What this help guide covers:

Importing Staff Payroll Information
Importing Staff Opening Balances
Importing Journal Configurations
Importing Draft Payslip Lines

Importing Staff Payroll Information

Before processing your first pay run in Tanda, you'll need to ensure you have updated payroll details for each employee, including:

Bank details
Tax Declaration
Address
Super Fund Membership
Leave Balances

To bulk update these details for employees, navigate to Payroll > Payroll Settings > Import / Export.

See below for import requirements to help troubleshoot any errors.

Staff Information

Address Details

Column Name	Required	Valid Values	Errors if:	Prerequisite Fields
street_line_one	No	Any text	Present without Country field	Country
street_line_two	No	Any text	Present without Country AND Street Line One	Country, Street Line One
city	No	Any text	Present without Country field	Country
state	No	Any text	Present without Country field	Country
postcode	No	Any text	Present without Country field	Country
country	No	Valid country name	Invalid country name provided	None

Bank Accounts

Column Name	Required	Valid Values	Errors if:
bsb	Yes	6 digits "XXXXXX" or "XXX-XXX" (must be a valid Aus BSB, can include dashes/spaces)	missing value not a valid BSB
account_number	Yes	Numeric text	missing value contains non-numeric characters (excluding dashes/spaces)
account_name	No	Any text	N/A
payroll_payment_type	No (autoset to remaining_balance if not provided)	percentage fixed_amount remaining_balance	invalid value entered
payroll_payment_amount	No (defaults to 0.0 if not provided)	Numeric digit (decimals accepted) *percentage: number from 0-100 fixed_amount: any positive dollar amount remaining_balance*: 0	remaining_balance with amount ≠ 0 percentage type where total across all accounts > 100%

Super Fund Memberships

Column Name	Required	Valid Values	Errors If:
fund_name	Yes	Any text	missing value
member_number	No	Any text	N/A
usi	No	Text, max 20 characters	exceeds 20 characters

Notes:

Each employee can only have one membership per super fund
If importing a duplicate fund membership for the same user, it will update the existing membership's member_number
Member Number can be blank

Fund Creation Logic:

Super funds are auto-created upon import when the following are met:

Fund name doesn't already exist in the organisation
Fund name is provided
USI is provided

Super funds must pre-exist when:

USI is blank/missing
You're importing an SMSF (which doesn't have a USI)

Super Fund Contributions

Column Name	Required	Valid Values	Errors If
fund_name	Yes (except for mandatory_contribution type)	exactly match existing super fund in account blank only if type is mandatory_contribution	missing when contribution type is not mandatory_contribution
member_number	No (required when user has multiple memberships for same fund name)	exactly match the member number on the user's membership	missing when user has multiple memberships number doesn't match user's membership number
contribution_type	No (defaults to mandatory_contribution)	mandatory_contribution additional_employer_resc salary_sacrifice_resc post_tax_contribution	invalid value
fixed_amount	No	numeric value ≥ 0	non-numeric value negative numeric value cannot have both fixed_amount and earnings_percentage Cannot have fixed_amount and mandatory_contribution
earnings_percentage	No	number between 0 and 100 (inclusive)	value < 0 or > 100 cannot have both earnings_percentage and fixed_amount Cannot have earnings_percentage and mandatory_contribution
cap_at_maximum_super_contribution_base	No (defaults to true)	true, false	invalid value
expense_account	No	exactly match an existing payroll account	account not found

Note: Must have exactly one of: mandatory_contribution, fixed_amount, or earnings_percentage

Tax Declarations

Column Name	Required	Valid Values	Errors If
tax_file_number	No	8 or 9 digit number (must be a valid Aus TFN) Or: exempt_applied exempt_underage exempt_allowance exempt_blank	not a valid value invalid TFN
previous_family_name	No	Any text	N/A
tax_free_threshold	No	true, false, 1, 0, yes, no	not a valid value
senior_tax_offset	No	true, false, 1, 0, yes, no	not a valid value
zone_overseas_carer	No	true, false, 1, 0, yes, no	not a valid value
student_loan	No	true, false, 1, 0, yes, no	not a valid value
financial_supplement_debt	No	true, false, 1, 0, yes, no	not a valid value
tax_code	No	Any text	N/A
employment_basis	Yes	full_time part_time casual	missing or invalid value
income_type	Yes	salary_and_wages working_holiday_maker non_employee closely_held_payee	missing or invalid value
australian_tax_residency_status	Yes	resident non_resident working_holiday_maker	missing or invalid value
tax_scale_type	Yes	regular horticulturist_or_shearer senior_or_pensioner working_holiday_maker	missing or invalid value
home_country	Yes, only if working_holiday_maker value present	Any text (valid country name)	missing when tax_scale_type or income_type = working_holiday_maker
employment_type	Yes	employee contractor	missing or invalid value

Leave Balances

Column Name	Required	Valid Values	Errors If
leave_type	Yes	Exactly match an existing leave type name	missing value, leave type doesn't exist, duplicate entry
opening_balance	No (defaults to 0.0)	numeric value	non-numeric value entered
hours_accrued	Ignored during Import	N/A	N/A
hours_taken	Ignored during Import	N/A	N/A
current_balance	Ignored during Import	N/A	N/A

Autopaid Earnings Templates

Column Name	Required	Valid Values	Errors If
earnings_rate	Yes	exactly match an existing earnings rate	missing value earnings rate not found
primary	No (defaults to false)	true, false	invalid value
account	No	exactly match an existing account	account not found
percentage	No	Number between 0 (exclusive) and 100 (inclusive)	Value ≤ 0 or > 100 Total percentage exceeds 100% Cannot be set if annual_salary or hours_per_week are also provided rate set to something other than ordinary hours separate percentage and cost-based templates set for same user
annual_salary	No (defaults to 0)	non-negative number	negative value percentage set separate percentage and cost-based templates set for same user
hours_per_week	No (defaults to 0)	non-negative number	negative value percentage set separate percentage and cost-based templates set for same user
location	No	exactly match an existing location	location not found
department	No	exactly match an existing department	department not found

