How to Register for UIF as an Employer
Quick Answer
How to Register for UIF as an Employer
Register as a UIF employer on uFiling (or at a Labour Department office) before paying your first salary. Contributions are 1% from the employer + 1% from the employee (2% total) of gross pay, subject to the UIF earnings ceiling – pay via your monthly EMP201 to SARS and declare on uFiling.
What you need to register
- Business registration (CIPC documents) or ID for sole proprietors
- SARS tax reference number
- Banking details and business address
- First employee’s ID and details (if already hired)
Portal: uFiling. Glossary: UIF and uFiling.
The monthly and annual rhythm
- Deduct 1% from the employee’s pay (plus your matching 1%) and pay it with the EMP201 by the 7th.
- Declare employees on uFiling so benefits work when needed.
- New employees must be registered promptly – do it at hiring, not at claim time.
- Issue UI-19 forms when staff leave.
Related: EMP201, how UIF works and the UIF calculator.
Consequences of skipping UIF
Unregistered employers face backdated contributions, penalties and interest – and employees who cannot claim benefits (maternity, illness, unemployment) will land exactly when your business can least afford the fight. Domestic employers are also covered: see the domestic employer entry.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming UIF applies only after a year – it applies from the first rand
- Deducting 1% but never paying it over – that is criminal, not administrative
- Not declaring employees on uFiling, so maternity claims fail
- Forgetting the UI-19 when someone leaves
A South African example
A garden services owner registers on uFiling when he hires his first assistant. He sets the payroll sheet to compute 2% total, pays the EMP201 on the 5th monthly, and when his foreman’s wife has a baby, the maternity claim is approved in weeks – because declarations were clean.
Related questions
- First Employee Checklist for South African Employers
- How to Get a COIDA Letter of Good Standing
- How Does UIF Work for Employers?
- UI-19 (glossary)
Always verify this information with official South African government sources. Rules, fees and thresholds change. Check uFiling Department of Employment and Labour before you act.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is UIF registration free?
Yes – registration costs nothing; the 2% contribution starts with your first payroll.
What salary is UIF calculated on?
Gross remuneration up to the UIF earnings ceiling; above the ceiling the contribution stays fixed.
Do casual and part-time workers count?
Yes – anyone working more than 24 hours a month for you must be registered.
