Step 1 of 6
Before you start — gather these documents.
Having everything ready before you open uFiling saves you from stopping halfway through. Tick each item as you find it.
📋 Your documents
Your South African ID number
Green barcoded ID or smart ID card. Your 13-digit ID number.
Your home address
The address where your domestic worker works — your home address.
Your email address and cellphone number
uFiling will send an OTP to verify your account.
Your banking details
Bank name, account number, and branch code for UIF payments.
👩🏾 Your worker's documents
Worker's ID number or passport number
SA citizens need their ID number. Foreign nationals need passport number and valid work permit.
Worker's full name and date of birth
Exactly as it appears on their ID — spelling must match.
Employment start date
The date they first started working for you — even if it was years ago.
Monthly gross salary and days per week
Total amount you pay before deductions, and how many days per week they work.
Foreign worker? You cannot register a worker without a valid work permit or permanent residency. Sort documentation before trying to register.
Employed them for a while? You can still register. UIF contributions will be backdated. You will owe back contributions plus interest — but registering voluntarily is always better than being found non-compliant.
Step 2 of 6
Create your uFiling account.
uFiling is the Department of Labour's free online portal. You need an account before you can register as an employer. Takes about 5 minutes — but the activation email can take up to 48 hours.
Open uFiling in a new tab: ufiling.labour.gov.za ↗. Use Chrome or Firefox. Internet Explorer and Edge sometimes have issues.
Follow these steps on uFiling:
1
Click "REGISTER" in the top right corner
The button is in the top navigation bar. Click it to start creating your account.
2
Accept the terms and conditions
Read through the terms, tick the acceptance box, and click "Continue" to proceed.
3
Enter your personal details
Your ID number, full name, email address, and cellphone number. Your ID number cannot be changed later — check it carefully.
4
Verify your cellphone — enter the OTP
uFiling sends a one-time PIN to your cellphone. Enter it within 5 minutes. If it doesn't arrive, click "Resend OTP".
5
Create a username and password
Password must be at least 8 characters with a number and special character. Write it down somewhere safe.
6
Wait for activation email
uFiling sends a confirmation email to activate your account. This can take up to 48 hours. Check your spam folder — it comes from @labour.gov.za.
Already have a uFiling account? Skip this step. Log in with your existing username and password and go straight to Step 3. You can only register once per ID number.
Step 3 of 6
Register yourself as a domestic employer.
Once your uFiling account is active, you register yourself as a domestic employer. This gives you a UIF reference number — your permanent employer identifier that goes on every payslip.
You only do this once. Even if you employ a gardener, a cleaner, and a nanny — you only register as an employer once. All workers are added under your single employer reference number.
Follow these steps once logged into uFiling:
1
Click "Employer" in the top menu
After logging in, look for the Employer option in the main navigation. Click it to access employer services.
2
Click "Register New Employer"
Look for a Register button. The site may show options — Domestic Employer, Commercial Employer, or Labour Practitioner.
3
Select "Domestic Employer"
This is critical — select Domestic Employer, not Commercial Employer. The forms and requirements are different.
4
Verify your personal details
uFiling pre-fills your details from your account. Verify your ID number, name, and contact details are correct.
5
Enter your home address and banking details
Your home address is where your worker is employed. Include suburb, city, and postal code. Banking details are for UIF payment purposes.
6
Submit and save your UIF reference number
After submitting, uFiling issues your UIF employer reference number — it starts with a letter followed by digits (e.g. U12345678). Save this immediately. It goes on every payslip you generate.
Got your UIF reference number? Save it in your Khaya Comply profile under Settings → UIF Reference Number. We will pre-fill it on all your payslips automatically.
Step 4 of 6
Add your domestic worker to uFiling.
Now that you are registered as an employer, you add each worker under your UIF reference number. Do this for every person who works more than 24 hours a month for you.
Follow these steps in your uFiling dashboard:
1
Go to "Employee Services" in the menu
Navigate to the Employee Services section of your uFiling dashboard.
