Posts tagged: paymaster webinar

Contact Glen Coburn

glen@paymaster.co.za

+27 836791311.

Partnerships

continue…

floatpays

Paymaster Employee financial wellbeing

Financial stress is bad for your staff and your bottom line!

The best way Floatpays, in partnership with Paymaster, can help reduce debt is by providing on-demand access to earned wages through integration with Paymaster payroll. Employees can access their earned-but-unpaid wages through EFT, instant money vouchers, or prepaid vouchers. If you want to improve financial stability and increase happiness and productivity among your employees, reach out to us.
And for employers, Floatpays can help streamline the payroll process and reduce the administrative burden of managing a large, seasonal workforce.

As a Paymaster partner, Floatpays is already integrated into the Paymaster payroll system, so set-up is quick and easy! Get in touch with Ian Hurst at ian@paymaster.co.za, +2782 898 5006, to book a free DEMO.

Book a demo

Ian Hurst

Paymaster Updates

You’ll find the weekly and Africa updates and resources to help you stay informed and on top of your payroll responsibilities and legislative changes you should know.

August

Nextgen Payroll Reconcilliation Report | New parameter
South Africa | New ‘UIF Income Uncapped’ Component
South Africa | Updated Take-On Validations on Pension and Provident Funds
Ghana | Total Cash Emoluments including Overtime
Namibia | PAYE 5 Tax Certificate Enhancements

August

Egypt – Income Tax Table Update
Madagascar – Minimum Wage Update
Mauritius – NSF Ceiling
Tanzania – Skills Development Levy Amendments

Paymaster Announcement

Paymaster is excited to announce that it is now operating under the umbrella of HRMASTER. We’re expanding our services to include

Time and Attendance
SDL Reimbursement and e-learning
Additional HR services

If you attended our recent webinar, you might have heard about these exciting changes. But if not, we’re delighted to let you know that we’re expanding our services to offer you even more.

But don’t worry, Paymaster will continue to offer the same great service you’ve come to expect. These changes won’t affect your relationship with us or the way you use our services. We’re simply enhancing our brand and offerings to better meet your needs.

We’re excited to help you take your business to the next level with our new services.

To learn more about these new services and how they can benefit your business, contact HRMASTER today.

SDL & SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

Paymaster Announcement

you ask any payroll question, we have the answer.

We will be announcing the details of each webinar on our social media channels, so be sure to follow us to stay updated. You can join the webinar using the link we will provide.

Closed

Wednesday
21 June
10:00

Schedule the next webinar

Wednesday
5 July
10:00

Who is this webinar for?

For payroll professionals increasing their skill base, or those new to this function. Or maybe you’re exploring Paymaster as a payroll option….this virtual series is aimed at all of you.

Click here to go to the previous Newsletter

– Monthly newsletter curated by Lezé Felton –

Please sign-up or invite someone to our Newsletters here to keep up-to-date

👉 Go check out our website- https://www.paymaster.co.za/ 👈

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Paymaster Newsletter July 2023

June 23, 2023

by admin Newsletters

Curated by Lezé

1 July 2023

Overview

EE Amendment Bill
Employer of Record services
Breaking news
Helpdesk Tips
Staff Bio -Firdous Ebrahim
New product features
Partnerships
Updates
Announcement – Skill Master webinar recap

More about the new EE Amendment bill

The Amendment to this bill, signed by the President in April, sets five-year sector targets for each province, that prescribes demographic and gender targets for companies that employ more than 50 employees.

The Employment Equity Act aims to redress the imbalances of South Africa’s past. The idea is to move towards reflecting the country’s demographics in the workplace. The Amendment to this bill, signed by the President in April, sets five-year sector targets for each province, (and national targets for employees operating nationally), that prescribes demographic and gender targets for companies that employ more than 50 employees.

These targets involve top management, senior management, professionally qualified and skilled levels. They also include employees with disabilities. Compliance certificates (issued by the Minister of Employment and Labour) for employers in good standing, will be required for any company applying for government contracts.

The economic sectors affected in this amendment are;

agriculture
forestry and fishing
manufacturing
mining and quarrying
construction
financial and insurance activities
transportation and storage
information and communication
water supply
sewerage
waste management and remedial activities
electricity
gas steam and air conditioning supply
human health and social work activities
arts
entertainment and recreation
real estate activities
professional
scientific and technical activities
wholesale and retail trade
repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
accommodation and food service activities
public administration and defence
compulsory social security
education and administrative and support activities.

To see the Tables of the provincial targets, CLICK HERE.

While the largest trade union federations support this amendment bill, many commentators and role players have questions and concerns, (including court challenges and possible constitutional breaches), especially around the methodology used to arrive at these targets. There are also fears that this move will hamper economic development, thereby increasing poverty, unemployment, and inequality. Statistics show that Black unemployment has grown since the implementation of race-based policies. ( Stats SA’s 2022 fourth quarter (Q4) Labour Force Survey ). Instead of helping the poor, it could instead hurt them by discouraging investment, growth, and jobs.

Experience has shown that these “quotas” make the rich, richer, and leave the poor sinking further into poverty.

Poverty

And the Constitutional principle of non-racialism is also at risk here. How do employers assess the race of their employees, other than these employees self-identifying? Should the private sector adopt the public sector racialism seen when SAPS Commissioner Jackie Selebi kept a police post open rather than promote the “wrong” race?

Most fair-minded South Africans acknowledge the urgency needed to correct the unfair labour practices of our past. But this new amendment has resulted in more questions than answers. At the moment it seems to be a blunt instrument being used to deal with a sensitive issue that affects every working person in South Africa.

Most South Africans agree that the unfair labour practices of the past have to be corrected.

– Written by Leslie Hurst –

Expand Your Global workforce with Employer of Record Services

In the fast-paced business world, organizations face many challenges when it comes to managing their global workforce. Managing HR and Payroll functions can be overwhelming as they navigate complex employment laws and ensure compliance with local regulations. This is where Employer of Record (EOR) services come to the fore. In this article, we will explore the benefits of using Employer of Record services and how they can help businesses streamline their operations, reduce risk, and make the most of growth opportunities.

1. Global Expansion Made Simple:
2. Compliance and Risk Mitigation:
3. Workforce Flexibility:
1. Global Expansion Made Simple:

Expanding into new markets is an exciting opportunity for any business, but it also comes with many challenges. Employer of Record services can simplify the process by handling all aspects of international employment. This includes local payroll runs, tax compliance, benefits administration, and legal compliance. By engaging the expertise of an EOR, companies can enter new markets faster, and easier, without the need to establish costly legal entities or navigate unfamiliar HR landscapes.

2. Compliance and Risk Mitigation:

Compliance with dynamic employment laws and regulations is essential for any organization. Because EORs specialize in local labour laws, they can ensure that businesses remain fully compliant with local regulations, employment contracts, tax requirements, and reporting obligations. By entrusting these responsibilities to an EOR, companies can avoid costly penalties, legal disputes, and reputational damage.

3. Workforce Flexibility:

Agility is the key in today’s high-powered business environment. EOR services provide businesses with the flexibility to scale their workforce up or down, quickly, depending on project demands or market fluctuations. Whether it’s hiring temporary staff, engaging independent contractors, or managing seasonal workforce requirements, EORs offer the necessary infrastructure and expertise to ensure seamless workforce management.

4. Focus on Core Business Functions:
5. Access to Global Expertise:
6. Cost Efficiency:
4. Focus on Core Business Functions:

Managing HR and payroll functions can be time-consuming and divert attention from core business activities. By outsourcing these administrative tasks to an EOR, companies can free up valuable time and internal resources. This allows management and HR teams to focus on strategic initiatives, talent development, and driving business growth, and leave employment administration to the experts.

5. Access to Global Expertise:

Employer of Record services bring extensive experience in dealing with the complexities of international employment. With a global network of in-country experts, EORs have a fundamental understanding of local labour markets, employment regulations, cultural nuances, and best practices. This expertise gives businesses a competitive edge that enables them to attract and retain top talent in foreign markets.

6. Cost Efficiency:

Opting for an EOR should lead to significant cost savings for businesses. By leveraging the EOR’s infrastructure, companies eliminate the need to establish local entities and manage multiple payroll and HR technologies. EORs can consolidate invoicing, which ensures transparency and simplifies financial management. And because compliance is taken care of, the risk of costly penalties and fines is minimized.

Employer of Record services is a strategic solution for businesses that decide to expand globally. They manage compliance and optimize workforce management. They ease the burden of international employment administration and provide expertise and flexibility. EORs enable organizations to focus on what they do best: drive innovation and growth, in a competitive environment. Enlisting an EOR partner can unlock new opportunities and set your business up for international success.

