Payslips out on time, PAYE, UIF and SDL calculated correctly, EMP201s filed by the 7th and EMP501 reconciliations done twice a year. Whether you have one employee or fifty, we run your payroll so you don't have to — anywhere in South Africa.
Everything an employer has to get right every month — and the two big reconciliations every year.
Salaries, wages, overtime, commission, bonuses and deductions processed, with compliant payslips sent to you or straight to your staff.
Deductions calculated to the cent and the monthly EMP201 submitted and paid before the 7th.
The interim and annual employer reconciliations, with IRP5 / IT3(a) certificates issued to every employee.
Taking on your first employee? We register you as an employer with SARS and the UIF, and for SDL when you cross the threshold.
Employing young workers? The ETI reduces the PAYE you pay for qualifying employees — if it is claimed correctly on the EMP201.
Missed EMP201s, an EMP501 that will not balance, or IRP5s that do not match? We fix the history and keep you compliant going forward.
Payroll is more than working out net pay. Every month an employer must calculate PAYE, UIF and SDL correctly, pay it to SARS by the 7th, keep the UIF informed, issue compliant payslips and keep records that will reconcile at the end of the year. We do all of it for you.
You tell us about new starters, leavers, salary changes, overtime and leave; we process the run, send you a summary to approve and distribute the payslips. The EMP201 is submitted on eFiling and you receive the exact amount and payment reference. Twice a year we complete the EMP501 reconciliation and issue IRP5 certificates. If you prefer to keep your own payroll software, we can also simply review and file for you.
All three are declared on one monthly return, the EMP201, and paid with one payment.
The EMP201 and payment are due by the 7th of the following month. When the 7th falls on a weekend or public holiday, the deadline moves to the last business day before it — not after. Paying late costs a 10% penalty plus interest, and repeated late payments draw SARS's attention. Our clients never have to remember the date; the return is filed and the payment details are in their inbox days before.
Twice a year the employer must reconcile everything declared on the EMP201s with what was actually paid and with the employee tax certificates:
The annual EMP501 produces the IRP5 / IT3(a) certificates your employees need for their own tax returns, and SARS pre-populates their returns from it — so an incorrect EMP501 causes problems for every person on your payroll. A late EMP501 attracts a penalty of 1% of the year's PAYE for every month it is outstanding, up to 10%. We prepare the reconciliation from the same records we used for the monthly runs, so it balances first time.
You must register with SARS for PAYE within 21 business days of becoming an employer whose employees are liable for tax; UIF and SDL registration with SARS happen at the same time where they apply. Separately, every employer — including households employing a domestic worker or gardener for more than 24 hours a month — must register with the Unemployment Insurance Fund at the Department of Employment and Labour and submit monthly UIF declarations. We handle the SARS registrations, the UIF registration and the ongoing declarations as part of the service. See our SARS registration page for the full picture.
Looking to claim UIF benefits as an employee? Claims are made directly with the UIF through uFiling or a Labour Centre. We help employers register and stay compliant so that their employees' claims are not held up by missing declarations.
The ETI lets employers reduce the PAYE they pay over to SARS for qualifying employees aged 18 to 29 who earn below the monthly cap, for up to 24 months per employee. It is claimed on the EMP201 each month and reconciled on the EMP501. Many small employers who qualify never claim it; we check eligibility for every new starter.
Running payroll in-house means buying and updating software every time SARS changes the tables, keeping up with UIF ceilings and ETI rules, and being personally responsible when the EMP501 does not balance. Outsourcing to Melletts gives you an experienced payroll team and registered tax practitioners for a fixed monthly fee that is usually far less than the time it costs you — and it pairs naturally with our bookkeeping service, so your salaries, PAYE and UIF are in the books the day they are paid.
Monthly returns, two reconciliations a year — all on our calendar for every client.
Declaration and payment for the previous month. Earlier if the 7th falls on a weekend or public holiday.
Reconciliation for March to August 2026. Penalty of 1% of annual PAYE per month if late, up to 10%.
Full-year reconciliation for March 2026 to February 2027, and IRP5 / IT3(a) certificates issued to staff.
Employee details and contributions declared to the Unemployment Insurance Fund each month.
Register with SARS as an employer within 21 business days of your first taxable employee.
Once your annual remuneration bill exceeds R500 000, 1% Skills Development Levy applies.
Dates move when they fall on weekends or public holidays — we track every change for you.
Take over my payrollSwitching payroll providers — or starting from scratch — takes less time than you think.
Names, ID numbers, salaries and any existing payroll records. If you are a new employer we start with the PAYE and UIF registrations.
We process the payroll, send you a summary to check and distribute payslips once you give the go-ahead.
EMP201 submitted and payment details sent before the 7th, UIF declared, and the EMP501s done twice a year without you lifting a finger.
If that employee earns above the tax threshold — R99 000 a year for the 2027 tax year — yes, you must register for PAYE and deduct tax. Either way you must register for UIF if they work more than 24 hours a month.
Yes. Anyone employing a domestic worker, gardener or carer for more than 24 hours a month must register with the UIF and pay the 1% + 1% contributions. We can set this up for you.
The Skills Development Levy is 1% of your total payroll, paid only once your annual remuneration bill exceeds R500 000. Below that, you are exempt.
File and pay it immediately — the penalty is 10% of the amount plus interest, and it does not get smaller with time. We can submit outstanding returns and request remission of the penalty if there are reasonable grounds.
Yes. We import the year-to-date figures from your previous payroll so the EMP501 reconciliation and IRP5s are correct for the whole year.
However you prefer: emailed to you to hand out, emailed directly to each employee, or sent by WhatsApp. Payslips are compliant with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.
Monthly books, management accounts, annual financial statements and cash-flow forecasts.
Read more →Tax numbers, eFiling, registered representatives and VAT, PAYE, UIF and SDL registrations.
Read more →Every filing and payment date for individuals, employers, VAT vendors and companies.
Read more →Get a free, no-obligation quote today. The fastest way to reach us is WhatsApp.
Send us a WhatsApp and we'll have you set up before the 7th.