Most salaried employees assume there is nothing they can claim back from SARS because PAYE is already deducted from their salary every month.
That is partly true — many employees do not qualify for large deductions. But there are still several common expenses and contributions that can reduce your tax or increase your refund if handled properly.
The key thing to understand is this:
SARS does not allow claims simply because you spent money. The expense must fall into a category specifically allowed under tax law.
This article focuses on deductions and claims ordinary employees are most likely to qualify for in real life.
1. Retirement Annuity Contributions (Probably the Most Common Deduction)
If you pay into a retirement annuity (RA), pension fund or provident fund, you are probably already qualifying for a tax deduction.
This is one of the few deductions many salaried employees can claim without needing complicated calculations.
Example: You earn R35,000 per month and contribute R2,500 monthly to an RA. That contribution can reduce your taxable income, which may reduce the amount of tax you owe.
Usually, your employer already reflects pension or provident contributions on your IRP5, but private RA contributions often still need to be included correctly on your tax return.
Keep:
- Your retirement fund tax certificate
- Proof of contributions
2. Medical Aid and Medical Expenses
Many people think medical aid works like a normal deduction. It does not.
SARS gives tax credits instead. In practice, this still reduces your tax burden.
If you belong to a medical aid, part of that benefit is usually already reflected automatically on your IRP5.
Where people sometimes miss out is additional medical expenses they paid themselves.
This may include:
- Specialist consultations
- Prescription medication
- Dental work
- Medical procedures not fully covered by medical aid
- Disability-related expenses
Do not simply estimate medical expenses. SARS may request invoices, statements and proof of payment.
3. Travel Claims
This is where many employees get confused.
You generally cannot claim for driving to and from your normal workplace every day.
But if your employer gives you a travel allowance and you use your own vehicle for work purposes, you may qualify to claim business travel expenses.
The biggest requirement is a proper logbook.
Without one, SARS can reject the claim completely.
Example: If you drive to clients, branches, suppliers or meetings during work hours using your own car, those business kilometres may qualify.
Your logbook should include:
- Date of travel
- Destination
- Reason for the trip
- Kilometres travelled
4. Home Office Expenses
A lot of people heard about home office claims during remote working periods and assumed everyone qualifies.
In reality, SARS applies fairly strict rules here.
You usually need:
- A dedicated workspace
- The space must mainly be used for work
- The area cannot double as a bedroom or TV room
- You must genuinely work from home regularly
If you qualify, you may claim part of:
- Electricity
- Internet
- Rent
- Cleaning
- Rates and taxes
This is an area SARS often reviews carefully. Keep calculations and supporting documents.
5. Laptop, Cellphone and Work Equipment
If you bought equipment yourself because your employer did not provide it, part of the cost may sometimes qualify as a wear-and-tear deduction.
This often applies to:
- Laptops
- Monitors
- Office chairs
- Printers
- Cellphones partly used for work
Usually, SARS does not allow you to deduct the full amount immediately. The cost is often spread over several years.
Example: If you bought a R18,000 laptop mainly for work, SARS may allow part of that cost to be claimed each year rather than all at once.
6. Donations to Approved Organisations
If you donated money to a registered public benefit organisation (PBO), you may qualify for a deduction.
But there is an important catch:
You need a valid Section 18A certificate.
Without that certificate, SARS will usually not allow the claim.
Things Most Employees Cannot Claim
These are common mistakes people try to claim:
- Petrol for normal commuting
- Regular office clothes
- Lunches and coffee
- Traffic fines
- Personal shopping
- Normal household expenses
Just because something helps you do your job does not automatically make it deductible.
The Biggest Mistake Employees Make
Many employees either:
- Claim nothing at all when they actually qualify for deductions, or
- Claim random personal expenses that SARS will never allow
The safest approach is:
- Only claim expenses you can explain clearly
- Keep proof of payment
- Keep invoices and certificates
- Do not guess numbers
Simple Rule to Remember
If you are a salaried employee, the deductions you are most likely to qualify for are:
- Retirement contributions
- Medical-related claims
- Travel claims with a logbook
- Limited home office expenses
- Some work equipment wear-and-tear
For most employees, those are the areas worth checking first before submitting a return.
Final Thought
A tax return does not need to be complicated. Most salaried employees are not running complex tax structures.
In practice, good recordkeeping matters more than fancy tax strategies.
If you keep proper documents and understand the few deductions that actually apply to employees, you are already ahead of many taxpayers.