When you consider engaging an Employer of Record service, it’s essential to choose a trusted partner with a proven track record. Paymaster Business Solutions, a leading provider of Employer of Record services, offers comprehensive solutions and legal expertise across all African countries. With their extensive knowledge of local labour markets and compliance requirements, Paymaster Business Solutions can support your organization’s expansion, ensuring seamless HR and payroll operations. Discover how Paymaster Business Solutions can empower your global growth at https://www.paymaster.co.za/ or call Ian Hurst at 082 898 5006 / ian@paymaster.co.za.

News

Personal Income Tax Filing Season

Here are the dates and criteria for the 2023 Filing Season:

Individual taxpayers (non-provisional): 7 July 2023 @ 20:00 to 23 October 2023
Provisional taxpayers: 7 July 2023 @ 20:00 to 24 January 2024

Read the full article Personal Income tax

Article

Electricity Tariff Increases:

Electricity tariff increase for municipalities for the 2023/24 financial year – increase of 18.49% is effective on 1 July 2023.

Electricity tariff increase for standard Eskom customers – increase of 18.65% was effective on 1 April 2023.

Helpdesk Tips

How to process Bulk Uploads for Pay Rate details

Click on below instructions on how to process Pay Rate details via Bulk uploads.

How to process Pay Rate details via Bulk uploads

Please call our Helpdesk for your queries –
021 712 7333 help@paymaster.co.za or
WhatsApp us – 081 711 1276

How to view leave balances in hours

Click below for directions on how to view leave balances in hours.

How to view leave balances in hours

Staff Bio

Meet Firdous Ebrahim

Meet Firdous Ebrahim, our extraordinary finance professional. She is our favorite colleague, a trusted member of the Paymaster team for many years, and relied upon by everyone. Firdous is the implementation manager, with the important task of welcoming the new kids to the class.

She’s responsible for the take-on of all new outsource and inhouse clients, and then provides the training afterwards. For the online clients specifically, she is a vital contact to set them up for self-help. She is also Paymaster’s client-care manager. The client-care team receives the processed payroll, they check it and then send it out to the client. She is responsible for accuracy and client communication. This is a new process that has recently been implemented, and she is happy with the results so far.

Firdous has lived in Wynberg all her life. She is a widow with 2 sisters and 2 married sons. She loves her 3 grandchildren and is their favorite baby-sitter. Her latest 6 month-old grandson is getting lots of attention from ‘ma’ lately. Firdous loves family life, being spoiled and spoiling all her children. When she’s not working, she enjoys snuggling in bed and watching Netflix. She also enjoys the outdoors, especially a good braai. She has a standing appointment with her sister for a ‘once a month getaway’ to a holiday resort somewhere.

Firdous attended Wittebome High School, and then went on to gain knowledge at the various places she worked. The first 15 years of her working career she worked in the finance industry, where she did debtors, creditors, wages and cashbook. She was given an opportunity to be trained in VIP, and ever since then, she has worked in payroll. In 2010 Firdous started her payroll career at a company that Paymaster later merged with, and she became a member of the team here. With 13 years of payroll experience under her belt, she is a seasoned professional. She consistently demonstrates her commitment to accuracy, efficiency, and delivering exceptional service.
She says what drives her excellence at work is working with clients, and with a team. And when asked what else she is involved with in the office, she laughs and says “eating and exercise”. This fabulous lady in her 50’s, conscientiously takes part in the office bootcamp every week.

Her calm demeanour perfectly illustrates her philosophy of “Be the same everyday”, and her colleagues can see “it costs nothing to smile”! Her patient and easy-going personality is a delight to have at the office and Paymaster is thankful for her years of outstanding service with us.

New Product Features

New enhancements

Pacey | Announcement Messages

We are excited to announce an additional template message option for Pacey.

Easily communicate custom announcements to your employees via WhatsApp.

The custom form feature is only available to customers on the Master edition and therefore this specific Pacey announcement feature is only available on Master edition, whereas the other message templates are available for customers that have licensed Pacey.

To ensure compliance with WhatsApp’s guidelines, which restrict businesses from sending arbitrary messages, we have designed a structured message process for your announcements.
When an announcement is sent, your employees will receive a template message inviting them to read it. By simply tapping on the “Read Announcement” button within WhatsApp, they will be sent the message you wish to communicate.

By utilising the bulk upload screen, you can effortlessly trigger the distribution of your announcements. All you need to do is populate an Excel sheet with the employee numbers of the employees who should receive the announcement.

We believe this new feature provides a convenient and efficient way to keep your employees updated with important news and information. Experience seamless communication and enhanced employee engagement with our latest system enhancement!

Note: This feature requires a Custom Form to be set up where an admin user can capture the message they wish to send out. This will be the mechanism for creating the announcement message.

Any questions or issues can be directed to help@paymaster.co.za

Partnerships

Our partnership with Biosyn and Floatpays is another way that Paymaster endeavors to deliver greater value to our clients.

Building Trust between Employer and Employee

Unlock your payroll’s full potential and optimize your workflow management with Time Master’s powerful time and attendance features

Discover how Time Master can transform your workflow management

Feature 1: Simplified Leave Application Process

Say goodbye to paperwork and administrative burdens. With our software, employees can easily apply for leave, reducing the workload on the Payroll User. This streamlined process saves time, allowing your team to focus on more strategic tasks.

Click to enlarge

If you are interested in learning more about Time Master’s Time and Attendance system, be sure to visit our website for more information. There you can find detailed articles, product reviews etc to help you make an informed decision about your time and attendance system. For more information on

services and prices, simply click here.

Discover the benefits of Time Master’s Time and Attendance!

Free consultation

Contact Glen Coburn at glen@paymaster.co.za, or call +27 836791311.

Partnerships

continue…

floatpays

Paymaster Employee financial wellbeing

Financial stress is bad for your staff and your bottom line!

Book a demo

Ian Hurst

Paymaster Updates

You’ll find the weekly and Africa updates and resources to help you stay informed and on top of your payroll responsibilities and legislative changes you should know.

July

Reports | Classic Report Parameters converted to Nextgen
Cameroon | New Annual DIPE Report
Zimbabwe USD | P2 Form enhancement to cater for dual currencies
South Africa | UIF Declaration File Name Enhancement
eSwatini | PAYE Monthly Remittance Report enhancement

July

South Africa – Interest Rate Change
Nigeria Statutory Update

Paymaster Announcement

you ask any payroll question, we have the answer.

We will be announcing the details of each webinar on our social media channels, so be sure to follow us to stay updated. You can join the webinar using the link we will provide.

Closed

Wednesday
21 June
10:00

Schedule the next webinar

Wednesday
5 July
10:00

Who is this webinar for?

For payroll professionals increasing their skill base, or those new to this function. Or maybe you’re exploring Paymaster as a payroll option….this virtual series is aimed at all of you.

SDL & SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

Can SDL be claimed back? – Yes !

Employers who pay their skills development levies are entitled to claim back a sum of money used to train and upskill their staff from their paid skills development levies.

The new E-learning service from Skill Master

Recap on the webinar

Wednesday 14 June saw the first free webinar on this new platform, presented by Deon Macauley. The idea is to aid businesses to upskill their workforce, for free. Apart from the obvious benefit of increased skills, it can also unlock funds from the Skills Development Levy.

And that is what this first webinar was all about. A representative from Developcore (our trusted partner) explained their services to train staff, and to monetize the time spent by your company training your staff. The speaker touched on the required Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) and an Annual Training Report (ATR) that is required to make the annual submission eligible to claim back on the Mandatory Grant. They have a formula that enables a company to approach their SETA with these statistics, and how to claim back a percentage of the discretionary part of the money spent on skills development. This will make upskilling, development and compliance much simpler.

The webinar was informative and interactive, allowing participants to ask questions and unpack concepts. For those that missed this webinar, find the recording HERE. 🎦

Please note – this recording will be available until 30 July 2023

We will announce the next webinar details soon.

Click here to go to the previous Newsletter

– Monthly newsletter curated by Lezé Felton –

Please sign-up or invite someone to our Newsletters here to keep up-to-date

👉 Go check out our website- https://www.paymaster.co.za/ 👈

Paymaster Newsletter June 2023

May 31, 2023

by admin Newsletters

Curated by Lezé

1 June 2023

Overview

COIDA – what is it?
Breaking news
Helpdesk Tips
Staff Bio -Lisa August
New product features
Partnerships
Updates
Paymaster Announcement – Skills development webinar

COIDA – What is it about?

This compensation fund provides compensation for employees who are injured, or contract diseases through the course of their employment.

Since 1993 the Compensation for Occupation Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA) covers all employees, not just those in lower income groups. Increasing the compensation category has resulted in a bigger pool of funds available, although office workers etc are less likely to be injured at work ( cross-subsidisation).

Under COIDA, all types of work relationships are covered, including those through labour brokers.

And if someone is diagnosed with a disease as a result of their employment, they will be compensated, even if they are no longer employed by that company. Their calculated earnings will be adjusted for inflation to what they would be earning if still working.

The COIDA also provides a no-fault system of compensation for those injured or who contract diseases during their employment. This means the aggrieved party does not have to prove any party was at fault for their accident, to receive compensation.

