Answers to some Tax issues

[Celine]

i have just read some of the postings in the 2008 tax return thread and need to bring some things to your attention if you don't mind.

1) if you are in receipt of a travel allowance, please do NOT claim back the fuel and maintenance way. this will sometimes lead to you paying in and not getting the full benefit of this travel allowance. you must rather claim mileage, i.e. business mileage. if you have kept a logbook for the 2009 year, then merely enter the months onto an excel spreadsheet listing March to Feb and showing business and private mileage. give your opening and closing odometer readings as at 1 March 2008 and 28 Feb 2009.
2) you may claim ALL medical expenses paid out of your own pocket, i.e. if you are a family of 4 then you are entitled to claim for all 4 members.
3) if you have paid medical aid out of your own pocket and not through the company, and you have a code 4486 reflecting on your IRP5 then approach your HR and ask why this is reflecting on your IRP5. the only time this is reflected on your IRP 5 is if the company is subsidising your medical.

from now on if you are in receipt of a travel allowance, start getting into the habit of taking down the odometer reading when you get into your vehicle every time it's for work purposes. you do not realise how this benefits you in the long run.

if you are trying to register for e-filing and you get a message, "another number registered for taxpayer" or something like this, then it is possible that you were with a tax consultant at one stage and you need to request that your number be released. go to "request tax types" and follow the instructions.

i hope i've covered a few things here.

if you have anymore questions feel free to ask away. i don't mind answering your questions.

 

[Sting]

If you are uncertain as to what you can claim, keep all documentation for each tax year in a separate file/box.

Example: if your job involves plenty of travel and staying in hotels and eating in restaurants or at the hotel (not for entertainment purposes but as part of your hotel stay or trip) keep all your receipts. You claim the expense via your company and they will tax you on the full claim amount, but you are entitled to claim on the amount above a certain limit. This is part of your subsistence allowance (3705) and not your travel allowance (3701).

 

[matt loves telkom]

eish im really not good with these things and i need to take a day off to just get this sorted!!! i pay PAYE every month but i mean i just get frustrated thinking about all of this.
eish eish eish

 

[waynegohl]

one of the guys at work was told that he has to register with SARS himself but i thought that because he works for the company they automatically register him.

we have never gotten IRP5 forms, what does this mean?

sorry if this is kinda off topic.

 

[Celine]

wayne it is up to the individual to register with SARS.
if you haven't received your IRP5 certificate, then you need to approach your HR department and insist they give you one.

 

[waynegohl]

sorry only saw the reply now.

what are the implications of not registering with SARS? why must an employee register with SARS if the company is taking PAYE and UIF etc from you or is this a totally another thing?

we have no HR as its a mom and pop show.

 

[Celine]

wayne - just download the IT77 from the sars website and complete it and submit it together with a certified copy of your ID, a cancelled cheque or a recent bank stantement and proof of residence i.e. a bill that goes to your residence, like an electricity bill or telephone bill.
it is not up to the employer to register their employees for tax purposes but that of the individual that's just how it is.
if you don't have an HR department then find out who does the IRP5 certificates for you. you need to know what is being declared on that IRP5 and if everything on that IRP5 is correctly declared, i.e PAYE, income, medical contributions, pension fund contributions etc.
if you need me to help you pm me i'll help you.