Monthly PAYE returns

The monthly PAYE return is called a EMP201. The following amounts are to completed on this return, namely PAYE, SDL and UIF. The amounts are the amounts that are deducted from employees’ salaries. The SARS PAYE tables can be seen here. A 10% penalty is raised by SARS for the late submission of this recon.

SDL

SDL, or skills development levy is payable when the company’s total payroll exceeds R500 000 per annum. The amount to be contributed is 1% of the employees salary. This amount is contributed by the employer and not deducted from the salary.

UIF

UIF is dedcuted at 1% from the employees salary. But the amount deducted should not exceed R148.72. The employer then has to contribute an equal amount of 1% of the employee’s salary not exceeding R148.72. This amount is then paid over to SARS, who in turn pays it over to the department of labour.

PAYE recon

The EMP501 is called the PAYE recon. This recon should be done twice a year. The first one is 6 months after the beginning of the financial year. The second one is done 12 moths into the financial year, thus it will include the salaries for the full financial year. The purpose of the recon is to ensure that the amount of PAYE, UIF and SDL that was deducted monthly from PAYE corresponds with the amounts paid over to SARS.

IRP5 / IT3

Employees who earn enough to have PAYE deducted receives an IRP5. Employees who only have UIF deducted receives an IT3. These certificates are generated when the second PAYE recon for the year is done, and should then be handed over to all employees when the EMP501 has been submitted. No certificates are generated when the first EMP501 is submitted.

Easyfile

The PAYE recon is done via Easyfile, software that was developed by SARS especially for this. The detail can be entered manually or via an electronic file created by payroll software. If payroll software is used by the company.

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