The Act stipulates;

who contributes to the fund
the amount contributed
who is covered
type of injuries and diseases covered
the size of the compensation

All employees are obliged to be registered with a carrier. This is either the Compensation Commissioner of the Compensation Fund or a designated mutual association. Employees must provide all the particulars of their business to this carrier, and make sure these are kept up to date. To increase compliance of companies to this fund, there are various policing structures that exist. For instance, Health and Safety inspectors will check that the company pays compensation tariffs when they do an inspection visit.

If an employee files a claim and their employee is not registered, the claim will still be processed through the Compensation Fund. The Fund will then follow up with the unregistered employer to impose a fine (the employer will be liable for the entire cost of the compensation if they are not registered).

Paymaster’s payroll has a COIDA report that provides a breakdown of figures to complete the statement of earnings for the Compensation Fund.

UPDATE:

The Director General of Employment and Labour published in the Government Gazette 48065 (Notice 1617) increasing the OID earnings threshold as follows:

from R529 264 per annum (limit for 2022/2023),
to R563 520 per annum effective 1 March 2023 (limit for 2023/2024).

The OID earnings threshold is the maximum amount of earnings per annum per employee on which an assessment of an employer is calculated in terms of section 83(8) of the Compensation of Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA).

Please contact our Helpdesk for more information, 021 712 7333 or help@paymaster.co.za

– Provided by Ian Hurst –

News

Employment Equity Act Amendments

The amendments to the Employment Equity Act … What can you do?

In April the president signed the amendments to the EE Act 55 of 1998. Changes to Section 15 regarding the setting of sectoral specific, numerical targets for employment equity compliance has caused some consternation. Questions are being asked whether regional or national demographics will be considered when setting these targets.

So what can you do? Join forces with other companies in your economic or industry sector, and send comments to the minister (department of labour). He will have to take note of your consolidated voices. You have until 12 June 2023 to do this.

Review the proposed sector-specific EE targets and find out how and where you can submit your comments.

Read the full article about Employment Equity

Article

Repo rate increase

SA Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee delivered the May 2023 MPC statement. The MPC decided to increase the repurchase rate by 50 basis points to 8.25% per year, with effect from 26 May 2023.

Up from 7.75% from the previous MPC. The next MPC meeting is on 20 July 2023.

Helpdesk Tips

How to remove SDL

The Skills Development Levy (SDL) is a compulsory levy scheme for the purposes of funding education and training under the Skills Development Act of South Africa and is payable by employers on a monthly basis.

The Skills Development Levy exemption is configured on company and employee level. According to the Skills Development Act, certain employers are eligible for exemption from paying SDL. For example, if an employer’s total remuneration for all employees within a 12-month period does not exceed R 500 000, they are exempt from paying this levy.

Can SDL be claimed back? Yes – contact Paymaster for assistance.

Click on below instructions on how to remove SDL

How to Remove SDL

Please call our Helpdesk for your queries –
021 712 7333 help@paymaster.co.za or
WhatsApp us – 081 711 1276

How to get a tax breakdown in PDF

To confirm that the tax paid reflected on a payslip is correct, it is essential to review the tax breakdown available on the Edit Payslip screen. This breakdown provides a detailed calculation of the taxes. It is worth noting that discrepancies can arise between months due to variations in individual employees’ tax payments from the previous tax year compared to the current year. Therefore, checking the tax breakdown is crucial in order to avoid any confusion and ensure precise tax calculations.

Click below for directions on how to get a tax breakdown in PDF

How to get a tax breakdown in PDF

Staff Bio

Meet Lisa August

The charming Astrelecia Arizona August (or Lisa) has been with Paymaster since March 2022, working as a payroll administrator. She explains: “I’m responsible to get the work done, keep the clients happy and to do what I come to work to do – that is to do my job.” She soon realized that at Paymaster you have to be an all rounder and she is prepared to do any task asked of her, even if it is not her direct responsibility.

Astrelecia grew up on the Cape flats outside Cape Town and has one older sister.

She matriculated from Westridge High School and completed a NQF 5 certificate at Boston City Campus in Cape Town. She finished her certificate through a learnership from ITC business administration and worked in the customer care department for 3 years. This was a great boost for her career as it opened doors for her into the business sector. From here she worked in credit control at a call center. And then she spent 9 years working at a pharmacy, where she fulfilled many roles ,from helping at the till, serving customers, and assisting at the clinic and prescription counter.

Astrelecia loves a challenge, and decided to take her career in a new direction. The Paymaster job came at just the right time . She sailed through the training and is happy with her new direction of work. Her passion to keep going is driven by the desire to provide her children (a son and daughter of 15 and 8) with a better life. She is an enthusiastic, hard worker and often asks for greater responsibility , all for her precious children. She is often filled with gratitude, and makes sure to show it. She notes :”If you don’t show appreciation, people will think you don’t even appreciate the little things.” Today, Astrelecia processes the payrolls for 10 clients and is also part of the client care team. This involves checking all the client’s payrolls and sending them out. She also assists the marketing team with social media posting. Lisa is an energetic, passionate addition to the Paymaster team. Her enthusiasm and drive are bound to take her places. We are excited to have her onboard.

New Product Features

New enhancements

Reports | Additional report field available in the standard reports

An additional report field has been added to the standard reports. This field is called “Does not Qualify for Employment Tax Incentive” and is sourced from the Basic Profile of the employee.

The field applies to South African entities. This field is used to identify employees who do not qualify for the Employment Tax Incentive. The check box will be selected for employees who do not meet the criteria for the incentive program (on the employee basic profile). This information is important for businesses to report on and manage their incentive program eligibility accurately.
Adding this report field to the standard report gives customers access to more comprehensive and accurate data on employee eligibility for the Employment Tax Incentive program.
See the below option available under the additional report fields on the standard reports:

Standard Payslip | ID and Passport numbers protected

Protecting personal information is a priority for us, and we have recently made an important enhancement to the non-confidential header of the standard payslip to safeguard sensitive information further. Specifically, depending on the identification type, we have masked the first 7 digits of the ‘Identity No’ or ‘Work Permit/Passport No’ field.
This is particularly important given the prevalence of identity theft and other types of cybercrime in today’s digital landscape.

This enhancement is important for ensuring that personal identifiable information is not exposed.

This is particularly important given the prevalence of identity theft and other types of cybercrime in today’s digital landscape.

Any issues can be directed to help@paymaster.co.za

Partnerships

Our partnership with Biosyn and Zuydam Konsult is another way that Paymaster endeavors to deliver greater value to our clients.

Building Trust between Employer and Employee

Unlocking the potential of Time and Attendance and Payroll integration

Do you want to reduce the time it takes to complete your payroll?

Paymaster’s comprehensive Time and Attendance Solution is designed to simplify your data retrieval process. With our integrated system, the burden of back-end data administration rests with us, freeing up your payroll personnel to focus on their core responsibilities.

Goodbye to manual calculations and time-consuming attendance monitoring…

The future is in the seamless integration between time and attendance systems and our payroll solutions….

Paymaster has you covered

With our automated time and attendance system, you’ll experience improved accuracy in overtime payments from month one.

If you are interested in learning more about Paymaster Time and Attendance system, be sure to visit our website for more information. There you can find detailed articles, product reviews etc to help you make an informed decision about your time and attendance system. For more information on

services

and

prices,

simply click here.

Discover the benefits of Paymaster Time and Attendance!

or contact Glen Coburn at glen@paymaster.co.za, or call +27 836791311.

Partnerships

continue…

Paymaster Accounting Solutions

Simplify your finances with Xero and Zuydam Konsult

Are you overwhelmed by tedious financial admin tasks?

Imagine a world where every transaction seamlessly integrates with your financial data, freeing you from endless hours of administrative tasks.

With Paymaster and Zuydam Konsult’s partnership, you can turn your frustrations into satisfaction by switching to cloud-based accounting with Xero. You’ve already experienced the joy of automating payroll with Paymaster, so why not automate your entire business finances for a smoother journey?

Paymaster and Xero integration Benefits:

seamless integration to your general ledger
the ease of accounting with Xero
access to great reports
secure cloud backups
anytime, anywhere accounting and payroll management

Don’t let financial frustrations hold you back. Take the first step towards a simplified and streamlined financial future.

Click here

Paymaster Updates

You’ll find the weekly and Africa updates and resources to help you stay informed and on top of your payroll responsibilities and legislative changes you should know.

June

Config Menu | Employment Equity Configuration menu item has been moved
South Africa | COIDA Report Enhancements
South Africa | Resubmit Tax Certificates for Selected Employees
South Africa | UIF Declaration File Name Enhancement
eSwatini | PAYE Monthly Remittance Report enhancement

June

Malawi New Tax Tables 2023 – 2024

Paymaster Announcement

you ask any payroll question, we have the answer.

We will be announcing the details of each webinar on our social media channels, so be sure to follow us to stay updated. You can join the webinar using the link we will provide.

