Travel Deduction Tax Calculator South Africa: Claim Your Maximum Allowance

If you use your personal vehicle for work purposes in South Africa, you may qualify for a travel deduction on your tax return. This can significantly reduce your taxable income and save you money.

Our Travel Deduction Tax Calculator helps you estimate how much you can claim based on SARS rules.

What is a Travel Deduction?

A travel deduction is a tax deduction for work-related travel using your own vehicle.

  • Applies to employees claiming travel expenses from home to multiple work sites or business trips.

  • SARS allows claims based on either actual costs or deemed costs (standard rates per km).

  • Salaried employees with a fixed office location may not qualify unless they travel for business purposes.

How Travel Deductions Work

There are two methods to calculate your travel deduction:

  1. Actual Costs Method:

    • Based on total vehicle expenses (fuel, maintenance, insurance, depreciation).

    • Only the portion used for business purposes is deductible.

  2. Deemed Cost Method:

    • SARS provides a standard rate per km (currently R4.00 per km).

    • Multiply business kilometers driven in the year by the rate to get your deduction.

Practical Example: Travel Deduction

Example:
Lerato drives 15,000 km per year for work purposes using her personal vehicle.

  • Using the deemed rate: 15,000 km × R4.00 = R60,000 deduction

  • If her actual costs (fuel, maintenance, etc.) are R50,000, the deemed method gives a higher deduction.

  • This amount is subtracted from her taxable income, lowering her tax liability.

Travel Deduction Tax Calculator

Use our calculator below to see your potential tax savings:

Travel Deduction Tax Calculator 2026

Compare Actual Costs vs Deemed Costs for your maximum SARS deduction.


Expenses (if applicable)

Why Use the Travel Deduction Calculator?

  • Quickly estimate your tax deduction.

  • Compare actual vs deemed methods.

  • Plan your tax payments or refunds.

  • Maximize SARS-allowed deductions efficiently.

Who Should Use the Calculator?

  • Employees who travel for work – e.g., salespeople, consultants, engineers.

  • Business owners – tracking business use of vehicles.

  • Freelancers and contractors – claiming travel for multiple clients.

  • Anyone submitting SARS travel deduction claims – to ensure accurate claims.

10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who qualifies for a travel deduction?

Employees who travel for business purposes beyond their normal commute.

2. Can I claim travel from home to the office?

No, normal commute is not deductible.

3. What is the deemed rate per km?

Currently R4.00 per km for SARS purposes.

4. Can I use actual vehicle costs?

Yes, if you keep detailed records of fuel, maintenance, insurance, and depreciation.

5. Do I need a logbook?

Yes, SARS requires a logbook to substantiate business travel claims.

6. Are vehicle hire or lease costs included?

Yes, a portion can be claimed based on business use.

7. Can I claim travel deductions for multiple vehicles?

Yes, but each vehicle must have accurate records of business use.

8. How does the travel deduction affect my tax?

It reduces your taxable income, lowering your PAYE or final tax liability.

9. Can I claim travel for client visits?

Yes, all legitimate business-related travel counts.

10. How do I submit the claim to SARS?

Include your travel deduction in your ITR12 tax return and attach supporting documentation if requested.

Final Thoughts

Maximizing your travel deduction can save you thousands of Rands in taxes each year. Using our Travel Deduction Tax Calculator makes it simple to estimate your deduction and compare calculation methods.

👉 Calculate your potential savings now and ensure you’re claiming the maximum allowed by SARS.