EMP501 Season is Here – What You Need to Know
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1 April to 31 May 2025, all employers in South Africa must submit their annual PAYE reconciliations to SARS. For accountants, it’s crunch time — and this year’s filing comes with important updates and stricter compliance expectations.
🔑 Key Reminders
The EMP501 must match all submitted monthly EMP201s and include accurate IRP5/IT3(a) tax certificates.
Late or incorrect submissions could lead to hefty penalties – starting at 1% of your total PAYE liability, increasing monthly up to 10%.
Criminal penalties (including jail time!) may apply for non-submission, non-payment, or failing to issue employee certificates.
💻 Tech Update: New e@syFile™ Version 8.0
SARS has launched a brand-new version of e@syFile™ Employer, which became mandatory from 1 March 2025.
What’s new?
A simpler, faster, and more secure platform
Password recovery tools
Higher system requirements: Windows 10 (64-bit), 8GB RAM, and 2GB+ storage
If you’re an employer with more than 50 employees, use e@syFile™.
If you have 50 or fewer, eFiling is also an option.
📌 Why It Matters for Accountants
Accountants are often tasked with completing and verifying these submissions. Accurate filing ensures smooth SARS auto-assessments for employees, prevents compliance headaches, and builds client trust. Make sure to review SARS’s guides and dashboards to confirm submission success and avoid rejections.
📅 Don’t wait until the last minute – 31 May 2025 is your final deadline!
Read more in the Monthly Tax Digest – April 2025.
