Easyfile updated now I cant log in

Once again Easyfile updated itself and once again I cant log in.

I tried uninstalling an re-installing both Easyfile and Java, and did not have any success. It seems the latest version of Easyfile is incompatible with the latest version of java. Here is what worked:

  1. Download the latest version of easyfile if you have not already. Today it is 6.6.2
  2. Download java. You will need version 6u43. I put the following into a search engine: “jre 6u43 windows x64” (I have 64bit windows, you might have 32bit then you can leave out the x64 part of the search) (NB! to get the old version of java direct from java.com you have to register, which is lame)
  3. I chose to download the file from filehippo.
  4. Uninstall Easyfile in the control panel
  5. Uninstall all versions of java
  6. Install the version of java that you downloaded above
  7. Install Easyfile
  8. The easyfile install program warns that you have the wrong version of java. Just say yes or ok
  9. The easyfile install program finishes up and you can log into Easyfile
  10. When I logged in, there was a EMP201 update and then I had to log in again – but now everything is working fine again

Your experience might be different. But it worked for me…

94 thoughts on “Easyfile updated now I cant log in”

  1. Never mind the Bells, give this man a Johnny Walker Blue Label. Life saver. I am going to resist making a comment about the ineptness of our local tax authority!!!

  2. Thank you so much. Your solution was spot-on & exactly what I was looking for! I have been struggling for the last few days and would still be trying to sort this out.

  3. Hi- anyone out there having problems with Easyfile remaining in an offline state? I updated the software yesterday to the latest version so I could submit the IRP5’s for a small company, and although I can upload the IRP5’s to the software, I cannot get Easyfile to connect. I might be missing something simple here….

      1. Hi, when this happened to me last time, I had to correct my version of java. This year I ran into difficulties again, and fixing java didn’t work, but I saw a post that suggested deleting the old version of easyfile. I did this (just make sure you backup first!!) and it worked!

  4. Hi all. Having the same problem as Candice here. I have successfully updated from 661 to 663. Internet is connected and all other apps are seeing that, except for e@syfile. Any ideas? Do I need to contact SARS?

  5. Everything on my easyfile is 100% ready to file, but for some reason I cannot “submit to SARS”…. I get the “validating” message, and the option to file via internet, then it just defaults back to the home screen…. I have deleted and re-installed everything about 10 million times… at my wits end here… please help

  6. Quinton Candiotes

    Thought i would post my fix for E@syfile not connected issues.
    As far as I understand, part of the problem is to do with installing E@syfile on a 64bit system. This generally means that you would have 2 “program files” directories on the c: drive – one for 64bit apps, and one for 32bit apps. The latter being called program files (x86). When E@syfile is installed, the install happen in the (x86) directory since EF is a 32bit app. EF will also install java into the (x86) directory. It seems that EF will still go looking for java in die “program files” directory, but since it was installed in the “program files (x86)” directory, it cannot be located and EF hangs waiting for java to respond. All I do (and I have done on various different PCs) is to simply copy the java directory from the “program files x86” directory to the “program files” directory and this solves the problem of EF looking for java where it did not exist. it appears that java is not sensitive to being copied around and still works 100% even if called up from a different directory to that in which it was originally installed.

    1. Which is because SARS EasyFile is not tested before being released. All bugs should have been ironed out before releasing software which all employers are expected to use. And it should be tested on all types of computers, including all flavours of Windows released in the last 10 years, not only the software engineers favourite platform. Not all employers are computer geniuses, neither their accountants and bookkeepers. Thanks to Quinton and others who shared their experience here.

    2. Good day and weekend everyone!!

      I have tried Quinton Candiotes solution in Windows 8 64 bit and it worked like a charm today.

      Yes the Program Files folder vs the Program Files (x86) folder makes the difference. Flip! I have been trying now and then the past few months and I couldn’t understand why I could get to the login screen, but soon as you click on “Login” button it just gives you the wheel of death in motion.

      Uninstalled easyfile more than 5 times and especially Java. But yep its how easyfile is designed to pick up Java in order to decrypt.

      Thanks so much on this forum. Going to follow this Oliviershoek on FB and Linked in as well. Discuss local software issues in South Africa is good.

    3. Hi, thank you, I copied the one file over to the other program file. I had uninstalled Easyfile via control panel and now I need to re-install it but it will not work. It tells me that it is already installed but it is not adding it to my desk top. The easyfile setup is in the program files. “program files x86” both. Do I need to delete them and try re-installing this program?

      1. I dont have Easyfile in Program Files, only in Program Files (x86).

        I looked at my old laptop. After uninstalling Easyfile (a year ago) there is an EasyFile folder in Program Files, but it is empty. Both these computer are running 64bit windows 10.

        You could try rename the folder and run the install again. Deleting might be dangerous.

        Quintins solution is “simply copy the java directory from the ‘program files x86’ directory to the ‘program files’ directory” : You dont need to copy Easyfile between the 2 locations.

        1. Hello, thank you very much for all your help. I was able to load Easyfile on my computer this morning and it is working fine. I changed the file name and re-installed the program and it worked. Great

  7. I’m a new user to easyfile, so I downloaded 6.6.3 and followed the advice to install java 6(43) for Windows 64bit, then EF. When I open EF, I get to the screen to register users, but when I click on the button “login to application”, nothing happens. I can only go back until I’m out of the program. Anybody with advice?

    1. One thing to try: disconnect from internet until you are logged into the application. You can turn off wifi or unplug your ethernet cable. Once you are in the program turn on wifi or plug in your ethernet cable. That has worked for me before.

