e@syFile Employer vs HMRC Basic PAYE Tools

e@syFile Employer is free Windows software from SARS for employers and payroll administrators managing tax affairs. It lets users complete, submit, and revise Monthly Employer Declarations (EMP201) and Employer Reconciliation Declarations (EMP501). The software includes Employer Account management, Third Party Appointment (AA88) tools, and an Income Tax Registration function for registering employees. Tax certificate imports and EMP501 data capture can be performed offline, while submission to SARS requires an internet connection. SARS describes the software as linked to eFiling, with submissions sent through that service. Minimum requirements are Windows 10 (64 bit), 8 GB RAM, and 2 GB of hard-drive space. SARS advises backing up PAYE information before installation because installation may delete current information. Old e@syFile Flex backups cannot be restored in the new e@syFile TC application.

HMRC Basic PAYE Tools is free payroll software for employers with fewer than 10 employees. It calculates employee tax and National Insurance, sends payroll information to HMRC, and supports Full Payment Submissions and Employer Payment Summaries. Employers can add details for up to nine employees and use calculators for statutory sick, maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, parental bereavement, and neonatal care pay. The tool can create payslips to save as PDFs, print, or email with employee agreement. It can also be used alongside commercial payroll software for certain National Insurance number checks or Employer Payment Summary submissions. Employers need to register with HMRC and have a PAYE Online login before using it. The software runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows. It does not support pension auto-enrolment or pension contribution calculations, and employers must secure and back up payroll data themselves; HMRC does not keep a copy or recover lost data.