2
Click "Add Employee"
This is where you capture your worker's details.
3
Enter your worker's ID or passport number
For SA citizens, enter their 13-digit ID number. For foreign nationals, enter their passport number. Details may auto-populate from Home Affairs.
4
Verify full name and date of birth
Confirm the name and date of birth exactly as it appears on their ID. If it auto-populated, check it carefully before proceeding.
5
Enter employment start date and salary
The date they first started working for you — be honest as it affects back-payment calculations. Enter the gross monthly salary and days per week worked.
6
Submit the employee registration
Review all details carefully and submit. The worker is now registered under your UIF employer number and is protected under the fund.
More than one worker? Repeat this process for each worker. A gardener who comes once a week (32+ hours/month) must be registered separately under the same employer number.
Back payments calculated? If your worker has been employed for a while, uFiling will show back contributions owed. You can pay in a lump sum or contact the UIF on 012 337 1680 to arrange a payment plan.
Step 5 of 6
Monthly declarations — what you do every month.
Registration is once-off. But every month you must declare wages and pay contributions before the 7th. This takes about 5 minutes once you know the process.
The 7th of every month is your deadline. January's contribution is due by 7 February. Late payments attract penalties and interest. Khaya Comply reminds you before the 7th every month.
Monthly declaration process:
1
Log into uFiling
Go to ufiling.labour.gov.za and log in with your username and password.
2
Go to "Declarations Manager"
Find the Declarations section in your dashboard. This is where you submit monthly wage declarations.
3
Confirm or update the salary
uFiling pre-fills the previous month's salary. Confirm if unchanged. Update if your worker got a raise.
4
Submit the declaration and pay
Submit the declaration, then pay via EFT to the UIF bank account shown on uFiling, or pay directly through the online payment system. Always use your UIF reference number as the payment reference.
💰 UIF contribution quick reference
Your contribution
1%
of monthly gross salary
Worker's contribution
1%
deducted from their salary
Earnings cap (2025/26)
R17,712
per month
Max combined monthly
R354
per worker
Step 6 of 6
Troubleshooting — common problems and fixes.
The uFiling site is not always easy to use. Here are the most common problems people hit and exactly how to fix them.
🔧 Common problems
uFiling is notoriously slow during peak times. Try between 10am and 2pm on a weekday. Use Chrome or Firefox. Clear your browser cache and try again. If the site is completely down, check the Department of Labour's social media for outage notices.
Check your spam folder first — emails come from @labour.gov.za. If nothing after 48 hours, call 0800 030 007 (toll free) and ask them to resend. Have your ID number ready.
Double-check the number digit by digit against the physical ID. If the system says the number is already registered, your worker may already be registered under another employer — which is perfectly normal. Contact UIF at domestics@uif.gov.za to confirm.
You can only register as a domestic employer once per ID number. If you're already registered, log in and look for an existing employer profile. If you genuinely cannot proceed online, visit your nearest Department of Labour office in person with your ID and your worker's ID.
This is normal if your worker has been employed for a while. Pay the full amount through uFiling, or contact the UIF on 012 337 1680 to arrange a payment plan. Voluntary disclosure is always treated more leniently than being found non-compliant.
On the login page, click Forgot Username or Forgot Password. You need your ID number and access to the email address you registered with. If you no longer have access to that email, call 0800 030 007.
In 2025 and 2026 the Department of Labour began migrating uFiling to a new system. Employer registration and monthly declarations still work through the original uFiling portal. Employee claims have moved to UIF Online. Read any notice carefully and follow instructions shown. When in doubt call 0800 030 007.
Log into uFiling, go to Employee Services, find the worker, and update their status to show they have left. Enter the date employment ended and the reason (resignation, retrenchment, end of contract). This is important — your worker needs this record to claim UIF benefits.
Still stuck? UIF toll-free: 0800 030 007 | Domestic employers email: domestics@uif.gov.za | Direct: 012 337 1680
🎉
You are registered and compliant.
Your worker is protected. Remember to submit your monthly declaration and payment before the 7th of each month.
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