  8. I’ve now tried to disconnect from the internet, but the same result. It’s as if the “login to application” button is not doing anything…

  9. I’ve tried and tried all the above solution with no success – I keep getting error 3123 – login details need to be regenerated ….. how do I do this – please, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

  10. Good day. The computer used to upload IRP5s was stolen. When downloading easyfile onto another computer we are unable to sign on. Why is that and what can be done to fix this

  11. Hi, I get the following message.
    “e@syFile has detected that your encrypted login credentials are corrupt and need to be regenerated. Click ‘OK’ to continue”
    Cannot login… so frustrating. I have tried the steps as mentioned above, called the SARS Call Centre (waiting for technician to phone back). Don’t know what to do anymore.
    Jacques

  12. Hi, every year I have the same problem. I can’t log into Easyfile. I am on window 10 and I deal with the latest version of Java due to working with our bank statements. Laste year I had to uninstall everything and then re-install an older version of Java and then re-install Easyfile. I find this totally annoying. Is there an easier way of doing this? When I log in it hangs for ages & then times out.

    1. Hi Rindy, You should not have to remove anything. Just adding Java 6 update 43 alongside the newer version seems to work (with the current version of EasyFile). After tax season remove the old version and continue banking.

      I have changed PCs twice since I wrote the post above, so I might not be experiencing exactly the same problems any more. But its clearly poor programing in EasyFile: EasyFile is not looking in the 64bit version location for Java, only looking in the 32bit version location.

      Quintin posted his ideas about solving the problem. Most users will not feel comfortable with tinkering in the program files folders, and I dont do it that way because after updating java the copied version will be out of date. The method I use is to reinstall Java 6 update 43 for tax season, and uninstall it later. Then I dont worry about old versions of Java lurking in different locations.

  13. Please help. New version 6.7.0 was released on 19 Aug 2016. Easyfile automatically create backup and update to new version. Afterwards I restore my Datebase backup but I can see only the employees names with no certificates attached. I phone SARS – they said I must remove previous easyfile version / download new version and then restore backup /restart and then my certificates since 2012 will reflect. Well, NOTHING !!! Even tried the java resolution for version 6.6.3 but no luck.

    Can anyone assist please

    1. Hi @ R Fourie,
      Same issue. I am going to SARS office next week to see if they can assist me. I need to cancel and resubmit some certificates and of course I can’t access any of them. The weird thing is that it only lost the certificates for one of the companies and not the other 2. To me, that means it is not my computer that is the issue but something to do with their system.

      I’ll report back once I have been to SARS next week

      1. Hi Jayne,
        Just to let you know – SARS released version 6.7.1 which rectified my problem. Yay!
        But now there’s another small issue being the country where the ID’s were issued – when you click on South Africa, E@syfile highlight and see it as error. I phoned the helpline. They are aware of it and will rectify asap. That was Monday. Not fixed yet. Hope you get yours sorted.

  14. Hi R Fourie,
    My update to 6.7.1 did not sort the problem.
    What I did do is uninstall Easyfile, and all Java and then downloaded Java 6 and reinstalled Easyfile.
    I then restored my backup from the day when the update to 6.7.0 was done.
    It has restored some of my certificates but an error message came up that some certificates were not able to be migrated. These have been stored in a CSV file on my C drive.
    I am still going to go to SARS to see if they are able to come up with a plan to migrate everything. Not holding my breathe!!!

    1. I also got the error “migrate” message but everything was fine. I phoned them again on Friday – so now you have to leave the country on the ID issued and address blank. I will try that tomorrow. Hope you get yours sorted 🙂

    2. Hi – trying to get 6.7.1 has been an absolute nightmare! The Setup Employer 671.exe file goes through the motions of installing, but then nothing…. Phoned SARS a few times, got told to load Java 7.49 , did not make a difference. Got told to download file from IE not Chrome… still no results. Anyone with a clue on how to get EF to correctly install?

  15. Please help me….I cannot open the EMP501 in the new 6.7.1 version. None of my clients’s EMP501 opens!!! I am finished with SARS!!!

    1. Hi Martie and Doran,

      I assume you have a backup of your database before installing the new version. I suggest you try the solution on this page for Version 6.6.3. Definetly works (See the Java notes – I followed the instructions step by step). And yes – Chrome won’t do. Only IE is compatible with SARS. I did all of that and was able to submit August 2016 last week. Yay! I had to change source codes and the did not choose the “country” but everything else was fine.

      I hope the above will fix your problems.

      1. I copy and paste this from the Webmaster.

        Here is what worked:

        Download the latest version of easyfile if you have not already. Today it is 6.6.2
        Download java. You will need version 6u43. I put the following into a search engine: “jre 6u43 windows x64” (I have 64bit windows, you might have 32bit then you can leave out the x64 part of the search) (NB! to get the old version of java direct from java.com you have to register, which is lame)
        I chose to download the file from filehippo.
        Uninstall Easyfile in the control panel
        Uninstall all versions of java
        Install the version of java that you downloaded above
        Install Easyfile
        The easyfile install program warns that you have the wrong version of java. Just say yes or ok
        The easyfile install program finishes up and you can log into Easyfile
        When I logged in, there was a EMP201 update and then I had to log in again – but now everything is working fine again
        Your experience might be different. But it worked for me…

        1. Hi R Fourie, I am not convinced installing Java will get their Easyfile working. Its not the same symptoms – My original symptom was “log in hangs, cant log in”.
          My emp501s open, but the data imported from sars is wrong! I can view the emp501, but not sure why Martie cant.

          Doran seems to have something blocking the installation like antivirus, firewall or malware. Scan the computer, run ccleaner, remove and reinstall java and then try easyfile installation… Easyfile runs on Adobe Air, so try remove and reinstall that too.

          Doran and Martie may need professional help and my suggestion is that they contact the handshake website owner who says he can solve any easyfile installation for a fee.

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