The next software release (Release 5.7a) will be available early September 2021, which will include IRP5 changes and 2021 tax relief measures.

Important

Sage takes the security of customer data seriously and works proactively each day to prevent misuse. Along with the standard legislative updates below, Release 5.7a is a mandatory update and will include an updated code signing certificate.

If your company claims ETI and want to apply the additional relief as from August 2021, Release 5.7a must be installed while payroll companies are still in August 2021. The new software is expected to be available as from 6 September 2021.

This means that August salaries and wages would already have been paid.

Customers who claim ETI, must however install Release 5.7a while their payroll is in the month of August before printing the EMP201’s, as the ETI values will change based on the newly drafted tax relief measures as outlined by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 25 July 2021. While this differs from our usual update process, it is important that you install the update in the correct period (August 2021).

Note: Should you not install Release 5.7a before submission of the August EMP201, then you will not be able to claim the ETI relief for August 2021 at a later stage, as the claim for August will fall outside of the first 6-month reconciliation cycle.

Preparing for the software update:

1. Ensure that active payrolls are on Release 5.6a/b in August 2021.
2. Print the Co. Recon report once August payrolls have been finalised, to compare the same report after the installation of the update. This is to ensure that no payroll values have changed.
3. Test logging into the Sage Portal. It is imperative that first time users create a Sage password to access the portal. Sage passwords are mandatory when accessing the portal, along with your Site Code and email address. This will ensure that when the update software becomes available, users may download the software easily and timeously.

Note: We expect that there will be a high number of customers accessing the portal once the update is released and this will in turn, result in high call volumes and longer support wait times. Avoid any frustration by taking a few minutes to create your Sage password today, i.e. if you don’t already have one.