What is PAYE
All employers are required to deduct Employees’ Tax from their salaries. The amounts deducted must be paid by the employer to SARS on a monthly basis.
The process of deducting or withholding tax from remuneration as it is earned by an employee is referred to as Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE).
Employers are required to:
- Deduct the correct amount of tax from employees’ remuneration.
- Pay this amount to SARS monthly, ensuring SARS receives a Monthly Employer Declaration (EMP201).
- Reconcile these deductions and payments with the completion of the interim and annual Employer Reconciliation Declarations. During the reconciliation periods, employers are required to submit an Employer Reconciliation Declaration (EMP501) confirming or correcting the PAYE, SDL and UIF declarations per EMP201s submitted, the payments made and the tax values of the Employee Tax Certificates [IRP5/IT3(a)].
- Issue tax certificates to employees
- An employer must issue an employee with an IRP5/IT3(a) where remuneration is paid or has become payable and from which Employees’ Tax was deducted. The IRP5/IT3(a) discloses the total employment remuneration earned for the year of assessment and the total deductions. IRP5/IT3(a) certificates must be issued to employees during the annual Employers tax season.
Seek professional advice
There is a lot to keep track of once you become and employer. It is advisable to call in an expert.
You can use the services of a suitable experienced and qualified HR consultant who can help to set up the principles and processes of the above, and then work on an ad hoc basis only as and when needed reducing the cost of a full-time HR manager.
Useful resources
- The Department of Labour: www.labour.gov.za
- SARS: www.sars.gov.za
- uFiling: www.ufiling.co.za
- Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA): www.ccma.org.za
- The South African Labour Guide: www.labourguide.co.za