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How do I claim home expenses from a former work area in a rented flat that I lived in?



Hi TaxTim

I am trying to finish off filling out my tax form and came across the home expenses deduction.
With my former company I was working from my rented flat of which I had one room demarcated for work fitted with a desk, chair and fax/printer/copier machine.

I am confused currently as I am not renting that place anymore and not working for that company anymore and am not sure if I am entitled to claim and if so what can I claim. I paid R4600 for rent monthly and the space took up 20% of the whole area.

I also heard that I can claim for "security services" by having a dog as I had one in the flat.

I hope it makes sense.

TaxTim TaxTim says:
30 October 2013 at 15:43

You can claim the portion of the rent paid so 20% and any costs of electricity related to that office room. You must have been allowed to work from home however as per your contract if employment, was this the case? You will also only be able to deduct amounts for when you worked and when you had that office, not at any other time.

Pabi says:
30 October 2013 at 15:53

Thank you for the answer Tim.

The company I worked for was situated in Cape Town at that time of my employment and had no office space in Johannesburg, or pretoria on my contract it just says that I will work in Gauteng it does not specify. We had a laptop & 3G that we used whatever we needed were sent to our home addresses.

TaxTim TaxTim says:
30 October 2013 at 17:53

You can deduct home office expenses provided you meet the criterion set out in guide to home office expense deductions.

It would appear though that you can deduct the office at your home for the period you were employed and used that space.

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