when I sell it? Is it then is x% of my flat not entitled to a capital gains tax threshold?

I work as a full time waitress and I earn a small shift allowance, the rest earned is tips. Do I pay

  Written by Marc  

Am I eligible for paying tax?

If I get a Travel allowance, where do I enter my Vehicle installment on my tax return?

  Written by Marc  

Where must I enter my vehicle installment to justify my travel allowance?

How do I declare untaxed remuneration as a freelancer?

  Written by Marc  

I freelance for two publishers, only one of whom deducts 25% PAYE. Last year I received IRP5s from both, but this year only from the one who deducted PAYE. SARS says the other one MUST supply an IRP5, but they disagree. How do I declare this untaxed income on my return in the absence of an IRP5? On my return I answered the question regarding extra income and/or expenses as 'yes' but there is no space on the form where I can fill in this untaxed income.

I owe SARS money but never even used eFiling. Help!

  Written by Marc  

I started my job in august 2011 and was earning R14500 after deductions. My company pays tax and UIF, PAYE for me but recently I learned that I owe SARS R5000, why? I'm not sure what to do. I never even registered for e filing. Please help.

I submitted my IRP5 and received an SMS saying account balance: -12000. Selected for audit.

  Written by Marc  

I submitted my IRP5 at a SARS branch in Joburg and I received an SMS saying
Tax return assessment result: R-12000. Acc bal:R-12000. Selected for audit: Yes.
What does it mean?

How much can I deduct for expenses from money I earned in Saudi Arabia?

  Written by Marc  

Hi, I taught a two-week course in Saudi Arabia, and they paid me straight into my bank account. Do I have to pay taxes on the full amount, or is there some fixed amount per day I can deduct for expenses?

Is unpaid salaries included on my IRP5 not deductible as a bad debt?

  Written by Marc  

Salary that was due to me, however not paid by my previous employer was included as income on my IRP5. I included it as a bad debt deduction & SARS disallowed in my assessment. Please advice as to what I can do.

Must I keep a weekly logbook?

  Written by Marc  

My wife and I submitted a weekly logbook for the 2011/2012 tax year. My wife's one were accepted but mine declined. I can't now fill in a day to day logbook as I'm not going to thumbsuck where I've traveled during that year as this is impossible. What am I to do?
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