Electronic travel logbook

[Dave A]

For you to get any tax benefit out of a travel allowance on your private motor vehicle, from 1st March 2009 you have to keep a logbook.

SARS have thoughtfully provided an electronic travel elogbook here that you can download.

It looks quite handy, and being given out by SARS, must surely be compliant

[IanF]

Dave
Thanks for that. I always struggle to find the new rates for the next year. I use this for a car allowance logbook we print.

[Pastel Payroll Consultant]

Online Travel Logbook - Keep track of your business travel

Thought you might all need to know that from the 1st of March 2010, all taxpayers who use their personal vehicles for business travel are required by SARS to complete a logbook separating business travel mileage from that of private travel mileage in order to claim travel expenses.

Pastel Payroll has launched an Online Travel Logbook to provide tax payers with an easy-to-use Online Travel logbook for this purpose. Visit http://www.pastelpayroll.co.za/Paste...el-Logbook.asp

[Curtix]

Forgive me I am new to small biz in SA.
My wifes small biz uses her car to travel to clients.
Not too much maybe 100-200k per week.
Is it worth it for us to track Ks in the log book and if so do we need to also keep receipts for fuel / tires / oil / etc.

Thanks!

[Dave A]

Is it worth it for us to track Ks in the log book and if so do we need to also keep receipts for fuel / tires / oil / etc.

In a word - Yes.

When it comes to tracking costs, keeping a record of actual costs could help if they come in higher than the default allowances. Essentially it gives you more options.

[Curtix]

Thanks Dave.
I will just track travel distances for work alone.
Think that will suffice. Because other costs like petrol / oil are always going to be partly work, partly personal.
Also can I do so on a note pade or do I need to use the E-log SARS PDF.

Thanks again.

[Dave A]

I don't believe using the SARS logbook is mandatory. The goal would be to keep sufficient data to survive scrutiny should it ever come. As long as you can justify your claim, there should be no need for concern. In the words of our current Minister of Finance:

I used to be a tax-collector. That was a lot more fun; there was a regular army of lawyers and accountants to make sure the law means what we want it to mean, and when I paid courtesy visits to business they knew exactly what was under discussion.
Pravin Gordhan.

[Pastel Payroll Consultant]

Travel Logbook

At the end of the day, you only need to keep track of your travel (using a Travel Logbook) if you claim a travel deduction or receive a travel allowance.

It doesn’t matter what you utilise to keep track of your business and private travel, as long as it is accurate and can be given to SARS as supporting documentation should they ask for it.

I found an interesting article on Moneywebtax regarding how SARS will check whether your travel looks realistic: http://www.moneywebtax.co.za/moneywe...6274&sn=Detail

[Dave A]

That sounds just like the eLogger mentioned earlier, Renske. Is this a different product?

[Renske Manson]

Hi Dave,

Yes this is a differant product. There is very big differance between tripTrack and the other products on the market. Our software sets us above every other logbook available. It is so advanced but yet easy to use. It has so many added features you can even manage a small fleet with tripTrack. It is really a great product

[caedmon]

E-logbook

Dear all friends

This is caedmon from 3BM Industry Inc.We have a new product design for the new tax policy in SA.We call it GPS-tracker or E-logbook.

The e-logbook device is small, lightweight and attractive in design. Simple-to-use operation ensures there is no distraction to the vehicle operator. The internal rechargeable Li-Ion battery allows the device to be used wirelessly between charges. Alternatively, it can be plugged into the vehicle’s 12 volt power outlet with the included charger. The e-logbook has enough internal memory for approximately 30 days’ worth of average vehicle usage. An indicator LED light tells the user when memory levels are low. Connect the e-logbook to a computer and easily upload the stored data to the software.

If you need more information please feel free to contact me at : caedmon.cai@gmail.com

[Johnny Naude]

Travelog

Hi all

Please view www.elogger.biz. Worth a look, can save you tons of effort!

Travelog
Check out this unit, it automatically records everything SARS requires onsite
i.e. private/business, customer details and fuel - no need to edit pc software later
Stores 8000 trips, multiple drivers/vehicles etc
Even remembers customer details so no need to re enter customer details on the second visit
Destinations are displayed on maps as well a street views
Real value for money
Best I have come across and best of all it's developed and manufactured right here in good 'ol RSA with local support
Travelog is available at 011 913 3418

[ferdiemostert]

Hi everyone,

Just want to confirm the elogger unit posted earlier, defenitely worthwhile losing pen and paper and going this way.
Elogger is a fully hands off GPS unit giving SARS compliant data for every trip including all the addresses visited.
Business and Private data seperate, distance totals and storing capacity of more than 18 months.
Antenna technology not needing line of sight so unit can be placed at various locations inside the vehicle.
Lots of Q and A feedback and info on the main website www.elogger.co.za

[Simon Naude]

the perfect unit for the job

Hi guys

I have found the Travelog™ product is a far better piece of equipment, here below is some reasons why.

Record business and private on sight via the touch screen
Record the customers detail on sight and saves it to memory so if you revisit the same customer it automatically comes up with the detail, the problem with the other units out there is that you must edit this afterwards, and I found out I never know where I was a week ago.
You can log fuel separately on the unit, I have found the other units actually save this as a trip, but infect you just putting fuel in.
Also me as a rep I do not have the time to find just the gps co-ords on the net its to much of a hassle.

I have been using the Travelog unit for some time and it truly has saved me time money and effort.

If any one wants email me and I will forward the guys detail who sells this product.

[ferdiemostert]

Elogger travel data

Hi Guys
Just to confirm a few things. We did all the comparisons technically and through software. Anyone is welcome to do the same.
Elogger is the only unit that will give you the exact address location for every trip automatically without having to enter it manually. All GPS coordinates are converted within the software. Advanced antenna technology not requiring line of sight and not losing the signal all the time. Automatically stores business and private travel data seperately and have data storage capacity of more than 18 months.
Additional online webserver software to allow entry of all customer and client data to be remembered, combine and split trips, add maintenance and fuel cost, create an area or radius around your visiting adresses fot future reference and after all that create your final reports which is SARS compliant. Additionally having a seperate SD memory card as backup.
Best is to have a look at the devices offered in the market and compare apples with apples as we always say. Hope this helps.