Closed

Wednesday
24 May
10:00

Schedule the next webinar

Wednesday
7 June
10:00

Who is this webinar for?

For payroll professionals increasing their skill base, or those new to this function. Or maybe you’re exploring Paymaster as a payroll option….this virtual series is aimed at all of you.

SDL & SKILLS DEVELOPMENT WEBINAR

Can SDL be claimed back? – Yes !

Employers who pay their skills development levies are entitled to claim back a sum of money used to train and upskill their staff from their paid skills development levies.

Join Deon Macauley at Paymaster in this free webinar to see how he can assist you in Discretionary Grants for your business with SETA Grant Submissions and more. Click below to register.

Click here to go to the previous Newsletter

– Monthly newsletter curated by Lezé Felton –

Please sign-up or invite someone to our Newsletters here to keep up-to-date

👉 Go check out our website- https://www.paymaster.co.za/ 👈

Can a user copy reports from the Report Writer between companies?

Paymaster Newsletter May 2023

May 1, 2023

by admin Newsletters

Curated by Lezé

2 May 2023

Overview

Reward vouchers
Breaking news
Helpdesk Tips
Staff Bio -Kelly Harry
New product features
Partnerships
Updates
Paymaster Announcement

Show appreciation to employees with reward vouchers

Everyone enjoys being shown appreciation for hard work and dedication. Let’s look at some reasons why it’s worth considering rewarding your employees with vouchers:

Increase motivation and engagement

material rewards boost engagement, energy and motivation in the workplace
higher staff morale motivates everyone to strive to perform at high levels of productivity
increased engagement could increase job satisfaction, which impacts productivity

Improve mental health

stress and anxiety are decreased when employees are shown appreciation
since stress affects productivity, job performance and overall wellbeing, a reward system can help create a positive work environment and enhance mental health
rewards and appreciation show you care and are invested in your employees

Sense of appreciation

a gift voucher as recognition of hard work fosters a sense of appreciation
this will especially encourage employees who feel undervalued at work
appreciation can raise self-esteem which contributes to a productive work environment

Increase loyalty

recognising and rewarding hard work can increase loyalty and commitment to your company
retaining and attracting skilled staff should result when hard work is rewarded
when employees stay on longer, a stable and more productive workplace is created
this also encourages teamwork and collaboration

Boost productivity

when goals are met or exceeded, vouchers can be an excellent reward
this motivates everyone to strive harder to reach their targets
the whole company benefits when productivity increases

Enhance your company image

appreciated, happy employees speak positively about the company-
this is great word-of-mouth advertising
which can grow your customer base and attract skilled staff

Personal and cost-effective

a voucher is a thoughtful gift, better than an impersonal cash reward
it offers choices to the recipient – a flexible way to show appreciation, and not waste money on unwanted gifts

Tips for employee reward vouchers:

personalize the voucher if possible
reward consistently and regularly
celebrate small wins – not only major goals – this creates a culture of positivity and appreciation
be sincere – avoid generic messages – show genuine gratitude.

Paymaster’s partner, YoyoGift, offers a perfect opportunity to reward your hardworking employees in a thoughtful, personal manner.

Paymaster provides you with an online digital gifting platform. Send your gifts in under 3 minutes. Contact Glen 083 679 1311 or glen@paymaster.co.za for more info on this voucher reward system.

– Provided by Ian Hurst –

News

Annual Reconciliation Declaration (EMP501) submission period 2022/2023

We want to remind you that the Annual EMP501 Reconciliation Submission period will run from 1 April 2023 to 31 May 2023.

Worried about your tax-year end submissions? Subscribe to Paymaster’s submission support service. For a small fee we will make sure you submit accurately and on time.
Contact Ian on 082 898 5006 or ian@paymaster.co.za for more info or a quote.

In preparation for your submission:

Check your payments and reconciliations processed at the end of each month.
Post correction runs if any adjustments are needed to correct your employee financials.
Navigate to Payroll Cycle > Payslip Pay Dates
Check your Company demographic information and Employee personal information on the system.

Worried about your tax year-end submissions?

Let Paymaster assist you.

For a small fee we will make sure you submit accurately and on time. Contact Ian on 082 898 5006 or ian@paymaster.co.za for more info or a quote.

To make sure you have not overlooked anything – here is a DIY EMP501 video guide.

EMP501 Video guide

Helpdesk Tips

How to set Sick Leave applications in days and hours

Employees can submit leave applications by accessing the Application screen under the Leave section in the Employee Self Service (ESS) portal. To do so, they simply need to select the type of leave they require and provide the necessary information. In some instances companies want leave types to be processed in days and in hours. This can be done by simply activating a company setting.

Note: An employee has to be registered for Employee Self Service (ESS) in order to apply for leave. The ESS module is only available on the Premier and Master Payroll editions

Click below for directions on how to set Sick Leave applications in days and hours

How to set Sick Leave applications in days and hours

Please call our Helpdesk for your queries –
021 712 7333 help@paymaster.co.za or
WhatsApp us – 081 711 1276

How to correct EasyFile import error: Employer SIC7 code mandatory

This error is expected when you import a file into an existing employer record on e@syFile, where the SIC7 code has not been specified. The valid Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Codes must be used for Employment Tax Incentive (ETI) purposes. The latest SIC Coding system can be found on Statistic SA website. SARS Interpretation according to Business Requirement Specification. 2082 – The Employer Standard Industry Classification Code.
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC Coder v7, as defined on the Statistic SA Website: www.statssa.gov.za)

Conditional
Mandatory if Period of recon is 201402 or later
Use the 5-digit sub-class
Only numeric values are allowed.

Click on below instructions on how to correct easyFile error: Employer SIC7 code mandatory.

How to correct easyFile import error: Employer SIC7 code mandatory

Staff Bio

Meet Kelly Harry

We are pleased to introduce Paymaster’s newest employee, Kelly Harry. Kelly was born in Steenberg, Cape Town and matriculated from Steenberg High School. She would like to further her education – either in teaching or HR management. Kelly is a young mother, in a committed relationship of 5 years. She has a 10 year old son and 2 year old daughter who mean everything to her. She says if stuck on a desert island, she would hope not to have her children with her, but only God by her side.

Kelly’s working career started in the retail industry where she worked her way up to assistant manager. She went on to gain experience in the business sector, where she worked as a debt collection agent, using Freshbooks accounting software in the creditor’s department. Later, she was a campaigns coordinator, doing lead generation for a call center. Now she is very happy working for Paymaster, doing payroll for the first time in her career. There is not a day that goes by where she doesn’t learn something new, which excites her, as she has a different routine every week. She is enjoying the challenge of being trained to do the invoicing as well. Kelly loves challenges and will always try her best to execute and finish them. She is flourishing at this new job, feeling all the new tasks she has been given over the last 3 months have ignited her passion.

In asking her what advice she can give to someone who has just started a career in payroll, her advice is “to be kind to clients but also assertive and follow the protocols and be firm in implementing them. One must also pay attention to details, be accurate and make sure you understand what you doing.” The Paymaster team is excited to welcome the passionate, bright Kelly Harry.

New Product Features

New enhancements

Report Writer

We are excited to announce the launch of our latest innovation – the all-new Report Writer Module! This cutting-edge module is designed to simplify and streamline the reporting process, making generating accurate and insightful reports easier and faster than ever.

Some important points to take note of:

New embedded Custom reporting writing tool – DevExpress
Only available on Paymaster Master edition
No additional licencing required
There is a New tab available called Customs – All reports are located within this folder

Security applied on access to reports and to create reports
Custom field data available to be used.

On the security role permissions, two new options are available for “Report Designer” and
“Custom Reports Tab”.

The “Report Designer” option will control whether the user can customise reports. This
includes the adding of a new report.

As there is no additional module to purchase, users can start using the module without having to activate the module first, provided they are on the Master edition.
On the Reports screen, a new tab will show on Master edition companies only, namely “Custom”.
This tab will have a button to add a new report.
*Security permissions apply.

Q & A

When a report is created you have the option to create a report for the Company Group. If this option is selected the report will be available for all companies within the group. Similarly, a Business Partner can add reports for all customers within the Business Partner’s profile.

Custom Report Writer

Report Designer

Click to enlarge

Any issues can be directed to help@paymaster.co.za

Partnerships

Our partnership with Biosyn and YoyoGifts is another way that Paymaster endeavors to deliver greater value to our clients.

Building Trust between Employer and Employee

Working from home? The question is, Who is working and who is not?

We give you the power of mobile clocking-in on various sites without T&A scanners.

Ranging from on-site workers to regional managers, employees now have the ability to clock in and out from their mobile phones when within a radius provided by you. The data is seamlessly imported into a dashboard.
These systems do more than just track when employees come and go. They can, monitor mobile employees via geolocation and geofencing.

Geofencing:
The use of GPS or RFID technology to create a virtual geographic boundary, enabling software to trigger a response when a mobile device enters or leaves a particular area.

