Can a new taxpayer claim refunds for last five years?

By Marc Sevitz · Updated 2 December 2014

My wife did not register as a taxpayer previously because she was told she earns a salary below the taxpayer threshold. She now intends registering as a taxpayer. Can she file returns for the last five years since she has incurred medical expenses on her own medical aid amounting to R50000 which was never recovered from the medical aid. Will she receive a tax refund for her medical expenses for the last five years?

TaxTim Marc said:
9 December 2014 at 8:35

Did she pay any tax in those years? If not then she cannot claim anything as there is nothing to refund.

Willy said:
9 December 2014 at 11:41

Yes she did pay taxes in all those years, however, when she wanted to file a return she was told that she earns a salary below the amt that is required of a salaried taxpayer to file a return.
If that ceiling amt mentioned above is increased each year she may never get a chance to claim back on the medical expenses she had incured.

TaxTim Marc said:
9 December 2014 at 15:44

Let her file the return, the ceiling for actually filing is something SARS puts up, but we suggest always filing because in her case there may be a refund and it always best to be fully compliant by filing all returns.