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

The UI-8D, "Application for Registration as an Employer" for a private household, is the Unemployment Insurance Fund form you use when you employ a domestic worker in your home. If you employ a domestic worker, gardener, nanny, or driver for more than 24 hours a month, you are their employer under the Unemployment Insurance Contributions Act, 2002, and you must register with the UIF so contributions can be collected and your worker can later claim benefits.

What is the difference between the UI-8D and the UI-8?

The UI-8D is for private households; the UI-8 is for businesses. Because a household employer is a person rather than a company, the UI-8D records your ID or passport number, your names, and your home and postal address. It has no fields for a trading name, ownership type, PAYE number, or list of directors. If you employ domestic help at home, use the UI-8D. If you are registering a business, use the UI-8.

When must a domestic employer register with the UIF?

You must register as soon as you employ a domestic worker for more than 24 hours a month. The form asks for the date your first domestic worker started. This cannot be before 01 April 2003, the date domestic workers were brought under the UIF. Registering late does not remove the obligation: outstanding contributions remain payable, so register as soon as possible.

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

The UI-8D 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 it by post to The UIF, P.O. Box 1851, Pretoria, 0001, by email to Newui8registrations@labour.gov.za, or hand it in at the Labour Centre closest to you. You can also register online through the uFiling portal (ufiling.labour.gov.za).

Can I register my household online instead of using the paper UI-8D?

Yes. The uFiling portal (ufiling.labour.gov.za) lets domestic employers register with the UIF online, declare their worker, and pay contributions electronically. If you register on uFiling you do not need to submit a paper UI-8D. Many domestic employers find uFiling the easiest route because it handles registration, monthly declarations, and payments in one place.

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

Yes. The UI-8D requires a completed UI-19 with your domestic worker’s details to accompany it. The UI-19 lists your worker with their ID number, remuneration, and employment dates. The UIF needs it to link your worker to your new household employer registration. You can fill the UI-19 online at FillMeIn too.

Why does the UI-8D ask for a utility bill?

The UI-8D notes that a utility bill (municipality, telephone, or retail account) not older than 3 months, together with a completed UI-19, should accompany the form. The utility bill confirms your residential address as the household employer. Attach a recent bill in your name to avoid delays in processing your registration.

How much are UIF contributions for a domestic worker?

You contribute 1% of your domestic worker’s pay and deduct a further 1% from their wages, 2% in total, paid to the UIF each month. For example, if you pay your worker R3,000 a month, you contribute R30 and deduct R30 from their pay, paying R60 to the UIF. Contributions are subject to an earnings ceiling set by the Minister. Check the current ceiling with the UIF.

What if I do not have a South African ID?

The UI-8D asks for your "Identity / Refugee / Passport number". If you are a South African, enter your 13-digit SA ID number. If you are a refugee or a foreign national employing a domestic worker in South Africa, enter your refugee permit number or passport number instead. The important thing is that the UIF can identify you as the household employer.

What happens after I submit the UI-8D?

The UIF processes your application and issues a household employer reference number, typically posted to the postal address on the form. Paper applications generally take a few weeks; uFiling registration is usually faster. You use the reference number to declare your worker and pay the monthly contributions, and your worker quotes it when they claim benefits such as maternity or unemployment.

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

Yes. FillMeIn processes everything on your device. Your ID or passport number, your home address, and your contact details 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-8D: Registration as a Domestic Employer (Private Household)

Department of Employment and Labour

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