Payroll Mistakes Employers in Johannesburg Must Avoid
- November 26, 2025
- Posted by: Tshepiso
- Category: Human Resources
Let’s keep it real, nobody plans to hand SARS a fat cheque or star in their own CCMA horror story. Yet every week another Johannesburg boss says, “How did this happen?!”. Here are the payroll mistakes that hurt the most (and how to never join that club).
Top 7 Payroll Mistakes Johannesburg Employers Must Avoid
| Payroll Mistake | What It Costs You (Real Numbers) |
|---|---|
| Using old tax tables | 10% penalty + interest daily |
| Calling an employee a “contractor” | Backdated PAYE + UIF for years |
| Forgetting public holiday double pay | 200% back-pay + fines |
| Submitting EMP201 one day late | Automatic 10% penalty |
| Payslips that look like WhatsApp texts | R900 per employee fine |
| Ignoring the March minimum wage increase | Full year back-pay for everyone |
| Deleting payroll records after 2 years | You lose every CCMA case automatically |
Your 30-second “stay alive” payroll mistakes checklist
- Tax tables → updated the same day SARS drops them (Payroll compliance rules in South Africa)
- Payslips → proper Section 21 format, every month, no excuses (Payroll made simple for small businesses in Johannesburg)
- New staff → UIF registered in under 14 days (How employment equity compliance works)
- Contractors → actually pass the SARS “deeming” test (How to choose a payroll provider in Johannesburg)
- Backup everything → forever (Google Drive is your friend)
Still doing this yourself and hoping for the best? Gentle reminder: 5 Signs It’s Time to Upgrade Your Payroll System. Learn more about payroll solutions for small businesses in South Africa and discover affordable payroll services in South Africa. We’re Starniche Consulting, Greenstone Hill Johannesburg, plus Richards Bay and Durban, and we stop these payroll mistakes before they even think about happening.
Want to know which of these payroll mistakes is hiding in your system right now? We’ll spot it in 10 minutes flat for free
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