How to Claim Tax Deductions for Medical Expenses in South Africa

As a South African taxpayer, you may be eligible to claim tax deductions for your medical expenses.

However, navigating the tax laws and regulations can be daunting, especially if you are not familiar with the process.

In this article, we will break down the steps you need to take to claim tax deductions for medical expenses in South Africa.

Medical Tax Deductions in South Africa

Medical tax deductions are expenses that you incur for medical services, including doctor’s fees, medication, and hospital expenses.

To qualify for medical tax deductions, you need to meet the following criteria:

You must be a South African taxpayer
You must have incurred medical expenses that were not covered by your medical scheme
The expenses must have been paid during the tax year
The expenses must have been incurred for yourself, your spouse or dependents

Types of Medical Expenses that Qualify for Tax Deductions

Now that you know who qualifies for medical tax deductions, let us take a look at the types of medical expenses that qualify for tax deductions in South Africa. These include:

Doctor’s Fees

Doctor’s fees are the fees charged by medical practitioners, including general practitioners, specialists, dentists, and optometrists.

You can claim tax deductions for doctor’s fees that were not covered by your medical scheme.

Medication

If you have paid for medication that was not covered by your medical scheme, you can claim tax deductions for the cost of the medication.

Hospital Expenses

You can claim tax deductions for hospital expenses, including the cost of hospitalization, nursing fees, and surgical fees, that were not covered by your medical scheme.

Medical Aid Contributions

Medical aid contributions that you paid during the tax year can also be claimed as tax deductions.

Other Medical Expenses

Other medical expenses that may qualify for tax deductions include the cost of medical aids, hearing aids, and prosthetic devices.

Steps to Claim Tax Deductions for Medical Expenses

Now that you know what medical expenses qualify for tax deductions, let us take a look at the steps you need to take to claim tax deductions for medical expenses in South Africa:

Step 1: Gather Your Medical Receipts

The first step in claiming tax deductions for medical expenses is to gather all your medical receipts for the tax year.

Make sure that you keep a record of all the medical expenses that you incur, including doctor’s fees, medication, and hospital expenses.

Step 2: Calculate Your Total Medical Expenses

Once you have gathered all your medical receipts, you need to calculate your total medical expenses for the tax year. This includes all medical expenses that were not covered by your medical scheme.

Step 3: Determine the Amount of Tax Deductions You Can Claim

To determine the amount of tax deductions you can claim, you need to calculate the lesser of the following:

The total medical expenses for the tax year
7.5% of your taxable income

Step 4: Complete Your Tax Return

Once you have determined the amount of tax deductions you can claim, you need to complete your tax return.

You can claim tax deductions for medical expenses by completing the “Medical Expenses” section on your tax return.

Step 5: Submit Your Tax Return

Finally, submit your tax return to SARS (South African Revenue Service). Make sure that you attach all your medical receipts and supporting documents to your tax return.