Release 5.6a for Sage Business Cloud Payroll Professional was deployed on the 10^th of March 2021

This is a mandatory update for all users.

When you launch your system the first time as from 10 March 2021, you will be prompted to update all your payroll companies to Release 5.6a.

Take note of the important notice on the subscription landing page:

When you launch your subscription, you will receive either an Suggested Update or Mandatory Update message.

• Suggested Update: You will have the option to Update Now (which will convert the data to the new version and apply the new changes, should be done in new pay period) or Update Later (continue with Release 5.5b, for example you have not rolled into a new pay period). The update must be installed in March 2021, and all users are urged to access and update as soon as possible. 
• Mandatory Update: This message will only display if you did not update in the recommended timeframe and will require you to Update Now or Cancel. If you Select Update Now, but do not select to convert the company data when launching the application, the companies will not reflect on your Company Listing screen. At this point, you will have no other option, but to update the system. Users who have not installed this mandatory update, must install it as soon as possible. Release 5.6a must be installed in a new pay period, before paying your employees as PAYE recalculations will take place.

• The process will convert all payroll data to the new version. Once completed, the new version number will reflect at the top of the Company Listing screen.

The following items are included in this release:

• RSA: Tax Related Changes Affecting the System
• Tax Table Changes 2021/2022
• Subsistence Allowances and Advances
• Table for Calculation of Rate per km/Travel Allowance
• Low or Interest-Free Loans/Debts
• Cumulative Exemption for Retirement Fund Benefits and Severance Benefits
• Value of ‘B’ in the Residential Accommodation Fringe Benefit Calculation
• PAYE Withholding on Annuities/Pension
• Reimbursements/Advances for Business Travel on Day Trips
• Exempt Bursaries/Scholarships

Note: RSA Legislative changes for the 2021-2022 Tax Year have been implemented. If you have already entered travel transactions before updating to the current release, the rate per kilometer will have been calculated at R3.98. Delete these transactions and recapture them to apply the reduced rate R3.82/km. Medical aid tax credits will also need also need to be backdated.

For more details on this update, refer to the What's New link under the Quick Links section of the Landing Page.

Detailed information is available on the Help file (Launch application > Help > How To) or Release Notes (Launch application > Help > Release Notes)

The following articles are available on the Sage Knowledgebase to provide you with guidance to make corrections on your payroll system

• How do I delete my reimbursive travel transactions,if I loaded Release 56a after capturing my travel transactions for the current period?
• How do I delete a reimbursive kilometer travel transaction for the current period?
• How do I backdate my medical beneficiaries if I loaded Release 5.6a in the second week of the month or in April?
• How do I correct my reimbursive travel kms, if I loaded Release 56a in April or in the second week of the month?