For employers of domestic workers
Labour inspectors are knocking. Are you compliant with the LAW?
One missed UIF declaration or unregistered COID can mean years of backdated contributions, penalties and personal liability. PayNest takes over your payroll, payslips, UIF, COID and contracts, so you're compliant from month one without becoming a payroll expert.
Onboarded within 24 hours
Month-to-month, cancel anytime
No obligation check
Your household compliance
Managed by PayNest:
Payslip sent via WhatsApp
BCEA-compliant, delivered on payday
UIF declaration submitted
Contributions calculated and filed
COID registered
Annual Return of Earnings handled
Leave balance updated
Requested and approved on WhatsApp
Inspector-ready report
Download any time
Employment contract
BCEA-compliant contract drafted (R600 once-off)
Full Monthly Compliance Plan.
From R165 / month
24h
to get you on the payroll
60-second FREE COMPLIANCE check
How exposed are you right now to fines & penalties?
Answer ten quick questions about each person you employ for more than 24 hours a month. Any “No” or “Not sure” is a compliance gap, and leaves you exposed. We’ll show you exactly how PayNest closes it and ensures your compliance with the law.
Your compliance score
0
of 10 answered
Let’s check your compliance
Answer the questions to see where you stand. It updates as you go.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
0 on track
0 gaps
0 not sure
A self-check is a guide, not legal advice. Our free check reviews your actual records.
1
Does your employee have a BCEA-compliant employment contract that details all statutory requirements?
Great news, you’re on track! This area looks compliant.
Compliance gap: here’s what’s needed
What’s required
A written contract is required under section 29 of the BCEA and must set out, among others:
Employer’s full name and address
Employee’s name and job / occupation
Place(s) of work and start date
Ordinary hours and days of work
Wage or rate and how it’s calculated, plus any overtime rate
Any other cash payments or payments in kind (and their value)
How often the employee is paid, and any deductions
Leave entitlement, and notice period or fixed-term duration
Why it matters
A written contract is a legal requirement. It sets out both parties’ rights and duties, prevents misunderstandings, and is your first line of defence in a CCMA or Labour dispute. Without one, disputes tend to be decided on the employee’s version of events.
How PayNest fixes this
PayNest provides a fully BCEA-compliant employment contract, tailored to your employee, covering every statutory particular.
2
Do you issue a payslip containing all statutory details, every pay period?
Great news, you’re on track! This area looks compliant.
Compliance gap: here’s what’s needed
What’s required
Under section 33 of the BCEA, each payslip must show:
Employer’s name and address
Employee’s name and occupation
The period the payment covers
Gross remuneration (pay in money)
The amount and purpose of every deduction
The actual (net) amount paid
Where relevant: pay rate and overtime rate, ordinary and overtime hours, and any hours worked on Sundays or public holidays
Why it matters
Missing or incomplete payslips are one of the most common issues flagged in Department of Employment and Labour inspections, and they leave employees without the transparency the law requires.
How PayNest fixes this
PayNest generates fully compliant payslips and makes them easy to access: for you via your PayNest portal, and for your employee directly on WhatsApp.
3
Have you registered for UIF and received a UIF reference number?
Great news, you’re on track! This area looks compliant.
Compliance gap: here’s what’s needed
What’s required
You must register for UIF within 7 days of your employee starting.
Any employee who works 24 hours or more per month must be registered.
Your employee’s UIF start date must match their actual contract start date.
Why it matters
Your employee’s UIF (and COID) effective date must reflect their actual contract start date. If it doesn’t, the employee can claim against you for incorrect reporting and an unfair labour practice, which can result in penalties, fines, and even a court order to amend and correct the UIF and COID effective dates.
How PayNest fixes this
PayNest registers you for UIF and ensures your employee is correctly linked to your UIF account with the Department of Employment and Labour.
4
Do you submit monthly UI-19 declarations to the UIF?
Great news, you’re on track! This area looks compliant.