The big plus is having real-time data on who is working and who is not, who showed up late, and who is nearing overtime.

This does stop MIA.

services

and

prices,

simply click here.

Discover the benefits of Paymaster Time and Attendance!

or contact Glen Coburn at glen@paymaster.co.za, or call +27 836791311.

Partnerships

continue…

Paymaster Gift Vouchers

Did you know that 80% of consumers say that receiving a digital gift voucher makes them feel appreciated?

Show your employees and customers how much you value them with Paymaster’s digital gift vouchers.

Plus, did you know that retaining just 5% of your customers can lead to a

25-95% increase in profits?

With Paymaster’s loyalty platform, you can easily incentivize and reward loyalty, boosting engagement and satisfaction.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to reward and retain your loyal customers.

Try it – Buy here

To learn more about Paymaster’s gift voucher options for your employees or customers, please contact Ian Hurst at ian@paymaster.co.za, or +27828985006. Appointment with Ian

Paymaster Updates

You’ll find the weekly and Africa updates and resources to help you stay informed and on top of your payroll responsibilities and legislative changes you should know.

May

Standard payslip | ID number masked on non-confidential header
South Africa | Tax Certificate Enhancements
South Africa | Non-Financial Report – Tax Year End Process
Uganda | New PAYE Monthly Return Schedule 4 Report
Ghana | No supression of negative IRS

May

South Africa – Annual Tax Submission
South Africa – Interest Rate Change
South Africa – New_Corrected OID Earnings Threshold
Zimbabwe – NSSA Ceiling Increase
Zanzibar – ZSSF Employer Contribution Increase
Ghana – Tax changes 2023

Paymaster Announcement

Welcome to our “Free Payroll Knowledge” webinar series! We understand that payroll can be a complex and challenging task for small businesses, which is why we want to help. We’re excited to announce that our webinars will take place twice a month, on a Wednesday at 10:00-10:30. The series will be an open discussion format,

you ask any payroll question, we have the answer.

We will be announcing the details of each webinar on our social media channels, so be sure to follow us to stay updated. You can join the webinar using the link we will provide.

Closed

Wednesday
26 April
10:00

Schedule the next webinar

Wednesday
10 May
10:00

Who is this webinar for?

For payroll professionals increasing their skill base, or those new to this function. Or maybe you’re exploring Paymaster as a payroll option….this Webinar is aimed at all of you.

Click here to go to the previous Newsletter

– Monthly newsletter curated by Lezé Felton –

Please sign-up or invite someone to our Newsletters here to keep up-to-date

👉 Go check out our website- https://www.paymaster.co.za/ 👈

Paymaster Newsletter April 2023

March 29, 2023

by admin Newsletters

Curated by Lezé

1 April 2023

Overview

A look into Employee Working Hours
Breaking news
Streamline Your Hospitality Business
Helpdesk Tips
Staff Bio -Keano Soule
New product features
Partnerships
Updates
Paymaster Announcement

Maximizing Productivity: A look into Employee Working Hours

Work hours regulations…who are they for?

According to the BCEA , work hour stipulations apply to employees who;

earn less than R241 110, 59 a year.
If you earn more, you are not covered by the work hour clauses.
If you work less than 24 hours per month, you are also not included in these clauses.

Setting work hours

Consider your employee’s health and safety when setting their work hours.

Also, respect their family responsibilities.

The BCEA says a day is 24 hours (from the time the employee starts working).

they may not work more than 45 hours per week (excluding lunch break).
they may not work more than 9 hours a day(in 5 days or less).
and no more than 8 hours a day if working more than 5 days per week.

This may be extended – by mutual agreement – by

15 minutes a day
not more than 60 minutes a week

Exceptions

the employee must agree to hours in writing.
they may not work more than 12 hours any day, up to 12 hours a day(including meal break) without overtime pay.
may not work more than 45 hours a week.
or more than 6 days a week.

Lunch breaks

This must be included in the contract of employment. (The meal break is usually not included as a work hour.)

lunch break must be taken after 5 hours of work.
it must last at least an hour.
they may not work at all during this break (unless duties can’t be left unattended, or done by someone else).
they must be paid if required to work during their lunch break.

* it may be agreed -in writing- to reduce the lunch break to 30 minutes.

Rest periods

All employees must be allowed to rest, therefore…

there must be at least 12 hours between work periods (can be reduced to 10 hours if they live on the work premises – but then lunch break must be at least 3 hours)
weekend rest must be at least 36 hours…and include a Sunday
OR they have 60 hours of rest every 2 week period
the employer may reduce the rest period by up to 8 hours BUT must then extend next week’s rest period by the same amount of time.

Work at night

Night work – after 6pm and before 6am

employees must agree to night work.
shift allowance must be paid, or reduced working hours
transport must be provided between their home and place of work.

BUT if they work regularly (5x a month or 50x a year) after 23:00 and before 6:00am, then:

workers must be informed of any safety hazards that may be faced during work hours
they have a right to a medical exam (at employer’s expense) before starting duties AND may have follow-up checkups if they continue those night duties
if the night shift results in health problems, they must be moved to a day shift as soon as possible.

If you need more information around the regulations linked to work hours , please contact the Paymaster Helpdesk. We also offer comprehensive payroll services, that will keep your business compliant.

– Provided by Ian Hurst –

News

Annual Reconciliation Declaration (EMP501) submission period 2022/2023

We want to remind you that the Annual EMP501 Reconciliation Submission period will run from 1 April 2023 to 31 May 2023.

In preparation for your submission:

Check your payments and reconciliations processed at the end of each month.
Post correction runs if any adjustments are needed to correct your employee financials.
Navigate to Payroll Cycle > Payslip Pay Dates
Check your Company demographic information and Employee personal information on the system.

Return of Earnings Submission 2023 – due date is 31 May 2023.

Skills Development Submission 2023 – due date is 30 April 2023.

In addition, the COIDA earnings threshold has increased to R563 520 per annum, effective 01 March 2023. We are pleased to confirm that this new limit has already been implemented in the system, effective March 2023.

Streamline Your Hospitality Business with

Paymaster’s Payroll Software –

Improve Efficiency, Reduce Costs, and Enhance the Guest Experience

Paymaster’s payroll software can help hotels and guest houses…

Using our online payroll system means employees of hotels can view and access their PAYSLIPS online eliminating the need to print payslips.

Other hospitality businesses using online payroll software are reducing their paper consumption with online tracking, reporting, and centralized document storage capabilities. The hotel and hospitality industry operates in a more efficient manner with online payroll software.

What are some major benefits of Paymaster’s payroll solution to the hospitality industry?

Cloud data storage
Better employee experience
Easy data access
Easy time tracking
Remote payroll
Flexible working, etc.

In addition, hotels and other multi-location businesses in the hospitality industry can provide real-time access to employee information with an excellent employee self-service portal, which also allows employees to view, access, and update their personal details wherever, whenever. This saves HR personnel a great deal of time and effort and increases productivity.

Employers are able to process payroll, run reports, and make changes from anywhere with an internet connection, which helps automate processes and improve efficiency across the HR department. This software means your staff are paid accurately and on time. Resulting in a happier, more productive workforce, and a fabulous guest experience.

– Provided by Ian Hurst –

Helpdesk Tips

How to add Additional Leave Application Overflow

The Company Workflow Setup Screen allows you to create rules for workflow items to move through a defined number of approval steps. Examples of workflow items are Claim Components, Employee Requests and Leave Applications. These workflow items need to be set-up before the workflow path can be created. Once the workflow path has been created, the workflow item is submitted via the Employee Self Service Portal.
Workflow roles may be created and used to accommodate exceptions in workflow paths. Click below for directions on how to add Additional Leave Application Overflow

How to add Additional Leave Application Overflow

Please call our Helpdesk for your queries –
021 712 7333 help@paymaster.co.za or
WhatsApp us – 081 711 1276

Why is the “Directly reports to” person on an employee’s Position screen reflecting as “Not Active”, when their employee record is active?

The Employee Position Screen stores information pertaining to the employee’s position. This includes the employee’s organisation unit, the person they report to directly and occupational level, to name a few. Sometimes the employee’s position effective date is earlier than the manager’s position effective date, which leaves the manager reflecting as ‘Not Active’ on the employee position screen. Click on below instructions to see if it’s possible to report to someone before they have started working for the compnay.

Why is the “Directly reports to” person on an employee’s Position screen reflecting as “Not Active”, when their employee record is active?

Staff Bio

Meet Keano Soule

This month we get to know the one and only Keano Soule! Keano has worked at Paymaster for nearly 2 years, and reports to Nafeesa, the office manager. He is a payroll administrator and quite the entertainer in the office.

Keano grew up in Steenberg, Cape Town with his adoptive parents and two older siblings. He matriculated from Steenberg High School in 2016 and went on to do a Financial Management diploma course at False Bay College. He majored in Financial Accounting, Computerised Financial Systems and Cost and Management Accounting. Because he enjoys working with numbers, he revelled in the responsibility of being the campus treasurer, working out budgets, planning and working with money. He graduated in 2018 and worked for a forex and current exchanges company for nearly 2 years.

