To get IRP5 from SARS, you must visit the nearest SARS branch or call the Contact Centre for advice about the steps to be taken.
If the taxpayer has requested his / her IRP5 or IT3(a) certificate from the employer / ex-employer and the employer has failed to provide such, the taxpayer must visit the nearest SARS branch or call the Contact Centre for advice about the steps to be taken.\
FAQs
Have a question? Check out our FAQs, as this may be the simplest and quickest way to resolve your query.
What is an IRP5?
An IRP5 is the employee’s tax certificate that is issued to him/her at the end of each tax year, detailing all employer/employee related incomes, deductions, and related taxes. The employee uses it specifically to complete his/her income tax return for a specific year.
Do I need an IRP5?
Yes, you do if you were employed during the tax year. It is your employer’s responsibility to provide you with an IRP5 each year.
What if I’m no longer employed by the company I need my IRP5 from?
Even if you no longer work for a previous company, they should still give you an IRP5 in June of the year you’re submitting the tax return for. If they haven’t given you one, you need to contact them to get it.
SARS needs an IRP5 which I never received – what must I do?
If SARS asks for this (but you really don’t have it), go to the police station and swear an affidavit stating that you’re unable to retrieve your IRP5. Take this with you into a SARS office, where they will submit your return for you. You can also upload this onto eFiling.
Can I submit a return without an IRP5?
Yes you can, however SARS might request that you send them your IRP5 if they decide to review your tax return.
Can I find my IRP5 form online?
You can check on your SARS eFiling profile to see if your IRP5 has been submitted to SARS (this should have been done by your employer). Simply request your Tax Return and it will hopefully already be populated with your IRP5 details.
Is there an expiry date of IRP5?
Your IRP5 can never expire, as it’s just a summary of all your payslips for the working year.
Is the number on my IRP5 a valid tax number or should I register?
There may be a number on your IRP5 beginning with a 0,1,2, or 3 – that is your ten-digit reference number.
When is the right time to submit my IRP5?
You should file your return as soon as the tax season has opened for that tax year. Tax season normaly runs between July and October each year for the tax year which ended in February.
What is the maximum number of IRP5’s that can be submitted through eFiling per year?
On the eFiling wizard page (the first page), enter the number of IRP5s that you have in the number entry box. Then when you click the button to generate your tax return form, there will be multiple empty IRP5 documents waiting for you to fill in. Don’t worry about adding up amounts or trying to combine multiple numbers into one – you need to include each IRP5 separately on your single ITR12 tax return for the year, so just do one at a time.
My IRP5 is wrong, how do I fix it?
You need to contact the company you worked for and ask them to reissue the correct document, both to you and SARS. If it includes incorrect banking details, there’s no need for you to fix these on the IRP5, as you can amend them yourself on your tax return.
What’s the difference between an IRP5 and an ITR12?
An IRP5 is a summary of all your payslips for the year, while an ITR12 is the Income Tax Return for all individuals (including provisional taxpayers) for a particular tax year.
Is this PAYE number the same as my Tax Reference Number?
No, the PAYE number is your employer’s payroll tax number and it begins with a 7. This is not the same as your personal tax number which starts with 0, 1, 2 or 3.
What do the source codes on the IRP5 mean?
An IRP5 contains difference source codes for income, deductions and PAYE/UIF/SDL. Have a look here at what each individual source code means.
What does a tax directive number mean on my IRP5?
A tax directive number is an instruction that SARS has to withhold or not deduct tax on the earnings you received. This is located on the bottom right hand side of the IRP5 usually and often begins with the number 2.
Do I need to put the medical credits on my IRP5 under the medical section of a tax return?
No you don’t, this is different information and the medical section only asks for the number of members, the name of the medical aid and your contributions. The IRP5 contains the tax benefit in the form of a medical credit. There is no need to duplicate information.
Overview of Public Universities in South Africa
Here's an overview of some public universities in South Africa, including general admissions requirements and estimated application periods. Keep in mind, specific program requirements and dates can vary significantly, so it's important to check each university's official website for the most current information.
University of Pretoria
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with minimum scores in specific subjects related to the chosen program; for international students, equivalent qualifications.
- Application Period: Usually opens in March and closes at the end of July for most programs.
University of Cape Town
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with pass levels required for degree study; subject-specific requirements depending on the program.
- Application Period: Application opens in April and closes at the end of July.
Stellenbosch University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required marks; some programs have additional testing.
- Application Period: Opens in March and typically closes at the end of June.
University of the Witwatersrand
- Admissions Requirements: Matriculation certificate with university exemption; required scores vary by faculty.
- Application Period: Begins in March and ends on the 30th of September.
University of Johannesburg
- Admissions Requirements: Matric exemption with a minimum APS score; specific subject requirements based on the faculty.
- Application Period: Opens in April and generally closes by the 30th of September.
University of the Free State
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific marks for the program applied to; additional requirements for certain courses.
- Application Period: Typically opens in April and closes at the end of August.
University of Venda
- Admissions Requirements: Completion of the National Senior Certificate with an endorsement for diploma or degree studies; specific APS scores needed.
- Application Period: Usually from May to September.
University of Fort Hare
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with university exemption; certain programs may have specific requirements.
- Application Period: Opens around May and closes at the end of September.
University of the Western Cape
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific performance levels; additional requirements for certain programs.
- Application Period: Generally from May to September.
North-West University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with university exemption; program-specific requirements may apply.
- Application Period: Opens in March and usually closes by the end of August.
Rhodes University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate or equivalent; minimum academic performance in certain subjects.
- Application Period: Applications open in April and close at the end of September.
Nelson Mandela University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required scores for chosen programs; portfolio or additional tests for some faculties.
- Application Period: Opens in April, with a deadline at the end of August for most programs.
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific scores; additional requirements for certain courses.
- Application Period: Opens in May and typically closes by the end of September.
University of Limpopo
- Admissions Requirements: Senior Certificate with endorsement for diploma or degree courses; specific APS scores for different programs.
- Application Period: From April to September.
University of Zululand
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with an endorsement for bachelor’s degree studies; specific score requirements for various programs.
- Application Period: Usually between April and November.
Central University of Technology
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific scores for the chosen field of study; additional criteria for certain programs.
- Application Period: Application period generally starts in May and ends in October.
Vaal University of Technology
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with a pass that qualifies for admission to bachelor’s degree, diploma, or higher certificate programs.
- Application Period: Typically from May to September.
Walter Sisulu University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required scores for chosen programs; additional criteria for certain faculties.
- Application Period: From April to September.
This list provides a starting point for understanding the admissions landscape across South Africa's diverse higher education institutions. Given the variability in programs and requirements, it's crucial to consult each university's website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
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