Compliance gap: here’s what’s needed
What’s required
Monthly UI-19 declarations must be submitted to the UIF by the 7th of every month.
Compliance requires both the monthly UI-19 declaration and the monthly payment, submitted by the 7th.
How PayNest fixes this
PayNest submits your UI-19 declaration on the 7th of every month via a direct API link into the UIF’s Siyaya system.
5
Do you pay the 2% UIF contribution to the UIF every month by the 7th?
Great news, you’re on track! This area looks compliant.
Compliance gap: here’s what’s needed
What’s required
The 2% UIF contribution (1% deducted from the employee and 1% contributed by you) must be paid to the UIF by the 7th of each month, linked to your UIF reference number.
How PayNest fixes this
PayNest pays your UIF for you through our payment provider, Netcash, linked to your UIF reference number via the Netcash public beneficiaries listing. We invoice the UIF amount to you each month, make the payment, and store the proof of payment in your PayNest portal.
6
If you’ve never paid UIF before and your employee started some time ago, are your historical (back-dated) UIF declarations and payments up to date?
Great news, you’re on track! This area looks compliant.
Compliance gap: here’s what’s needed
What’s required
Where UIF was never paid from your employee’s actual start date, the missed months must be back-declared and paid to bring your UIF account up to date.
The back-dated declarations must reflect the employee’s true contract start date.
Why it matters
Leaving historical UIF unpaid, or reflecting the wrong start date, exposes you to a claim for incorrect reporting and an unfair labour practice, with penalties and fines. Correcting the history and the effective dates protects you.
How PayNest fixes this
PayNest calculates the historical UIF back-declarations that need to be paid. You pay this amount to the UIF and send us the proof of payment. We then submit it to the UIF head office, together with the historical UIF declarations and salary schedules, for them to load and bring your UIF account fully up to date.
7
Are you registered for COID with the Compensation Fund?
Great news, you’re on track! This area looks compliant.
Compliance gap: here’s what’s needed
What’s required
COIDA registration is compulsory for virtually all employers, including domestic employers, and you need a COID registration (CF) number.
COIDA (the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act) provides compensation to employees who are injured, fall ill, or die as a result of their work.
Contributing is a statutory obligation for all employers. Penalties apply for non-compliance.
Your COID effective date must reflect your employee’s actual contract start date.
Why it matters
Just like UIF, your COID effective date must match your employee’s contract start date. Incorrect dates can be treated as incorrect reporting and an unfair labour practice, leading to penalties, fines, and a court order to correct the effective date.
How PayNest fixes this
PayNest registers you for COID and obtains your COIDA reference (CF) number on your behalf.
8
Do you complete an annual Return of Earnings and pay your COIDA fees each year?
Great news, you’re on track! This area looks compliant.
Compliance gap: here’s what’s needed
What’s required
Every employer must submit an annual Return of Earnings (ROE) and pay the assessed COIDA fee.
The fee is 1.04% of your annual payroll or R560, whichever is higher.
Once paid, the Compensation Fund issues a Letter of Good Standing. Penalties apply for non-submission.
The Fund will not accept the current year’s return until all historic years are submitted (calculated from your employee’s start date).
How PayNest fixes this
PayNest handles your Return of Earnings end-to-end. Between April and June each year we submit your past-year payroll and the year-ahead projection. When the Compensation Fund issues the invoice (1.04% of annual payroll or R560, whichever is higher), we send it to you for payment and request your Letter of Good Standing once it’s paid. We also help bring any outstanding historic returns up to date, which is required before the current year can be submitted.
9
Do you track your employee’s annual leave and family responsibility leave?
Great news, you’re on track! This area looks compliant.
Compliance gap: here’s what’s needed
What’s required
Under the BCEA, employees are entitled to annual leave and family responsibility leave, and accurate leave records must be kept.
Leave accrues over time and must be reduced correctly as leave is taken.
