Cape Town - Fin24 has joined forces with the SA Institute of Tax Professionals (SAIT) to help answer users' tax questions as far as possible during tax filing season.
The important deadline dates in the 2015 tax season are:
- September 30 2015: Manual/postal submissions
- November 27 2015: At a SARS branch (non-provisional)
- November 27 2015: eFiling (non-provisional)
- January 29 2016: Provisional taxpayers via eFiling
A Fin24 user wants to know if she can claim her out-out-pocket medical expenses on her tax return even though she's on her husband's medical aid. She writes:
"If I am a member on my husbands medical aid, but pay all my own out-of-pocket expenses (e.g. chiropractor visits not covered by medical aid) can I claim this on my return? I have all accounts and debit card receipts."
Piet Nel, SA Institute of Tax Professionals responds:
We accept that the question relates to the 2015 or later year of assessment. Please note that there is no longer a medical deduction (section 18 having been repealed and replaced with the section 6B rebate). The old principle was the same.
You are correct that the requirement is that the qualifying medical expenses must have been paid by the taxpayer – see section 6B(3)(a)(ii).
The spouse paying (also a section 6A requirement) the medical scheme contributions will get the section 6A rebate and the spouse paying the qualifying medical expenses (and the reason for doing so is irrelevant) will get the section 6B rebate.
* Have a question? Send it to us and we will find an expert to answer.
Other users questions for tax filing season 2015:
Can interns claim for travel expenses?
Expat receiving pension from SA: Do I pay tax?
What are the limits on claiming travel expenses?
Can I claim for using my own car for work?
Temp teaching for 6 months, must she pay tax?
Working in Saudi, do I also pay tax in SA?
Can I claim for travel expenses?
Tax filing: No financial records yet, what now?
Filing returns for an education trust
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