Can you claim your dog for tax?

If your dog genuinely helps you earn an income, check if you can claim vet bills.

With tax season upon us, many people are looking at ways to legally limit their exposure to the taxman, with entrepreneurs – or provisional taxpayers – having more leniency when it comes to claiming expenses.

For many salaried employees, tax season is relatively straightforward, with employers deducting Pay-As-You-Earn tax throughout the year. Entrepreneurs, however, must estimate their taxable income while ensuring they claim every legitimate deduction but nothing they can't justify to the South African Revenue Service (SARS).

At the start of this month, auto assessments opened, with submissions for other taxpayers open from 13 July. Taxpayers who receive auto assessments have until 12 July to review and accept or query them.

Non-provisional taxpayers have until 23 October 2026 to submit their returns. Provisional taxpayers – including many entrepreneurs, freelancers, investors and landlords – have until 22 January 2027 to file.