Why it matters
Untracked leave is one of the most common triggers of workplace disputes. Accurate accruals and balances protect you at the CCMA. Arguments over “owed” leave are very hard to defend without proper records.
How PayNest fixes this
PayNest’s system calculates leave accrual monthly and deducts leave as you approve it. Your employee applies for leave on WhatsApp, and you approve it through a simple workflow emailed to you.
10
If your employee earns above the tax threshold (R99,000 a year, about R8,250 a month, in the 2026/27 tax year), are you deducting PAYE and paying it to SARS?
Great news, you’re on track! This area looks compliant.
Compliance gap: here’s what’s needed
What’s required
Anyone earning above the SARS tax threshold (R99,000 a year, about R8,250 a month, for employees under 65 in the 2026/27 tax year) must have PAYE deducted and paid over to SARS.
This is reported to SARS on a monthly EMP201.
The threshold is reviewed by SARS each year.
How PayNest fixes this
PayNest calculates the PAYE due and shows it on the payslip. You can either receive the EMP201 report to submit via eFiling yourself, or we register you for PAYE and submit and pay it on your behalf through our registered tax practitioner. We bill the PAYE due monthly, pay it over via our Netcash payment provider’s public beneficiary account, and save your proof of payment in your PayNest portal.
This doesn’t apply: there’s no PAYE obligation while your employee earns below the threshold.
Let PayNest carry the compliance load
Whatever your gaps, we can close them: registrations, submissions, payments and proof, all handled and documents stored safely for you.
A PayNest specialist will call or WhatsApp you within one business day to confirm your details and start your registrations. Nothing to pay today. Your information is protected under POPIA.
FINES, PENALTIES & RISKS
Most domestic employers are non-compliant and don't know it.
Employing someone at home is still employment and comes with statutory responsibilities. Hiring a housekeeper, nanny, caregiver, au pair, butler or gardener, comes with UIF, COID, payslip, employment contract and SARS obligations. Miss one of these and you face penalties, fines and legal consequences. The longer you wait to get compliant, the more the problem compounds.
UIF gaps
10%
penalty + 9.75% interest
Unregistered or non-submitting employers must pay backdated UIF for every employee, going back years, plus a 10% penalty on outstanding contributions and 9.75% interest from day one of employment.
COID gaps
No cap
on personal liability
If a worker is injured, disabled or dies on duty and you're not registered, you're personally liable for medical costs, disability compensation and death benefits, with no Fund cover and no limit.
Past-employment gaps
Forever
until it's regularised
Obligations don't end when a worker leaves. Unsubmitted UIF or COID must still be backdated and paid, with penalties and interest, no matter how long ago the employment ended.
CCMA gaps
Lost
on paperwork alone
Without a compliant employment contract, monthly payslips and disciplinary records, defending a CCMA case is nearly impossible, even when you were in the right.
The solution
PayNest becomes your compliance department.
Being a compliant domestic employer shouldn't be a second job. PayNest is a, do-it-all for you, payroll and compliance service provider: we register you, run your payroll, manage staff leave, file every submission, pay UIF on your behalf, and keep your records inspection-ready and compliant with the law.
The end result is you pay your domestic staff correctly, meet every legal obligation, and never struggle with a government portal again.
See everything we handle →Government portals that fight back: we handle them
Stuck on the uFiling or Compensation Fund site? We register you and deal with every department directly.
Hidden deadlines: we never miss one
Monthly UIF declarations, annual COID returns and payslips on payday, tracked and filed on time.
Past gaps: we close them for good
Behind on UIF? We backdate and regularise your history so the liability is finally closed.
One plan. Everything handled.
Your complete employment-compliance team
Seven services plus secure, inspection-ready records, one monthly fee, one specialist who knows your household.
Payroll and payslips
Payroll done right, every payday. Accurate, BCEA-compliant payslips delivered straight to your employee on WhatsApp.
