February
Important dates/deadlines
- 19 February 2025: Budget Speech for 2025/2026 tax year (postponed to 12 March 2025)
- 28 February 2025: End of tax year 2024/2025
Task to complete
- Preparation: Print the IRP5/IT3a Validation report to identify possible error or outstanding information
- Reconciliation: Review your payroll values (EMP501 History Report) with your monthly EMP201 declarations and payments for PAYE, SDL, UIF and ETI
- Complete your final payroll for 2024/2025 tax year
- Create a Tax Year-end Instance of your final February payroll when your start your March payroll - this happens automatically, and this instance allows you to generate your tax certificates and submission files
March
Important dates/deadlines
- 1 March 2025: Start of 2025/2026 tax year
- 7 March 2025: Deadline to submit your EMP201 for February 2025 (Friday)
- 12 March 2025: Budget Speech for 2025/2026 tax year
- 19 March 2025: Software update - Release 6.4a, including the update 2025/2026 tax tables rates for South Africa
- 21 March 2025: Public holiday - Human Rights Day (Friday)
Task to complete
- Update your live payroll to Release 6.4a (available mid-March 2025). This is a mandatory update for all users.
- Attend the 2025 Annual Payroll Tax Update seminars or webinar presented by Rob Cooper (click here to book your seat)
- Review all payroll records and print the IRP5/IT3a Validation report to identify possible errors or outstanding information
- Reconcile your payroll values (EMP501 History Report) in you Tax Year-end Copy System (if not done previously) with your monthly EMP201 declarations and payment for PAYE, SDL, UIF and ETI
April
Important dates/deadlines
- 1 April 2025: Employer Annual Reconciliation submission opens **
- 7 April 2025: Submit your EMP201 for March 2025 (Monday)
- 11 April 2025: Return of Earnings 2024 (2024/2025) CF-2a submission opens (as per website Compensation Fund Online website - https://cfonline.labour.gov.za/OnlineSubmissions)
- 18 April 2025: March 2024: Public holiday - Good Friday (Friday)
- 21 April 2025: Public holiday - Family Day (Monday)
- 27 April 2025: Public holiday - Freedom Day (Sunday)
- 28 April 2025: Public holiday - Freedom Day observed (Monday)
- 30 April 2025: Deadline for Workplace Skills Plan / Actual Training Reports (Skills Reports) to your SETA (Wednesday) - confirm the specific submission dates with your SETA
** As per SARS Notice on SARS website
Task to complete
- Review all payroll records and print the IRP5/IT3a Validation report to identify possible errors or outstanding information
- Reconcile your payroll values with your monthly EMP201 declarations and payment for PAYE, SDL, UIF and ETI
- Submit Employer Annual Reconciliation (EMP501 and tax certificates) to SARS through SARS e@syFile once filing season opens for employers
- Submit Return of Earnings 2024 (financial year 2024/2025) to the Compensation Fund when submission period opens
May
Important dates/deadlines
- 1 May 2025: Public holiday - Workers' Day (Thursday)
- 7 May 2025: Submit your EMP201 for April 2025 (Wednesday)
- 31 May 2025: Deadline for submission of Annual Employer Reconciliation (Saturday)
Task to complete
- If you still have not completed the preparation for submission:
- Review all payroll records and print the IRP5/IT3a Validation report to identify possible errors or outstanding information
- Reconcile your payroll values with your monthly EMP201 declarations and payment for PAYE, SDL, UIF and ETI
- Submit Employer Annual Reconciliation (EMP501 and tax certificates) to SARS through SARS e@syFile before Friday 31 May 2025 ***
- Submit Return of Earnings 2024 (2024/2025) to the Compensation Fund
*** Avoid the rush and long queues for assistance by submitting as soon as possible.
June
Important dates/deadlines
- 7 June 2025: Submit your EMP201 for May 2025 (Saturday)
- 30 June 2025: Return of Earnings 2024 (financial year 2024/2025) CF-2a submission deadline (Monday)
Task to complete
- Submit Return of Earnings 2024 (financial year 2024/2025) to the Compensation Fund before Monday 30 June 2025
(Updated 17/03/2025)