FAQ: I have incurred interest on my mortgage bond, in respect of my home. I use a part of my home as my home office, and meet all of the requirements to claim a home office deduction. Can I claim the mortgage interest?
It has been Revenue practice to allow mortgage interest in the calculation of a claim for home office expenditure. Therefore, for the period ending on 28 February 2022, that is, up to the end of the 2022 year of assessment, you may claim the interest on your mortgage bond. The interest incurred must be apportioned […]
FAQ: I’ve been working from home since start of lockdown in 2020. I make use of my existing space in the house to work from. No special room, I didn’t buy any chair or desk. Am I eligible to claim?
No you will not be eligible, as it does not appear that the part of your home used for trade is exclusively used for trade, and is not specifically equipped for purposes of your trade.
FAQ: Can you get solar rebates for Work-From-Home (WFH) if your personal property is running on Solar and part of your property is dedicated to work from home?
If your property is running on your own installed solar power, then you will not have incurred any expenditure and no deduction is permitted.
FAQ: Can I claim for installing desks and shelving as well as chairs etc. for the separate room I have converted into a home office?
Yes, you could qualify for a wear-and tear allowance on these items. Please consult Interpretation Note 47 “Wear-and-Tear or Depreciation Allowance” (Issue 5) for more detail on the requirements and a list setting out what SARS considers to be the useful life of certain assets.
FAQ: I decided to turn the garage which was filled with clutter into an office, I renovated the space (paint, ceiling installation with lights, window, office chair and desk etc.). I own outright and do not pay bond or rent, and also do not have records of floor plans. Am I eligible to make a claim?
You will need to obtain accurate dimensions for the converted garage and rest of the buildings, perhaps from the local council. It is not a requirement that building plans be professionally drawn up, you can draw up the plan yourself, provided the measurements are accurate. You will not qualify for a deduction for the improvements […]
FAQ: What do I need to keep as proof for electricity, if am using Prepaid electricity for my home office expense claim?
The prepaid vouchers will be acceptable.
FAQ: I have always worked from home but never claimed a home office expense deduction. I now know that I could qualify. What deduction can I claim in the current year of assessment for equipment that I purchased in earlier years of assessment?
You may qualify for a wear-and-tear allowance on the asset. It will depend on the useful life of the asset. Please consult Interpretation Note 47 “Wear-and-Tear or Depreciation Allowance” (Issue 5) for a list setting out what SARS considers to be the useful life of certain assets, as well as the rules applicable to claiming […]
FAQ: I have a room that I use for my home office but there is a wall of cupboards that is used for linen storage can I still claim for the home office but exclude the square meters of the cupboards?
Excluding the space for the cupboards will ensure that only expenses relating directly to the home office are claimed.
FAQ: I have a full time domestic helper who cleans my home office space daily and I pay her cash at the end of the month. What proof would you require in this instance?
Proof of payment must be retained. The domestic worker should sign an acknowledgement of receipt of the monthly payment. As an employer, you would be required to register for UIF for the domestic worker, proof of payment of UIF contributions may also be requested on audit or verification by SARS.
FAQ: A taxpayer and his or her spouse both require only a laptop to conduct their trade of employment. They share an office at home. The room is 100% an office and is used for nothing else. Does this fail the requirement of exclusive use? Should the house have two separate rooms that are used separately by each spouse for their work?
If the home office is clearly divided between the two spouses’ respective spaces, and each space meets the requirements for a home office deduction, then each spouse could qualify for a deduction. Evidence such as photographs of the room showing the clear division should be taken often. If there is no clear division of the […]