Leave tracking
Employees request leave on WhatsApp, you approve or decline in minutes, and balances update automatically.
UIF registration and compliance
From registration to monthly declarations, and back-declarations if needed, with employee records kept up to date.
COID registration and returns
COID registration and annual Return of Earnings submitted, plus back-declarations to close any gaps.
Compliant contracts
Professionally drafted South African employment contracts, tailored to the domestic-worker sector and Sectoral Determinations.
SARS compliance
PAYE calculations, monthly EMP201, bi-annual EMP501 reconciliations and IRP5 certificates, handled.
HR advisory
Avoid the CCMA. Expert guidance on disciplinary action, dismissals, retrenchments and difficult employee matters.
Secure document storage
Every contract, payslip and submission stored securely and instantly retrievable. Never scramble for paperwork again.
Labour-inspection ready
When SARS or the Department of Employment and Labour knocks, download inspector-ready reports in seconds.
How it works
Compliant in three simple steps
No complex government portals, no jargon, no queues at the Department of Employment and Labour.
Complete & submit form
Fill in the short form on this page. A PayNest specialist contacts you to review your situation and recommends the best way forward.
Send your documents
If you go ahead, we tell you exactly which documents we need. We load your payroll and apply for UIF and COID within 24 hours.
We handle the rest
Your specialist takes over every payslip, UIF & PAYE submission, etc. You sit back. We'll ensure your full compliance, month after month.
Three reasons domestic employers sleep better with PayNest.
Everything handled for you from beginning to end. Not just hand-holding.
Benefit 01
Inspector-proof, every single month
Every payslip, UIF declaration and COID return is filed on time and stored safely. If a labour inspector or SARS knocks, your proof is one download away.
Penalties and interest avoided
Inspector-ready reports on demand
Contracts that hold up at the CCMA
Benefit 02
Your time back. Zero government portals.
We deal with uFiling, the Compensation Fund and SARS so you never have to. Payslips and leave requests run on WhatsApp. You just approve.
On the payroll within 24 hours
Payslips delivered on WhatsApp
A named specialist, not a call centre
Benefit 03
One low monthly fee. No lock-in.
Everything for R165 per employee per month, a fraction of what one uninsured workplace injury or a CCMA loss could cost you. Stay because it works, not because you're locked in.
R165 a month, all-inclusive
Month-to-month, 30 days' notice
New employee? Just a new onboarding fee
Simple, transparent pricing
One plan. Two ways to pay. Everything handled.
No hidden fees. Pay monthly with no minimum term, or pay yearly and get a month free.
The offer
The PayNest Full Compliance Plan
Everything a South African employer needs to stay on the right side of the law, handled for you every month.
BCEA-compliant payslips on WhatsApp
UIF registration and declarations
COID registration and annual returns
Leave tracking and recording
HR advisory by email and phone
Priority phone support
Accountant-ready documents
Online profile and staff payroll access
Secure document storage
Inspector-ready reports on demand
per employee, billed monthly
per employee, paid once a year
1 month free. You pay for 11, save R165
Both options: per employee, for 1 to 5 employees. The fees below apply to either option.
Once-off registration, payroll set-up and full compliance review
R250
per employee
Behind on UIF? Backdating and regularisation
R80
per month owed
Monthly: cancel any time with 30 days' notice. Annual: one upfront payment covering 12 months.
Work out what it costs your household
Move the sliders to work out your cost.
We backdate missed months at R80 per month, per employee.
Set the months in arrears for each employee, up to 60 months (5 years). Longer arrears? We'll quote them on your compliance check.
Your estimate
6 or more employees
Larger teams get a tailored quote. Tell us about your workforce and we'll come back with exact figures, including any UIF backdating.
Get compliant now
Sign up now. No more compliance risks.
Tell us a little about you and a PayNest specialist will review your situation, flag any risks, and recommend the simplest way to get compliant. No obligation.
