SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICE
GOVERNMENT NOTICE

3 MARCH 2017

FIXING OF RATE PER KILOMETRE IN RESPECT OF MOTOR VEHICLE FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTION 8(1)(b)(ii) AND (iii) OF THE INCOME TAX ACT, 1962

Under section 8(1)(b)(ii) and (iii) of the Income Tax Act, 1962 (Act No. 58 of 1962), I, Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan, Minister of Finance, hereby determine that the rate per kilometre referred to in that section must be an amount determined in accordance with the Schedule hereto.

1. Definition
   
   In this Schedule, "value" in relation to a motor vehicle used by the recipient of an allowance as contemplated in section 8(1)(b)(ii) and (iii) of the Income Tax Act, 1962, means-
   1. where that motor vehicle (not being a motor vehicle in respect of which paragraph (b)(ii) of this definition applies) was acquired by that recipient under a bona fide agreement of sale or exchange concluded by parties dealing at arm's length, the original cost thereof to him/her, including any sales tax or value-added tax but excluding any finance charge or interest payable by him/her in respect of his acquisition thereof; or
   2. where that motor vehicle-
      1. is held by that recipient under a lease contemplated in paragraph (b) of the definition of "instalment credit agreement" in section 1 of the Value-Added Tax Act, 1991; or
      2. was held by him/her under such a lease and the ownership thereof was acquired by him/her on the termination of the lease,
      the cash value thereof as contemplated in the definition of "cash value" in section 1 of the Value-Added Tax Act; or
   3. in any other case, the market value of that motor vehicle at the time when that recipient first obtained the vehicle or the right of use thereof, plus an amount equal to the sales tax or value added tax which would have been payable in respect of the purchase of the vehicle had it been purchased by the recipient at that time at a price equal to that market value.


2. Determination of rate per kilometre
   
   The rate per kilometre referred to in section 8(1)(b)(ii) and (iii) must, subject to the provisions of paragraph 4, be determined in accordance with the cost scale set out in paragraph 3, and must be the sum of-
   1. the fixed cost divided by the total distance in kilometres (for both private and business purposes) shown to have been travelled in the vehicle during the year of assessment: Provided that where the vehicle has been used for business purposes during a period in that year which is less than the full period of that year, the fixed cost must be an amount which bears to the fixed cost the same ratio as the period of use for business purposes bears to 365 days;
   2. where the recipient of the allowance has borne the full cost of the fuel used in the vehicle, the fuel cost; and
   3. where that recipient has borne the full cost of maintaining the vehicle (including the cost of repairs, servicing, lubrication and tyres), the maintenance cost.


3. Cost scale
   
   

   Where the value of the vehicle	Fixed Cost R	Fuel Cost c/km	Maintenance Cost c/km
   does not exceed R85 000	28 492	91.2	32.9
   exceeds R85 000 but does not exceed R170 000	50 929	101.8	41.2
   exceeds R170 000 but does not exceed R255 000	73 427	110.6	45.4
   exceeds R255 000 but does not exceed R340 000	93 267	118.9	49.6
   exceeds R340 000 but does not exceed R425 000	113 179	127.2	58.2
   exceeds R425 000 but does not exceed R510 000	134 035	146.0	68.4
   exceeds R510 000 but does not exceed R595 000	154 879	150.9	84.9
   exceeds R595 000	154 879	150.9	84.9



4. Simplified method for distances less than 12 000 kilometres
   
   Where-
   1. the provisions of section 8(1)(b)(iii) are applicable in respect of the recipient of an allowance or advance;
   2. the distance travelled in the vehicle for business purposes during the year of assessment does not exceed 12 000 kilometres, or where more than one vehicle has been used during the year of assessment the total distance travelled in those vehicles for business purposes does not exceed 12 000 kilometres; and
   3. no other compensation in the form of a further allowance or reimbursement (other than for parking or toll fees) is payable by the employer to that recipient,
   that rate per kilometre is, at the option of the recipient, equal to 355 cents per kilometre.
   


5. Effective date
   
   The rate per kilometre determined in terms of this Schedule applies in respect of years of assessment commencing on or after 1 March 2017.