Common South African payroll questions, answered clearly.
Practical answers for small and medium-sized businesses organising employee information, hours, payroll runs, payslips and payroll records.
What information is normally needed before running payroll?
Businesses generally need accurate employee information and pay inputs for the payroll period, such as hours, rates and applicable earnings or deductions.
Why should payroll be reviewed before it is finalised?
A review helps identify incorrect hours, rates, employee details or other inputs before relying on the result.
What is a payslip?
A payslip is a payroll document provided to an employee showing information about their pay for a period.
Can payroll software replace an employer's payroll responsibilities?
No. Software can organise calculations and workflow, but the employer remains responsible for accurate records and applicable obligations.
Why are employee hours important in payroll?
For businesses where employees are paid according to hours or shifts, accurate time information is an important payroll input.
What should a small business look for in payroll software?
Look for a workflow that matches the business, supports required records, makes results easy to review and produces necessary documents.
Is mobile payroll useful for small businesses?
It can be useful when owners or payroll administrators need access to routine payroll tasks away from a desktop. Payflow SA is delivered as an Android application.
Does Payflow SA provide payroll reports?
The current Payflow SA offering lists reports including EMP201 summary, IRP5 certificates, EMP501 reconciliation, UI19 declaration and ETI breakdown on the full plan.
Payroll rules and employer obligations can change. Payflow SA provides software and workflow assistance; it is not a substitute for current guidance from relevant South African authorities or professional advice where required.