Keano jumped at the opportunity to work for Paymaster with his usual optimistic attitude, since it was in his field of interest. Other than his payroll processing responsibilities, he is also a help desk agent at Paymaster. He says this task helps broaden his payroll knowledge, although it can be challenging at times. He needs to break things down in detail for clients, which helps him understand things better overall, and not just stick with his division of payroll processing.

He describes himself as ‘flamboyant’. And this is exactly what the Paymaster staff enjoy about this Gen-z ball of energy. He keeps the environment young and fun with his infectious enthusiasm. A real asset to the Paymaster office.

New Product Features

New enhancements

Consolidate Tax Certificate Run

After several customer engagements, a new enhancement was made to allow customers with multiple frequencies and the same tax number to generate a consolidated tax file for import into e@syFile rather than to extract individual files for each frequency.

A new company setting has been added under General settings. Once activated, the tax file will be a consolidated file located on the current frequency you generate the file from.

An information message will also display when you run the file informing the user that the file will be stored on the currently selected frequency.

Any issues can be directed to help@paymaster.co.za

Pacey – Message Templates

Want to communicate important updates to your employees, but short on time? Check out our latest Pacey update.

Pre-defined message templates will allow users to initiate certain WhatsApp messages to selected employees…

Read here

Partnerships

Our partnership with Biosyn and Floatpays is another way that Paymaster endeavors to deliver greater value to our clients.

Tracking Hours, Leave and other HR Requests via the app

The solution to constant employee requests about leave availability etc is…go high tech. Paymaster’s Time and Attendance biometric clocks scan an employee’s fingerprints, facial & palm features, and registers when they start or leave work. That information is directly relayed to cloud-based payroll servers, eliminating the need for manual data entries. Paymaster’s integrated Time & Attendance software allows employees to submit leave requests and access other details….so, less time answering routine questions, and getting on with essential HR sevices.

Once your access points are setup, either fixed or mobile,

we collect the data into our cloud API and allow this to seamlessly flow into your employees’ payroll software.

So basically, they can apply for leave on the biometric clock or via the app.

services

and

prices,

simply click here.

Discover the benefits of Paymaster Time and Attendance!

or contact Glen Coburn at glen@paymaster.co.za, or call +27 836791311.

Partnerships

continue…

Manage your Expenses this Season with Floatpays

Is your business gearing up for a busy holiday season in the tourism and hospitality industry?

With long hours and shift schedules, it can be tough to juggle your payroll demands and manage expenses during this time.

This is where Floatpays can assist!

With Floatpays, employees can access their earned wages ahead of payday, giving them the financial flexibility they need to cover unexpected expenses and make the most of their time off.

And for employers, Floatpays can help streamline the payroll process and reduce the administrative burden of managing a large, seasonal workforce.

So why not make this holiday season a little less stressful for your team? Get in touch with us if you want to ease your employees’ financial stress and boost their enjoyment of the holiday season.

As a Paymaster partner, Floatpays is already integrated into the Paymaster payroll system, so set-up is quick and easy! Get in touch with Glen Coburn at glen@paymaster.co.za, +27836791311, to book a free DEMO.

Book a DEMO here

Paymaster Updates

You’ll find the weekly and Africa updates and resources to help you stay informed and on top of your payroll responsibilities and legislative changes you should know.

April

Leave Balance Screen | View balances in hours
New Bulk Upload | Update Employee
Kenya | Body Type dropdown (Company Car Fringe Benefit)
South Africa | COIDA Reports Enhancements
South Africa | Updated COIDA Income Adjustment

April

Burkina Faso – CNSS Employer Rates

Paymaster Announcement

you ask any payroll question, we have the answer.

We will be announcing the details of each webinar on our social media channels, so be sure to follow us to stay updated. You can join the webinar using the link we will provide.

Closed

Wednesday
29 March
10:00

Schedule the next webinar

Wednesday
12 April
10:00

Who is this webinar for?

For payroll professionals increasing their skill base, or those new to this function. Or maybe you’re exploring Paymaster as a payroll option….this Webinar is aimed at all of you.

Click here to go to the previous Newsletter

– Monthly newsletter curated by Lezé Felton –

Please sign-up or invite someone to our Newsletters here to keep up-to-date

👉 Go check out our website- https://www.paymaster.co.za/ 👈

New minimum wage

Budget Speech

Compact Payroll guide

Paymaster Newsletter March 2023

February 28, 2023

by admin Newsletters

Curated by Lezé

1 March 2023

Overview

Looking back at the many hats worn by the Payroll professional
Breaking news
The new Tax Year
Helpdesk Tips
Staff Bio -Bronwyn Masters
New product features
Partnerships
Updates
Paymaster Announcement

The many Hats worn by Payroll Professionals

Looking back at the many hats worn by the Payroll professional

Over the last few months we have unpacked the many hats the trusty Payroll professional wears as an essential part of the business they serve. Let’s have a look at them again. They are;

Hat 1: The interpreter of Legislation

They are rightly held accountable for accurate interpretation and implementation of legislation relating to the employer/employee relationship.

Hat 2: The keeper of records

Your reputation as a trustworthy Payroll professional is based on your ability to quickly, and efficiently, find requested documents or information. Even if they go back a few years, you are expected to locate the expense claim, leave form etc.

Hat 3: Gatekeeper of Compliance

To educate and inform employees around the fundamental importance of compliance with the company’s Policy and Procedures. High levels of compliance in an organisation, results in a positive impact on everyone.

Hat 4: Communicators of change

This is the only department able to explain how the changes will affect the employees’ take-home pay, or their benefits (eg. leave days or pension deductions). This is a unique opportunity to interact with the employees, and make sure there is complete understanding of how the changes will impact each one personally.

Hat 5: The resonsibility of “What if”

When management wants to know how changes will affect staffing costs, the Payroll department is their “go to” for answers. We are trusted to give accurate information, so they know they can rely on our reports, projections and opinions to make decisions.

Hat 6: The importance of being Trustworthy

As a Payroll professional, take pride in the trust your company puts in you, and always act with integrity! Don’t let one careless mistake destroy all you have worked for. Remember, trust is EARNED, and very hard to restore once lost!

Hat 7: Offering Counselling

Payroll administrators handle private, often very sensitive information. For this reason they are usually trusted by the staff. Sometimes listening is enough. Or we will explain what the company policy is, and let them make up their own minds. Other times, when we give them advice, they go away knowing that we have their best interests at heart. We care.

Hat 8: We are problem-solvers

With a calm and steady approach, we confidently take charge of the situation and deliver the perfect solution. We take time to ponder over the most-appropriate solution, and to carefully deliberate over the various options, considering consequences that can be disastrous, or a perfect fit.

Hat 9: We are the moral compass

The Payroll professional uses the litmus test representing the values of an organisation. We are called to be brave and ethical, speaking out when necessary. Especially in ethically “grey” areas.

We should be proud of the important role we play in the organization. We are the backbone, serving the people who make the business achieve it’s stated goals as efficiently as possible. Stand tall, and wear your many hats professionally.

Coming next… A summary of the many hats worn by the Payroll professional

– Provided by Ian Hurst –

Breaking News

Budget Speech 2023/2024

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Enoch Godongwana, delivered the National Budget Speech 2023 in Parliament on the 22nd of February 2023.

To assist you in understanding the important highlights, we have compiled selected resources for your reference. You may download them by clicking on the links provided below.

The New Tax year – starts 1 March

1 March is the day

From 1 March, you will be rolling over into the new tax year. Most payroll systems now “lock down the old tax year” and you can no longer change any of that information. So sort out any issues before the tax year-end. You really don’t want to start having to open the payroll to change earnings or deductions or add information once 7 March has come.

Here are five things that will make your life easier:

1) Check that your employees details are complete
Check that all the information required by the Receiver is correct and complete for all employees. To do this, you need to draw a report from your payroll system listing the following:

Address of the employee.
Banking details of the employee.
Identity, work permit or passport number.
Tax reference number.

2) That all reconciliations are done – payroll deductions to Emp 201 submitted and paid to SARS

Reconcile all Emp. 201 payments made to SARS to the figures declared on the monthly Emp. 201 form submitted to the Receiver. These must balance. (If not, correct the issue as soon as possible – or make a note of why there is a difference, so you can explain it on your annual submission).
The best way to check the balances is the EMPSA from SARS. This shows the actual payments that have been recorded for the year, and can be compared with the year-to-date totals from your payroll system. If this balances then the Emp.501 reconciliation on Easyfile should not be a problem.

3) Confirm all submissions to SARS

Check to make sure that SARS has received all your EMP.201 submissions and that there are no outstanding issues that need to be dealt with. It is ALWAYS a good idea to keep up to date with SARS documentation.

