What is the UI-8 form and who must complete it?

The UI-8, officially titled "Application for Registration as an Employer", is the Unemployment Insurance Fund form a business uses to register as an employer under the Unemployment Insurance Contributions Act, 2002. Every employer in South Africa must register with the UIF as soon as they employ their first employee, so that UIF contributions can be collected and employees can later claim benefits such as unemployment, illness, maternity, and parental benefits.

Where do I get the UI-8 form and where do I submit it?

The UI-8 is published by the Department of Employment and Labour on labour.gov.za, or you can fill it online free at FillMeIn and download the completed PDF. Submit the completed form by post to The UIF, P.O. Box 1851, Pretoria, 0001, by fax to (012) 337-1636 (or a regional fax number printed on the form), or hand it in at the UIF branch closest to the employer. You can also register online via uFiling (ufiling.labour.gov.za). The UIF call centre is 0800 030 007.

Can I register as an employer online instead of using the paper UI-8?

Yes. The uFiling portal (ufiling.labour.gov.za) lets employers, including domestic employers, register with the UIF online, declare employees, and pay contributions electronically. If you register on uFiling you do not need to submit a paper UI-8. The paper form remains available for employers who prefer to post, fax, or hand-deliver their registration.

Must a completed UI-19 accompany the UI-8?

Yes. The UI-8 itself states that a completed UI-19 form with the details of your employees must accompany it, unless you indicate clearly on the form that the information of employees will be submitted electronically. The UI-19 lists each employee with their ID number, remuneration, and employment dates. The UIF needs it to link your workers to your new employer registration.

Do domestic employers have to register with the UIF too?

Yes. If you employ a domestic worker, gardener, or other household worker for more than 24 hours a month, you must register with the UIF. But households use a different form: the UI-8D (Application for Registration as an Employer of Workers in a Private Household), not this commercial UI-8. The easiest route for most domestic employers is the uFiling portal (ufiling.labour.gov.za), which registers you and lets you declare and pay online. Use this UI-8 form when you are registering a business.

What is the PAYE number field on the UI-8, and what if I am not registered for PAYE?

The UI-8 asks for the SARS PAYE (Pay As You Earn) reference number if the business is registered with SARS as an employer. It is a 10-digit number starting with 7. The form warns you not to enter a VAT number or a personal income tax number. If the business is not registered for PAYE (for example, a small business below the tax threshold), leave the field blank. The UIF will register you directly.

What does the "Ownership Type" box on the UI-8 mean?

The UI-8 uses a number code for the type of business: 1 = Sole Owner, 2 = Partnership, 3 = Company, 4 = Close Corporation, 5 = Trust, 6 = Other. Write the number that matches your business in the box. If you choose Company or Close Corporation, you must also fill in the registered name and the CIPC registration number in question 5.

Whose details go in the "Particulars of owner, partners, directors" section?

List the people who own or control the business: the sole owner, the partners of a partnership, the directors of a company, the members of a close corporation, or the chairperson and secretary of another entity type. The form has space for three people, each with surname and initials, a 13-digit SA ID number, and postal and residential addresses. Where an ID number is not applicable, the form instructs you to give a passport or other identification number.

When must an employer register with the UIF?

Registration is required as soon as the business employs its first employee. The UI-8 asks for the exact date on which the first contributor was employed. If you take over an existing business, you must register the change of ownership, using the date the business changed hands. Registering late does not remove the obligation: outstanding contributions remain payable, so register as soon as possible.

What happens after I submit the UI-8?

The UIF processes the application and issues an employer reference number, typically posted to the business postal address given on the form. Paper applications generally take a few weeks to process; uFiling registration is usually faster. You use the employer reference number for monthly employee declarations (UI-19) and contribution payments, and employees quote it when they claim benefits.

How much are UIF contributions once I am registered?

Under the Unemployment Insurance Contributions Act, the employer contributes 1% of each employee's remuneration and deducts a further 1% from the employee's pay, 2% in total, paid monthly. Employers registered for PAYE pay the contributions to SARS with their monthly EMP201 return; employers not registered with SARS pay the UIF directly. Contribution amounts are subject to an earnings ceiling set by the Minister. Check the current ceiling with SARS or the UIF.

Is my information safe when using FillMeIn to fill the UI-8?

Yes. FillMeIn processes everything on your device. The business details, PAYE number, and the ID numbers and addresses of owners and directors never leave your phone or computer. Nothing is sent to our servers or stored in the cloud. You fill the form, download the PDF, and print it. Your information stays completely under your control.

UI-8: Application for Registration as an Employer

Department of Employment and Labour

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