Do your Tax with TaxTim and WIN R10,000  More info   T&C's apply


Reimbursive Travel Expenses -when is it taxable or non-taxable?



My total reimbursive travel expenses are R13 802 for the 2013 tax year. My company rate is R4,30 p/km and I have received no travel allowances during the year. My IRP5 shows both 3072 R12 319 and 3073 R1 483. What code and amount should I put on my tax return?

TaxTim TaxTim says:
8 July 2013 at 13:20

This is correct as you are taxed for any mileage done over 8000km for the year. These codes relate to both the non-taxable and the taxable portion of your reimbursive amount. These figures should already by on your SARS eFiling form as your IRP5 will already be there.

J says:
8 July 2013 at 13:29

My business kilometers for the year is 3 192, which is below the 8000km threshold. Therefore should I put the full reimbursive amount of R12 319 R1 483 = R13 802 under code 3073 on my return (ie. put R0 under code 3072)? I'm not sure why my employer split it into 3072 and 3073 on my IRP5.

TaxTim TaxTim says:
8 July 2013 at 13:39

SARS allows R3.16 to be the non-taxable amount so in your case the difference of R1.14 would be taxable in your hands, however I am not sure why the taxable portion is so low as it should be R1.14x3192.

You shouldn't change your IRP5 details on eFiling because SARS will request you to submit supporting documentation and because the IRP5 you have differs you will not be able to prove this change, rather have your employer issue a new IRP5 and submit it to SARS for correction as well.

In fact your employer should have split this between the amount taxable and the amount non-taxable so R3.16 non taxable per km and the R1.14 taxable, you must go back to them and ask them to correct this.

J says:
8 July 2013 at 14:29

Yes,i was planning on changing the IRP5 details on the eFiling without asking my employer to issue a new IRP5. Thanks alot Tim!

1 last question: On my ITR12 it asks "Do you want to claim expenditure against a travel allowance?" Is this option only applicable to travel allowance (3701) and not reimbursive travel (3702) ?

TaxTim TaxTim says:
8 July 2013 at 15:12

Only to an actual travel allowance under source code 3701.

Let me know if you need any further assistance.

J says:
8 July 2013 at 15:18

Thank you Tim, you have been a great help!

TaxTim TaxTim says:
8 July 2013 at 16:04

Only a pleasure!

This entry was posted in Tax Q&A and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.



Blog Categories


Ask TaxTim

Got a question you want answered about tax?

Visit our helpdesk →

Get SARS Tax Deadlines in your Inbox
We'll tell you when you need to file, along with tax tips and updates.