What must a payslip include by law in South Africa?

The BCEA requires: employer's name and address, employee's name and job title, pay period, gross remuneration, each deduction with its purpose, net pay, and the employer's UIF contribution. This template includes all these fields.

How do I calculate PAYE for an employee?

PAYE is calculated by annualising the monthly gross salary, subtracting allowable deductions (pension contributions), applying the SARS tax brackets, subtracting rebates and medical credits, then dividing by 12. This template handles the calculation automatically using current SARS rates.

What is the UIF contribution rate in South Africa?

UIF is 2% of an employee's remuneration: 1% deducted from the employee and 1% contributed by the employer. The combined 2% is paid to the Unemployment Insurance Fund via the EMP201 submission.

How often must I provide payslips?

Payslips must be provided on each payday. For monthly-paid employees, this is once a month. For weekly or fortnightly employees, payslips are due each pay period. There is no exception to this requirement.

Can I email payslips instead of printing them?

Yes. The BCEA does not specify the format. An electronic payslip sent via email or accessible through a payroll system is legally compliant, provided the employee can access it.

PayrollExcel & Google Sheets

Free Payslip Template for South Africa

Download a free BCEA-compliant payslip template for South Africa. Includes PAYE, UIF, pension deductions, and all fields required by the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.

Updated 9 October 2026

About This Template

A comprehensive payslip template that meets all the requirements of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) in South Africa. This template calculates gross earnings, PAYE and UIF deductions, the employer's UIF and SDL contributions, and net pay automatically, with fields for pension, medical aid, and other deductions. It includes fields for overtime, allowances, and bonuses, and generates a professional payslip format suitable for printing or emailing to employees.

Who Is This For?

Small business owners processing payroll manually, bookkeepers handling client payrolls, HR administrators, and any employer in South Africa who needs to issue compliant payslips. Especially useful for businesses with 1-20 employees who do not use dedicated payroll software.

Key Features

BCEA-compliant format with all legally required fields
Automatic PAYE calculation using the 2026/2027 SARS tax tables (included in the file)
UIF deduction at 1% (employee) with employer contribution
Medical aid tax credit calculation
Overtime calculation at 1.5x and 2x rates
Year-to-date earnings and deductions tracking

How to Use This Template

1Download the template and enter your company details and the employee's personal information.
2Set the pay period, the employee's age group (for the correct PAYE rebate), and the number of medical aid members. PAYE is calculated for monthly-paid employees.
3Enter gross earnings: basic salary, overtime hours, commission, allowances, and any bonuses.
4Enter pension and medical aid deductions. The template auto-calculates PAYE (using the SARS tax tables), UIF (1%), and the employer's UIF and SDL.
5Review the net pay amount and year-to-date figures.
6Print or save as PDF and provide to the employee before or on payday.

Why South African Businesses Need This

Under the BCEA, every South African employer must provide employees with a written payslip on each payday. The payslip must show specific information including gross and net pay, all deductions, and the employer's details. Non-compliance can result in fines and Labour Court action. This template ensures you meet your legal obligations while also creating clear, professional payslips.

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How to Calculate PAYE in South Africa

How to calculate PAYE on salary in South Africa: annualise gross pay, apply SARS 2026/2027 brackets, subtract rebates and medical credits, divide by 12. Free PAYE calculator included.

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Template file

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Download template (.xlsx)

Free, no sign-up. Opens in Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice, and Numbers.

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