The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has officially announced that the deadline for filing the Employer’s Annual Declaration (EMP501) for the 2024/2025 tax year is 31 May 2025. This process plays a vital role in preparing for the upcoming Personal Income Tax Filing Season, which opens later this year.
The Employer Annual Declaration includes reconciling monthly submissions made via EMP201 and reporting employee tax certificates such as IRP5s and IT3s. SARS relies on this data to pre-populate individual income tax returns and ensure that auto-assessments are accurate. Employers are urged to avoid delays and errors, as incorrect submissions can prevent employees from filing their tax returns properly.
In preparation for this season, SARS has launched the updated e@syFile™ Employer version 8.0, available for download from www.sars.gov.za. This upgraded version offers improved reconciliation features to streamline the submission process for employers, tax practitioners, and payroll administrators.
It is mandatory for all employers, including those that are not economically active, to submit their annual declarations. Failure to comply will result in penalties, as SARS holds all employers accountable for timely and accurate filing.
To assist employers with the filing process, SARS has released a series of step-by-step how-to videos on the SARS TV YouTube Channel.
For further queries, employers can contact SARS at SARSMedia@sars.gov.za.