Payslip Template South Africa
Create BCEA-compliant payslips with itemised earnings and deductions. No spreadsheets, just WhatsApp.
Legal requirement
Section 33 of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) 75 of 1997 requires every employer to provide a written payslip on each pay day. Non-compliance can lead to a CCMA dispute.
What must a South African payslip include?
The BCEA sets out minimum information that must appear on every payslip. Here is the full list from Section 33(1) of the BCEA:
- Employer's full name and address
- Employee's full name and occupation
- Period of payment (e.g., 1–31 March 2026)
- Employee's gross remuneration (before deductions)
- Each deduction itemised separately (UIF, PAYE, SDL, pension, medical aid)
- The actual amount paid (net pay)
- Employee's UIF reference number (if registered)
Understanding payslip deductions
South African payslips typically include three statutory deductions. Here is how each one works:
PAYE (Pay As You Earn)
Income tax deducted at source. Calculated using SARS tax tables based on the employee's annual taxable income. For 2026/2027: the first R99,000 is tax-free (under-65s). From R1 to R245,100, the rate is 18% (with a primary rebate of R17,820).
UIF (Unemployment Insurance Fund)
1% deducted from the employee's gross pay. The employer contributes a matching 1%, but this does not appear on the payslip. Maximum ceiling: R17,712 per month. UIF is governed by the Unemployment Insurance Act 63 of 2001.
SDL (Skills Development Levy)
1% of total payroll, paid by the employer. Does not appear on the employee's payslip but must be declared on the monthly EMP201 return. Exempt if annual payroll is under R500,000. Governed by the Skills Development Levies Act 9 of 1999.
Example payslip
An actual payslip generated by wabill.
Overtime is calculated at 1.5× the normal hourly rate as required by Section 10 of the BCEA. Normal hourly rate: R8,500 ÷ 195 hours = R43.59/hr. Overtime rate: R43.59 × 1.5 = R65.38/hr.
Common payslip mistakes to avoid
- Missing UIF deduction. This is required even for part-time employees working 24+ hours/month.
- Not showing overtime separately. The BCEA requires overtime to be itemised.
- Lumping deductions together. Each deduction must be listed individually.
- Wrong pay period. It must match the actual dates worked.
- No employer address. The BCEA specifically requires this.
Create and send payslips with wabill
Instead of wrestling with spreadsheets, create payslips on the wabill dashboard. Select the employee, set the pay period, and add your earnings and deduction lines. A professional BCEA-compliant PDF is generated instantly. Previous payslip data pre-populates for returning employees. Send it directly to your employee on WhatsApp.
10 free documents to start, then R49/month.
FAQ
What must a payslip include in South Africa?
Section 33 of the BCEA requires: employer name and address, employee name and occupation, period of payment, gross remuneration, deductions (UIF, PAYE, SDL), net pay, and the employer's UIF reference number.
Is it illegal not to give employees a payslip?
Yes. Section 33(1) of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of 1997 requires employers to give each employee a written payslip on every pay day. Failure to comply can result in CCMA action.
How do I calculate UIF deductions?
UIF is 2% of the employee's gross remuneration, split as 1% from the employee and 1% from the employer. The employer contribution does not appear on the payslip but must be paid to SARS monthly via the EMP201.
Can I use wabill for payslips?
Yes. Create payslips on the wabill dashboard. Enter earnings and deduction lines and get a professional PDF payslip with all BCEA-required fields. Send it directly to your employee on WhatsApp.
10 free documents. No card needed.