Good day

I require a document reflecting the school fees for 2020 from the closest fee-paying public school based on Section 18 of the Income Tax Act, 1962. I am allowed to claim the following expenses as I have a daughter (13 years old) with Down Syndrome that meets the required criteria according to the SARS documentation:

"SERVICES

7. Special education schools for learners with disabilities. Qualifying expenses will include –
• school assistant or classroom costs; and
• school fees limited to the amount in excess of the fees that would have been payable if the person attended the closest fee-paying public school not specialising in learners with special educational needs."

To enable me to claim this I need the school fees for 2020 of the closest fee-paying public school and this is Doornpoort Primary school as I live in Doornpoort, Pretoria (not even 20 meters from this school).

In previous years I sent an email to the school and they then sent a one page document to me with the school fees that I submitted to SARS as proof. This year I did not get a response to my email and I phoned them. I was told to come to the school and I did so today. I then was told that the principal will call me back. She did so and told me telephonically that they cannot give me this document as it is only available to parents who have children in the school. Her only concern was with the email addresses that sent the document to me previously.

It is hard enough having a child with a disability trying to get the best education possible to now also struggle with a simple request for a document to assist me in claiming tax back as we are paying an enormous amount for a special needs school.

Without this document I am unable to submit my tax form for this year and am not sure how to proceed. Your assistance in this manner will be appreciated.

Kind regards
Corné