4) Remind company car and travel allowance holders

Remind all your employees who have company cars or car allowance to record their millage first thing on 1 March. Make sure all the details of the vehicle are recorded on the payroll. They will need to upload their log book or make sure that the logbook is complete for the tax year.

5) Resolve any outstanding issues

Make sure that all the earnings and deductions are listed under the right payroll codes. In addition, make sure you have all the information for any retirement annuity and medical aid tax deductions you have made.

It is a useful exercise to run a test IRP 5 upload, since this can show you any faulty issues, such as negative 3601 income or negative retirement funding income which can be corrected in the February payroll. It will also give you any area of incomplete or missing information. These all have to be corrected before Easyfile will accept the upload file.

Guide for codes – employee tax certificates 2023 (click here)

List of registered bargaining councils (click here)

If this feels too overwhelming, consider joining the many happy Paymaster clients. Contact our Helpdesk for additional information.

– Provided by Ian Hurst –

Helpdesk Tips

How to add a component based on a percentage of a different component

Automating payroll calculations can simplify the process of determining employee compensation, especially when it comes to calculating components based on percentages of other components. In this guide, we will explain how to set up automatic calculations, using the example of Component A, which is set to calculate 10% of Component B (Basic Pay). Click below for directions on how to add a component based on a percentage of a different component.

How to add a component based on a percentage of a different component

Please call our Helpdesk for your queries –
021 712 7333 help@paymaster.co.za or
WhatsApp us – 081 711 1276

Which Report to run to view Employee Financials

To view an employee’s payroll financials on a month-to-month basis, employers may need a year-to-date report, such as a 12-month report, for purposes like submitting supporting documents to SARS or analyzing the employee’s financial data, which can be found on the Component Variance Report. Click below on how to run the component variance report.

Which Report to run to view Employee Financials

Staff Bio

Meet Bronwyn Masters

Meet the friendly and spontaneous Bronwyn Masters. She has been the finance administrator at Paymaster for a year and a half, and reports to 3 people, depending on the task, they are Beverley the finance manager, Nafeesa the office manager and Ian the managing director. She says her responsibilities include doing the monthly SARS tax submissions, invoicing, and all the SARS queries and correspondence. She worked in big corporate before, but enjoys the more personal vibe at Paymaster. She is a divorcee and has 4 beautiful daughters, ranging in age from of 11-17 years old

Bronwyn attended San Souci Girl’s High School and graduated with an accounting degree from UNISA. While working (and falling in love with numbers) she also achieved a Higher Diploma in Tax Law (via correspondence) at RAU, later the University of Johannesburg. Her corporate career started at an accounting firm as an admin assistance and eventually, she become a tax administrator. She was with this firm for quite a few years, until she moved on to a job as a creditors clerk in the liquor industry. Unfortunately, the alcohol ban during the Covid lockdown saw many people retrenched, including our lovely Bronwyn.

Fortunately, she found Paymaster. She is happier at a smaller company and says it gives her more flexibility, as it is not focused in one specific area, like a bigger firm. She explains that Paymaster has given her the opportunity to diversify her skills. Prior to this she hasn’t had any exposure to payroll, so she is grateful for this. She found the vibe at Paymaster was so welcoming ,and that management didn’t see her as just a number ,but as a person. This was a total game changer for her, compared to the corporate environment she worked in before.

In addition to her financial tasks, she also assists, on an ad hoc basis , with various tasks. These include helping with the wording of technical emails involving tax law and labour legislation. Bronwyn sums up her personality as emotionally stable, agreeable, intellectual, cheerful, empathetic, self-conscious and trustworthy. She is a precious gem and wonderful colleague to work with and Paymaster is fortunate to have her.

New Product Features

New enhancements

New UI [User interface] Enhancements

We are always looking for ways to improve the user experience of Paymaster. An area that was a candidate for improvement was the user interface when searching for a company or employee and accessing the configuration menu. These actions showed a pop-up form that completely overlayed and hid the working area of the application. We have improved this approach by rather having a more compact form slide out from the right-hand side of the application UI. This is an improved utilisation of the screen space that still keeps the application visible to the left-hand side of this slide-out form.
It is important to remember these changes are merely cosmetic and don’t impact the system’s functionality. The functionality and search results will be exactly the same as previously – they will be accessible in a new modern look.

Difference between the old and new look of the SCREENS

Company Search
Old Screen

New Screen

New landing page after logging in (company search slides in from the right instead of being full screen)

Employee Search
Old Screen

New screen

New employee search screen sliding in from the right.

Configuration Menu

Old Menu

New Menu
Configuration menu also slides in from the right.

Any issues can be directed to help@paymaster.co.za

Partnerships

Our partnership with Biosyn and Floatpays is another way that Paymaster endeavors to deliver greater value to our clients.

Paymaster is partnering with BioSyn, to bring you the latest, and best, in Time and Attendance Systems.

No readers needed. Log your hours via the app

Discover the benefits of Paymaster Time and Attendance!

Learn about the different biometric recognition options and find the perfect time and attendance solution for your business. Our consultant will guide you in maximizing your savings and ensure the right choice for your environment. Stay ahead with the latest facial recognition tips to ensure responsible and ethical usage.

For those who are interested in learning more about Paymaster time and attendance, be sure to visit our website for more information. On our site, you can find detailed articles, product reviews, and more to help you make an informed decision about your time and attendance system. For more information on

services

and

prices,

simply click here.

or contact Glen Coburn at glen@paymaster.co.za, or call +27 836791311.

Partnerships

continue…

Financial Stress in South Africa:
Understanding the impact of debt repayments on take-home pay.

Financial stress is bad for your staff and your bottom line!

The best way Floatpays can help reduce debt is by providing on-demand access to earned wages through integration with Paymaster payroll. Employees can access their earned-but-unpaid wages through EFT, instant money vouchers, or prepaid vouchers. If you want to improve financial stability and increase happiness and productivity among your employees, reach out to us.

Book a DEMO here

Paymaster Updates

You’ll find the weekly and Africa updates and resources to help you stay informed and on top of your payroll responsibilities and legislative changes you should know.

March

Audit Trail | Icon moved to improve visibility
Job Management | Multiple Start and End dates
South Africa | ETI Period Count override via Costing
South Africa | Residential Accommodation Fringe Benefit

March

RSA – Budget Speech 2023/2024 Changes
Kenya – NSSF contribution increase
Namibia – Tax Changes 2022-2023 tax deduction limit increase
Zimbabwe – Finance Act changes

Paymaster Announcement

you ask any payroll question, we have the answer.

We will be announcing the details of each webinar on our social media channels, so be sure to follow us to stay updated. You can join the webinar using the link we will provide.

Closed

Wednesday
15 February
10:00

Schedule the next webinar

Wednesday
1 March
10:00

Who is this webinar for?

For payroll professionals increasing their skill base, or those new to this function. Or maybe you’re exploring Paymaster as a payroll option….this Webinar is aimed at all of you.

Click here to go to the previous Newsletter

– Monthly newsletter curated by Lezé Felton –

Please sign-up or invite someone to our Newsletters here to keep up-to-date

👉 Go check out our website- https://www.paymaster.co.za/ 👈

Paymaster Newsletter Feb 2023

January 31, 2023

by admin Newsletters

Curated by Lezé

1 February 2023

Overview

Hat 9: The Payroll professional as moral compass
Helpdesk Tips
Staff Bio -Abigail Bester
New product features
Partnerships
Updates
Paymaster Announcement

The many Hats worn by Payroll Professionals

Hat 9: The Payroll professional as moral compass

It often starts with a small decision. We agree to something that falls within a “grey” area, legally or ethically. Decisions that may be marginally legal, but are in principle, unethical. Then it is easier to choose the decision with least resistance. And before we know it, we have “crossed the line”, and it is too late to turn around and change the course of events.
To compound matters, we might become silent accomplices, if we don’t speak up and challenge management on these types of decisions. The Payroll professional cannot stay quiet on moral and ethical matters. Our position as moral compass, and trusted professional, is at stake.

Crossing that line

Once the line has been crossed, it is very difficult to rebuild our purity and reputation.
Please note; I am not referring to obvious, and blatant fraud, or other illegal actions. I mean those decisions that evoke the faintest feeling of unease or unhappiness inside us. It is these issues (categorized as grey areas) that demand of us an ethical assessment of the situation.

This way we can know what the right decision ought to be. It is here that the Payroll professional’s job comes to the fore. We are called to provide up-front ethical leadership. To serve as a litmus test on borderline, grey areas.

Legally right, or morally right

A decision that is legal, is not necessarily morally right. For the Payroll professional, this is often the most demanding aspect of decision-making. Sometimes the easiest option is not the right option. And decisions like these cannot be ignored. Here we as Payroll professionals are required to stand firm, knowing that while the decision being considered might be legal, it is not morally right at all. Here we are obligated to listen to our conscience and apply the “litmus” test to help with the decision.

