Did you know that a simple payroll error can cost your business over R450,000 in penalties?
Learn from real-world examples! Dive into the story of Busmark, where a tiny payroll error snowballed into a massive R450,000 penalty. This blog post breaks down the impact of payroll mistakes and why meticulous payroll management is crucial. Explore practical tips to avoid such costly errors and ensure compliance in your business. Don't let a simple mistake drain your finances – arm yourself with knowledge to protect your business from hefty penalties.
CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHTSCASE STUDIES AND SUCCESS STORIES
Elleck Mgiba
6/7/20243 min read


Did you know that a simple payroll error can cost your business over R450,000 in penalties? This was the reality for Busmark before they sought our help. Imagine the impact on your business if such errors went unchecked.
Case Study: Independent MIBCO Queries Investigation and Resolution
Client: Busmark
Service: Independent MIBCO Queries Investigation and Resolution
Background:
Busmark is a big company in the motor industry. It faced huge problems with its MIBCO compliance from 2014 to 2016. They brought a query to Three One Solutions. To investigate and verify payroll calculations against MIBCO statements. This was for a three-year review period.
Problem:
Busmark’s HR manager was making deductions and payments based on a 4-week cycle. This caused continuous mismatches between their payroll and MIBCO statements.
The wrong amounts were deducted and contributed, especially in months with five weeks. This affected over 300 employees each month and led to major errors.
Facts & Figures:
Busmark owed over R450,000 due to payroll errors.
We reviewed payroll data for over 300 employees over three years.
Fixing these mistakes saved Busmark from more financial and legal troubles.
Our Approach:
We at Three One Solutions did a detailed investigation. We compared Busmark's payroll records with MIBCO statements month by month for three years (from 2014 to 2016).
We checked each employee’s deductions and contributions to ensure everything was correct. Each employee’s deductions and contributions were examined on a month-by-month basis to ensure comprehensive accuracy.
Findings:
We found many errors in the calculations. Payroll and MIBCO statements never matched because of wrong 4-week deductions and payments. Wrong amounts were deducted for levies and Provident Fund contributions, especially in five-week months. Busmark owed MIBCO over R450,000 to fix these mistakes.
During our investigation, we discovered several key issues that had serious implications for Busmark:
Incorrect 4-Week Cycle Deductions:
The HR manager deducted payroll based on a 4-week cycle, even in months that had five weeks. This led to significant discrepancies.
Tip: Always match deductions to the actual number of weeks in a month to avoid errors.
Wrong Levy Deductions:
The wrong amount was being deducted for levies every month. For instance, if the correct levy was R2,50 per employee, they were deducting R2,00, leading to underpayment.
Tip: Double-check the correct levy amounts and ensure they are deducted accurately.
Provident Fund Errors:
Provident Fund contributions were incorrectly calculated, especially in months with five weeks. They were deducting less than they should have, which accumulated to a significant shortfall.
Tip: Ensure Provident Fund contributions are calculated correctly, particularly in months with varying week numbers.
Payroll and MIBCO Statement Mismatches:
Mistake: Each month, the payroll amounts never matched the MIBCO statements. This consistent mismatch indicated a fundamental error in how the payroll was processed.
Tip: Regularly reconcile your payroll with MIBCO statements to catch and correct errors promptly.
Lack of Utilization of Online Portal:
Despite having access to the MIBCO Online Returns System, the company didn’t fully utilize it for investigating transactions and ensuring accuracy.
Tip: Take full advantage of the MIBCO Online Returns System. It can help you track and verify each transaction accurately.
Key Recommendations:
Training and Education: Train your payroll staff on how to use the MIBCO Online Returns System effectively. This will help in preventing future discrepancies.
Monthly Audits: Conduct monthly audits to ensure that payroll deductions and contributions align with MIBCO requirements.
Consult with Experts: If in doubt, seek expert advice to verify your calculations and ensure compliance.
By addressing these issues, Busmark was able to correct its payroll processes, settle its dues with MIBCO, and prevent future errors. Following these tips and being aware of common mistakes can help other companies avoid similar pitfalls.
Resolution:
We gave Busmark detailed reports and recommendations to correct their payroll.
Despite initial disagreements, Busmark settled with MIBCO to pay the outstanding debt.
We trained their payroll administrator on using the MIBCO Online Returns System correctly to avoid future errors.
Outcome:
Our investigation helped Busmark fix its payroll processes and comply with MIBCO regulations.
Busmark cleared its debt with MIBCO, avoiding potential fines and legal issues.
The payroll administrator learned to use the MIBCO online portal correctly, ensuring accurate future returns.
Conclusion:
Three One Solutions helped Busmark solve big compliance issues with MIBCO. We not only fixed their current problems but also trained their staff to maintain compliance in the future. This saved Busmark from potential financial and legal penalties.
Hire Us to Do It With You
Is your company facing similar issues? Do you need expert help with MIBCO compliance? Contact Three One Solutions for our Independent MIBCO Queries Investigation & Resolution service. Make sure your payroll is accurate and compliant today.
This case study shows how effective our Independent MIBCO Queries Investigation & Resolution service is. We are dedicated to ensuring your compliance and supporting your company every step of the way.
We are the solution you've been looking for, not the one you've been stuck with.
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Three One Solutions is a Compliance Management Company for South Africa's Motor Industry. Our vision is to see SA without unhappy employers and employees in the Motor Industry. Our mission is to make life better for employers and employees in SA's Motor Industry. We give people confidence, knowledge, and solutions to stay MIBCO compliant. Want to make sure your business or the one you work for is MIBCO compliant? You're in the right place.
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