Creating and running a South Africa payroll
South Africa’s stable and diverse economy makes the country an excellent place to expand your business.
One of the first steps in any South African expansion is likely to be setting up a payroll and hiring employees. However, the country’s unique labor laws and bureaucracy can make this a long and difficult process.
At New Horizons, we offer payroll outsourcing services for organizations expanding into South Africa. We will set up and run your South Africa payroll, providing you with all the support you need to expand more efficiently, whether or not you have an established entity in South Africa.
If you have an entity
If you have already established an official entity in South Africa, we offer outsourced payroll support to help you set up and run your South Africa payroll. In addition, we can provide HR, contract, and legal compliance support meaning you won’t have to worry about any of the complex administration and can focus on your expansion efforts.
This service is the perfect solution for any organization that has already registered an entity in South Africa but could benefit from support navigating the unique South African employment system.
If you don’t have an entity
For organizations that do not yet have an entity and want to stay flexible, we can provide the use of our South Africa subsidiary to act as employer of record for your new employees. Additionally, we will handle the setup, management, and compliance work associated with your South Africa payroll, taking care of everything for you.
This is a low-risk and flexible way to start your expansion into South Africa market, helping you focus on a successful South African expansion.
Faster, more reliable South Africa expansion
Reliable Delivery
We guarantee that all payments will be on time, your data will be secure, and you can be up and running within just 48 hours.
An Established Presence
Our in-country subsidiary will act as employer of record, offering you a presence in South Africa for legal local employment.
Flexible Solutions
Our team will manage all of the admin, payroll, HR, and taxes, so you can focus on building your business in South Africa.
Up-To-Date Compliance
We’ll ensure you stay fully compliant at all times with the laws laid out in South Africa’s business and employment regulations.
A Single Point of Contact
Our centralized service gives you a single point of contact, simplifying the entire South Africa employment process.
Proven Global Expertise
Our in-house teams of payroll and HR experts have already helped all kinds of organizations expand globally.
South Africa payroll guide
What are the withholdings and tax requirements in South Africa?
Employers and employees must pay toward social funds in South Africa. For the Unemployment Insurance Fund, employees pay 1% of salaries and employers pay roughly 8.5%.
For the workplace insurance fund (COIDA), employers must pay between 0.11% and 8.26%, depending on their industry and the perceived level of risk to employees.
Income tax in South Africa is progressive, and rates range from 18% to 45% depending on income level.
The corporate tax rate in South Africa is a flat 28% for most companies.
Skills Development Levy (SDL) | 1.00% |
Unemployment Insurance | 1.00% |
Total Employment Cost | 2.00% |
Unemployment Insurance | 1% |
| Total Cost | 1% |
Up to 205,900 Rand | 18% |
205,900 – 321,600 Rand | 37,062 + 26% taxable income above 195,850 |
321,601 – 445,100 Rand | 67,144 + 31% taxable income above 305,850 |
445,101- 584,200 Rand | 105,429 + 36% taxable income above 423,300 |
584,201 – 744,800 Rand | 155,505+ 39% taxable income above 555,600 |
744,801 – 1,577,300 Rand | 218,139 + 41% taxable income above 708,310 |
Above 1,577,300 Rand | 559,464 + 45% taxable income above 1,500,000 |
Entitlements and terminations in South Africa
There is no mandatory maximum for probation periods in South Africa, but they should be reasonable in length.
The notice periods required for terminations vary depending on the length of service. For up to six months of service, the notice period is one week. For between six and 12 months of service, the notice period is two weeks, and for beyond 12 months, the notice period is four weeks.
Some employees may be entitled to severance pay, for example when dismissed for economic reasons, at a rate of one week of pay for every year of service.
How to establish a South Africa payroll
Establishing a payroll in South Africa independently can be a time-consuming and frustrating process. You will generally need to register an entity in the country, open a bank account, and more. The whole process can take several weeks to complete, holding back your expansion and cutting into expected revenues.
New Horizons offers an alternative to this by taking care of your entire payroll setup and management process, keeping you compliant and speeding up your entry into the South African marketplace. We can also offer the use of our South African subsidiary to work as employer of record for your staff, so you can benefit from our services even if you don’t have an established entity in South Africa.
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Your all-in-one solution for payroll outsourcing and South Africa expansion
New Horizons’ South Africa PEO, payroll, and employer of record services enable your business to quickly and efficiently start trading in South Africa. With our help, your business can commence operations in South Africa in just 48 hours, and you could save up to 82% in expansion costs, whether or not you already have a registered entity in the country.
Our team of South Africa expansion experts can also handle your payroll, benefits, and expenses in the country. Additionally, we can manage your HR duties, as well as employment and any tax compliance work. As the only global PEO with an in-house recruitment team, New Horizons can also source, hire, and onboard your local workforce, so you can focus solely on your expansion.
