SA Wages Pro

Your SARS & UIF Registration Numbers

4 min read — Updated September 2026

Where to Capture Them

Go to Settings → SARS & UIF registration. Enter each number once and it flows onto every EMP201, IRP5/IT3(a) and UI-19 you generate afterwards.

Without these numbers the forms cannot be submitted. SARS and the Department of Employment and Labour both reject a submission that does not identify the employer.

What Each Number Looks Like

There are four numbers, and they are not interchangeable:

  • PAYE reference - 10 digits starting with 7, for example 7230767891. This is your main SARS employer number.
  • SDL reference - the letter L followed by 9 digits, for example L230767891. Only if you are registered for SDL.
  • UIF reference (SARS) - the letter U followed by 9 digits, for example U230767891. This is the one SARS uses.
  • UIF employer reference (Department of Employment and Labour) - your uFiling number, for example 1234567/8. This is the one that goes on the UI-19.

Two different UIF numbers is the most common mix-up. The U-number is for SARS returns; the uFiling number is for the Department of Employment and Labour. Capture both.

Why the Last 9 Digits Must Match

SARS issues all three of your numbers off the same base. The last 9 digits of your SDL number and your UIF number must be identical to the last 9 digits of your PAYE number. Only the leading character differs - 7, L or U.

So if your PAYE number is 7230767891, your SDL number should be L230767891 and your SARS UIF number U230767891.

How SA Wages Pro Checks Them

Each of these numbers carries a built-in check digit. SA Wages Pro applies the same check-digit test SARS uses, so a typo is caught the moment you type it in - not weeks later when your accountant tries to import the file and it is rejected.

If a number is wrong you will see a message under the field explaining what is wrong: the wrong length, the wrong leading letter, a failed check digit, or digits that do not match your PAYE number.

You can find these numbers on your SARS Notice of Registration, or on any EMP201 you have already filed. The uFiling number is on your uFiling account.

SIC7 Code and Trading Name

Two optional fields sit below the reference numbers. The SIC7 code is the Standard Industrial Classification code describing what your business does - farming, cleaning services, and so on. The trading name is only needed if you trade under a name different from your registered business name.

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