An example: different salaries, same position.
An excellent example that comes to mind involves discriminatory remuneration practices. Salaries for employees doing the same job often varies. Despite both employees performing the exact same set of tasks and having the same job description. They produce the same (or similar) sets of results, ….yet they earn vastly different salaries!

In this case, although this may not be an illegal practice (based on the breach of some or other labour law). However, it certainly does constitute a morally reprehensible practice (based on the simple argument of moral ethics). This, and many other examples, are the kinds of questions that all Payroll administrators would do well to regularly ponder on and/or raise with their superiors.

The primary, overriding question

What ought we, the payroll professional, to be doing about this?

Here are some suggestions:

Gather all relevant data to support your argument towards making a morally astute decision.
Seek to engage with your line manager in a private meeting. Do not openly dispute the merits of the issue or contest the decision with an audience.
By carefully explaining the underlying rationale and showing the reasons you think a particular issue is morally and/or ethically challenging, you can calmly state your case.
Be ready to clearly present an alternative, suitable solution that you believe to be the right decision.
Expect, with positive intention, to receive a revised final outcome that (fairly) takes your positive contribution into account.

Payroll professionals as the litmus test

Remember that in these types of situations, management is well within its right to insist upon only that which is legal as the basis for decisions. The job, however, of all proud Payroll professionals, is to be the moral compass, pointing management in the right ethical direction. To make our voices heard, calmy and rationally.

The Payroll professional is the litmus test representing the values of an organisation. We are called to be brave and ethical, speaking out when necessary. Building on our reputation as the moral compass.

Coming next… A summary of the many hats worn by the Payroll professional

– Provided by Ian Hurst –

Helpdesk Tips

How to download the Statistics SA report

The Statistics SA report from Paymaster provides a report in the format required by Statistics SA that is submitted quarterly. The statistics provides data essential for estimating key economic statistics of employment and gross earnings. These economic data are used by a wide range of private and governmental organisations to monitor South Africa’s Economy. Click below for directions on how to download the Stats SA report.

How to download the Stats SA report

Please call our Helpdesk for your queries –
021 712 7333 help@paymaster.co.za or
WhatsApp us – 081 711 1276

UIF Declaration error fix

Code 8270

Paymaster automatically generates the UIF Declaration File on the 7th of each month and sends the file to the Department of Labour on the customer’s behalf. Sometimes one receives a UIF error message which can be fixed on the system. The UIF Declaration File can be resent to the Department of Labour by regenerating the file on the system. Click below to see instructions on this particular error message.

How to fix UIF declaration error code: 8270

Staff Bio

Meet Abigail Bester

Please meet the friendly and engaging Abigail Bester, a fairly new employee to Paymaster. Abigail processes payrolls for about 13 clients at Paymaster and is a junior payroll administrator. She is a member of team Dynamic energy and reports to Nafeesa, the office manager. Apart from her payroll duties, she is also a helpdesk agent to assist clients with any payroll related queries. She feels most at home when she listens to music. She loves singing and was even part of a choir once.

Abigail attended Sibelius High School, Steenberg in Cape Town, and went on to study Accounting at UWC, and Financial Management at False Bay College (up to N6). She is determined to complete the 3 years of her 4 year degree in the near future. She went on to work for numerous call centres, processing loans and assisting customers with their loan applications for 2 years. False Bay College facilitated her first intern job as a junior accountant for 2 years. After the covid pandemic period, Abigail found another job at a property management company, working as a bookkeeper for a year. She enjoyed this job as it was in the field that she is studying. But due to complications, she had to leave and, fortunately for Paymaster, found the Paymaster vacancy on social media.

Abigail summed up her personality as trustworthy, helpful, caring, introverted and shy. She explained, she’s an empathetic person as she knows how it feels to be alone. The lovely Abigail is a good fit for the Paymaster team. She is friendly and humble, and we know we can depend on her professionalism and passion for the field of finance.

New Product Features

New enhancements

Happy New year and welcome back!

Medical Aid Rates – 2023

We are pleased to inform you that the Medical Aid tables for 2023 have been updated on our system. However, if you have any medical aid rates that have not been updated, please email help@paymaster.co.za for assistance.

The below medical aid premiums have been updated effective 1 January 2023:

[read more] Best Med,
Bonitas,
CAMAF,
Cape Medical Aid,
Genesis,
Healthsquared,
Imperial and Motus Medical Aid,
Medihelp,
MediMed,
Medshield,
Moto Health Care,
Platinum Health,
Remedi,
SAB Medical,
Suremed,
ThebeMed,
Umvuzo Health,
Zestlife,
Health 4Me Health,
Stratum Benefits Gap Cover,
Turnberry Insurance Group,
Zestlife,
Liberty Health (Lesotho),
Mauritius Union Insurance Medical Aid,
Liberty Health Lesotho,
Namibia Health Plan (NHP),
Namibia Medical Care (NMC)[/read]

Annual Increases

As we approach the time of year when many of you process annual increases, we remind you to follow these guidelines when capturing the increases:

Do not override the existing employee pay rate record.
Create a new pay rate record.
Increases can be captured via Employee > Payroll Processing > Pay Rate Details
Or using Bulk Actions > Action Type: Pay Rate Details

Company Cars

For those of you whose employees make use of company cars, we encourage you to update the following fields when changing vehicles:

Employee > Payroll Processing > Recurring Payroll Components > Fringe Benefits > Company Car Fringe Benefit

The ‘Determined Car Value Excluding Vat’ must be updated with the new vehicle’s value to ensure that the Fringe Benefit calculates correctly.

Leave

On Company Settings under the Leave tab, there has been an update to the below setting. When enabled, an email notification will be sent to Employee Self Service Users notifying them that leave will expire in the number of days specified.

There has been an update to the below Leave settings on Company Settings under the Leave tab. When enabled, an email notification will be sent to Employee Self Service Users notifying them that leave will expire in the number of days specified.

Config > Basic Settings > Company Settings > Leave

Please refer to ‘What’s New’ for more details.

Company Financial Statements

You can view and export your Company Financial Statement on the system by navigating to Config > Financial > Invoices and Receipts.

Any issues can be directed to help@paymaster.co.za

Pacey

With WhatsApp

Our employee self-service bot that will assist you with your payroll and HR requests.

Pacey uses interactive WhatsApp messages, giving users a more straightforward and consistent way to select the options available, resulting in significantly higher response rates than text-based (USSD) lists.

Contact us if you want Pacey for your employees…

For more info or to request a quote

Easy and secure registration. Employees can register themselves.

Partnerships

Our partnership with Floatpays and Biosyn is another way that Paymaster endeavors to deliver greater value to our clients.

Your employees have most probably just experienced ‘Januworry’ – a time when financial stress often peaks. Financial stress is bad for your staff and your bottom line!

Now is the perfect time to be reminded of what employees find useful in helping them reduce their financial stress. Research conducted by our earned wage access partner, FloatPays provides some insight:

FloatPays can help you support your employees in building financial wellness
and avoiding future ‘Januworries’.

If you like what you hear and want to get your employees on the path towards financial wellness, get in touch.

Book a DEMO here

Partnerships

continue…

Paymaster is partnering with BioSyn, to bring you the latest, and best, in Time and Attendance Systems.

A versatile clock-in system tailored to your company’s specific requirements. Access control that boosts your bottom-line, we offer excellent support, and in-depth training.

Be pro-active, and rather than policing your employees, this Time and Attendance system helps you monitor them from a unique perspective.

To find out more or for a free consultation,

contact Glen Coburn at glen@paymaster.co.za, or call +27 836791311.

Paymaster Updates

You’ll find the weekly and Africa updates and resources to help you stay informed and on top of your payroll responsibilities and legislative changes you should know.

February

Employee Tax Drilldown | New fields added to Excel download
Standard payslip | ID number masked on non-confidential header
South Africa | Frequency Consolidation of Tax Submission File

February

Zambia NAPSA Ceiling Update
Zambia Tax Table Changes 2023
Ivory Coast CNPS Ceiling Increase
Ghana – SNNIT minimum and maximum contributions
Namibia – Tax Changes 2022-2023 tax deduction limit increase

Paymaster Announcement

Welcome to our “Free Payroll Knowledge” webinar series! We understand that payroll can be a complex and challenging task for small businesses, which is why we want to help. We’re excited to announce that our webinars will take place twice a month, every Wednesday at 10:00-10:30. The series will be an open discussion format, you ask any payroll question, we have the answer.

We will be announcing the details of each webinar on our social media channels, so be sure to follow us to stay updated. You can join the webinar using the link we will provide.

Closed

Wednesday
1 February
10:00

Schedule the next webinar

Wednesday
15 February
10:00

Who is this webinar for?

For payroll professionals increasing their skill base, or those new to this function. Or maybe you’re exploring Paymaster as a payroll option….this Webinar is aimed at all of you.

Click here to go to the previous Newsletter

– Monthly newsletter curated by Lezé Felton –

Please sign-up or invite someone to our Newsletters here to keep up-to-date

👉 Go check out our website- https://www.paymaster.co.za/ 👈