WCC - any idea what's happening this year?

[Christel]

I have not heard anything about Return of Earnings being due for 2013/2014... or when we will receive the "discounts" as promised last year etc. Does anyone know anything more?

[Lynda]

I'm sorry I can't help you, Christel, this is the exact same question I was about to put out there. I've just got diarised that it's time for WCC again but when I went onto the Department of Labour website all the forms appear to be old and I can't even find an English version! Maybe I should try their Facebook page? See if I can get any joy that way.

[Christel]

Hi here, If you log onto the online system the last year available is 2012... they need to "issue/open" the new year so that we can continue...
I did not know they had facebook...

[Elijah]

Hi Christel & Lynda

I made a similar post a few minutes ago. the online only goes up to 2011, on mine. So, does this mean we have to submit manually ??? Any WCC Experts out there to answer?

[Dave A]

The letters of good standing I have only expire at the end of April 2014.

That said, if anyone has reason to call the offices of the WCC, please remember to ask the question (as to when the annual returns are due this year) and post the results here.

[Lynda]

I didn't receive an answer to the message I sent DOL on FB yesterday, so now I've posted in their page. Will see if that gets any response. Last year when I tried phoning it was very frustrating as I sat on the phone for days (literally... when I'd added up all the time spent trying to get through). I'll post here once they respond.

[StephanieB]

I am currently on the phone to WCC but have been holding on for ages with NO joy.

[StephanieB]

Just to let you know that I eventually did get trhough to the WCC and have this to report. According to Melissa, the forms are not available yet. The due date has been extended to the end of May 2014.
Hope this helps.

[Christel]

Ok.. something is happening... received an email from SAIPA yesterday to say that the maximum earnings from 1 April 2014 is set at R332 479. They also ask clients to submit return of earnings online.
I personally think its a good idea to have the time frame for submissions the same as for the emp501 deadline... this will just streamline my work, as I normally uses my PAYE recon template for my WCC workings. So now I can do the work once and charge twice....

[sandyb]

Just confirmed on the web with this extract :

COID earnings limit for 2014/2015

The increase in the maximum earnings value to be used in the calculation of COID assessments has been published in the Government Gazette yesterday. The minister of Labour prescribed the new earnings limit to be R332,479.00 for the 2014/2015 year of assessment commencing 01 March 2014.

The Government Gazette can be downloaded from the government’s website:

http://www.gov.za/documents/download.php?f=210702

The only thing I don't get is the inception date for the new limit - 1 April 2014. Surely this would be simpler if it were from 1 March 2014, the supposed start of new years ?

[Lynda]

Thanks for this... I agree, it is a rather strange date????

[Christel]

Hello, it is a strange date, but remember the financial year of SARS & DoL is from 1 April - 31 March yearly, therefore this date. You would thus calculate it as per their dates, i.e. 11 months + 1 month.

[Dave A]

You would thus calculate it as per their dates, i.e. 11 months + 1 month.

Here's a thought, and it relates to the way the WCC maximum threshold is applied.

There is no doubt the annual return we submit is for the period 1st March to 28 February (or 29 February in a leap year).
The way it works practically is the earnings of an employee are included in the calculation of WCC contributions until those earnings (for the year to date) hit the earnings ceiling.
Once over the ceiling any further earnings are ignored.
Given that the end of the period of assessment for 2014 is significantly after 1st April 2014, this change being effective as of 1st April 2014 is not going to affect anyone in continuous employment.

In fact the only scenario where I foresee a "problem" is if an employee only works for the employer in March 2014 and earns more in that single month than the current annual earnings ceiling.