TSS Payroll
SARS Guide

How to Correct an EMP201 After Submission

Mistakes on a submitted EMP201 are common and fixable — the key is correcting them before they compound into a bigger EMP501 mismatch at year-end.

Important: EMP201 isn't directly "amended" like a tax return

Unlike a personal income tax return, an EMP201 for a prior month generally can't be edited and resubmitted on its own once the period has closed. Instead, corrections for a prior month are usually captured through an adjustment in the current month's EMP201, or picked up and reconciled at the next EMP501 submission.

Steps to correct an error

  1. Identify exactly which figure was wrong — PAYE, UIF, SDL, or ETI claimed — and for which month
  2. Correct the underlying payroll calculation so future months are accurate
  3. If the error resulted in an underpayment, pay the shortfall as soon as possible to limit interest
  4. If it resulted in an overpayment, the credit is generally applied against future liabilities rather than refunded separately
  5. Keep a clear record of what was wrong and why, for your own audit trail and to support the EMP501 reconciliation

If SARS has already queried the return

If SARS raises a query or audit on a specific EMP201, respond via eFiling with the correct figures and supporting payroll records. Don't ignore a SARS query — unresolved queries can escalate to a formal assessment with penalties.

Why monthly accuracy matters

Every EMP201 error left uncorrected surfaces at EMP501 reconciliation, when SARS compares 12 months of EMP201 submissions against your IRP5 certificates. Small monthly errors are easy to fix one at a time — a full year of errors discovered at once is not.

People Also Ask

Can I resubmit a prior month's EMP201 directly?

Not usually — corrections for a closed period are typically captured as an adjustment in the current month or reconciled at EMP501.

What happens to an overpayment from an EMP201 error?

It's generally applied as a credit against future liabilities rather than refunded separately mid-year.

Should I respond to a SARS query about an EMP201?

Yes, promptly — unresolved queries can escalate to a formal assessment with penalties.

Related Resources

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