SARS Business mileage logging requirements

With the individual financial year coming to a close in the next month, it is absolutely vital to remember every piece of information that has to be compiled into your SARS tax return before the end of February. This includes, as of quite recently, a mandatory mileage tracking logbook for any person that receives an allowance for business usage of their private cars, or has been given a company car to use for business purposes.



The logging procedure is used to differentiate personal travelling distances from business time in order to determine how much of a tax break an individual should be given (since business mileage adds extra wear to the vehicle, the owner should be compensated for their use of it). The requirements for the SARS compliant logbook are quite detailed, and require accurate recording of all travels both during and after office hours.



For example, every trip that is made must be recorded, along with the reason for the trip, the destination, distance and time. These facts are checked against the odometer readings that are required from the vehicle on the first and last day of every financial year.



GPS tracking has als become popular in areas such as mileage logging that is required by some companies whose employees are frequent travellers. Paper is no longer the easiest way of logging mileage and distances. Electronic logbooks such as those made by The Little Logbook have made the whole process so much easier and don’t require half the effort on your part.



The GPS trip logger simply plugs into your vehicle, and does all of the work for you. It generates detailed trip reports that are compliant with SARS outlines, and can be password protected for your peace of mind.