WhatsApp us
+27 83 624 1406
Call, Mon to Fri, 8am to 5pm
083 624 1406
info@paynestpayroll.co.za
Your information is protected under POPIA. It will never be sold, shared or passed on to third parties for marketing, and is used only to respond to your enquiry. No obligation to purchase.
Get started
Step 1: tell us about your household.
A PayNest specialist will call or WhatsApp you within one business day to confirm your details and start your registrations. Nothing to pay today.
What our clients say
Peace of mind, in their words.
I reached out to PayNest after lying awake at night worrying about ensuring I was doing the right thing for my domestic worker. I tried to do UIF and COIDA on my own but immediately got stuck. To say my sleep has improved because this stressful process was taken off my busy hands is an understatement. To the other hard-working, overwhelmed parents or business owners, just hire the experts.
Lucy S, Howick, KwaZulu-Natal. Full-time working mum.
“I struggled for months to get my UIF sorted. Liz was really great and got this over the line in a matter of a day. Amazing service!!”
Amanda S
Constantia, Cape Town
“PayNest took care of my nanny's UIF registration, payroll, and payslips without any hassle. Everything is handled excellently. I know I'm meeting my legal obligations every month.”
Megan K
Bryanston, Johannesburg
Still on the fence?
Your doubts, answered honestly.
The questions and concerns we hear most from employers before they sign up.
Still unsure about your situation?
Speak to a PayNest specialist, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.
Chat on WhatsApp →I only employ one domestic worker. Does this really apply to me?
Yes. If anyone works more than 24 hours a month for you, you're legally required to register them for UIF, and COID registration is compulsory for all domestic employers. There's no opt-out for households, foreign nationals, or workers who also work for someone else. Labour inspectors are actively visiting homes and issuing spot-fines.
Can't I just do it myself on uFiling?
You can try, and many of our clients did first. Most get stuck at registration, miss the monthly declarations, or forget the annual COID Return of Earnings. Payslips and contracts also have to meet specific BCEA requirements that are easy to overlook. For R165 a month, a specialist does it correctly every time, and you never open a government portal.
Is it worth R165 a month?
Compare it to the alternative: backdated UIF for every month you missed, a 10% penalty and 9.75% interest, or, if your worker is injured and you're not registered for COID, personal liability for medical costs and compensation with no cap. R165 covers payroll, payslips, UIF, COID, leave, HR advice and inspector-ready records. Prefer to pay once a year? The annual option is R1,815 per employee, so you get one month free.
I'm already behind. Will getting compliant get me into trouble?
Coming forward is the safest thing you can do. The liability already exists whether you act or not, and it grows every month. PayNest specialises in backdated UIF catch-up: we obtain your compliance report, calculate what's owed, submit everything and deal with the Department of Employment and Labour for you.
Am I locked into a contract?
No. PayNest is month-to-month and you can cancel any time with 30 days' notice. We'd rather earn your business every month than lock you in.
My accountant does my books. Why do I need PayNest?
Many accountants don't handle domestic-worker UIF and COID, and many refer those clients to us. We work alongside your accountant and supply an accountant-ready reporting pack every month.
How quickly can I be compliant?
We onboard you onto the payroll within 24 hours and apply for UIF and COID in that same window. Registrations usually take 1 to 3 days with the Department of Employment and Labour and the Compensation Fund.
What if my employee resigns and I hire someone new?
Nothing changes. Your new employee simply moves onto your existing plan. We only charge a new onboarding fee.
Is my information safe?
Yes. Your data and your employees' data are stored securely and handled under POPIA. We never sell or share your information for marketing, and the compliance check carries no obligation.
Every month you wait is another month to backdate.
UIF interest runs from day one of employment, COID liability has no cap, and inspectors are visiting homes now. Request your free check today and we'll have you on the payroll within 24 hours and have you compliant in no time.
Sign up before month-end and we'll run your very next payroll: payslips, UIF and all.
Your information is protected under POPIA. · South Africa