Recurring Deduction Templates

Column Name	Required	Valid Values	Errors If
deduction_type	Yes	exactly match an existing deduction type	deduction type not found missing value set to a Pay Advance deduction type overlapping date ranged with existing template
fixed_amount	Yes, if percent_of_income not set (mutually exclusive)	number ≥ 0	negative value both fixed_amount and percent_of_income are blank both fixed_amount and percent_of_income are provided
percent_of_income	Yes, if fixed_amount not set (mutually exclusive)	number between 0 and 100 (inclusive)	value < 0 or > 100 both fixed_amount and percent_of_income are blank Both fixed_amount and percent_of_income are provided
total_amount_to_be_paid	No	number ≥ 0	fixed amount exceeds this value
pay_child_support_in_aba	No (defaults to false)	true, false	invalid value
aba_child_support-reference	Yes, if pay_child_support_in_aba set	text string	missing value when pay_child_support_in_aba set

Importing Staff Opening Balances and YTD Earnings

See below for import requirements to help troubleshoot any errors.

Staff Payroll Opening Balances

Opening Balances: Earnings Rates

Column Name	Required	Valid Values	Errors If
earnings_type	Yes	ordinary_hours overtime_hours allowance directors_fees	invalid value missing value duplicate combination of earnings_type + stp_type for this user
stp_type	Yes only if earnings_type is 'allowance' (leave blank otherwise)	cents_per_km award_transport laundry meal_allowance travel_allowance tool_allowance service_allowance qualifications_allowance other	missing value when earnings_type is allowance value set when earnings_type is not allowance invalid value duplicate combination of earnings_type + stp_type for this user
financial_year	Yes	date set to June 30 (last day of financial year). Example: 2025-06-30 for FY 24/25	missing value incorrectly formatted date date not set to June 30
amount	Yes	number ≥ 0	missing value negative value

Note: Importing this file destroys all existing earnings rate opening balances for users in the import before creating new ones

Opening Balances: Deduction Types

Column Name	Required	Valid Values	Errors If
stp_type	Yes	union_and_professional_association workplace_giving child_support_garnishee child_support_deduction salary_sacrifice_o	invalid value missing value duplicate stp_type for this user
financial_year	Yes	date set to June 30 (last day of financial year). Example: 2025-06-30 for FY 24/25	missing value incorrectly formatted date date not set to June 30
amount	Yes	numeric value	missing value non-numeric value

Opening Balances: Leave

Column Name	Required	Valid Values	Errors If
stp_type	Yes	other_paid_leave paid_parental_leave workers_comp ancillary_and_defence_leave cash_out_of_leave_in_service unused_leave_on_termination	invalid value missing value duplicate stp_type for this user
financial_year	Yes	date set to June 30 (last day of financial year). Example: 2025-06-30 for FY 24/25	missing value incorrectly formatted date date not set to June 30
amount	Yes	numeric value	missing value non-numeric value

Opening Balances: Tax

Column Name	Required	Valid Values	Errors If
tax_type	Yes	payg stsl	invalid value missing value duplicate tax type for this user
financial_year	Yes	date set to June 30 (last day of financial year). Example: 2025-06-30 for FY 24/25	missing value incorrectly formatted date date not set to June 30
amount	Yes	numeric value	missing value non-numeric value

Opening Balances: Super Contributions

Column Name	Required	Valid Values	Errors If
fund_name	Yes	exactly match an existing super fund in account	missing value find not found in account
mandatory_contribution	Yes	true, false	missing value invalid value
financial_year	Yes	date set to June 30 (last day of financial year). Example: 2025-06-30 for FY 24/25	missing value incorrectly formatted date date not set to June 30
amount	Yes	numeric value	missing value non-numeric value

Additional payroll imports

Journal Configuration

Tracking Categories

Column Name	Required	Valid Values	Errors If
Team ID	Yes	exactly match an existing department ID in account	department not found with ID
Tracking Category	No (column not imported)	any text	N/A
Tracking Category ID	Yes	exactly match an existing tracking category ID in account	tracking category not found with this ID duplicate tracking category ID for the same team ID
Value	Yes	text string	missing value

Team Wage Expense Accounts

Column Name	Required	Valid Values	Errors If
location/department	Yes	exactly match an existing location/department in account	location or department not found in account
account	No	exactly match an existing payroll account blank cell to clear the set account	account name not found

Team Leave Accounts

Column Name	Required	Valid Values	Errors If
location_name/department_name	Yes	exactly match an existing location/department in account	location or department not found in account
leave_type_name	Yes	exactly match an existing leave type in account	leave type name duplicate combination of department + leave type + accrual account
account_name	Yes	exactly match an existing payroll account in account	account not found
accrual_account	No (defaults to false if blank)	true, false, 1, 0, yes, no	invalid value duplicate combination of department + leave type + accrual account

Notes:

Accrual vs Expense: Set accrual_account=true for liability/provision accounts, accrual_account=false (or blank) for expense accounts

This import updates existing department leave account assignments and creates new ones without clearing other data

Journal Setup (Accounts)

Column Name	Required	Valid Values	Errors If
name	Yes	any text	missing value
code	Yes	any text	missing value
id	No	N/A (this is the internal Tanda ID)	N/A
payroll_super_expense_account_id	No	exactly match an existing payroll account ID in account blank	id not found in account

Update Logic: The import uses smart matching:

a. First tries to find account by both name AND code

b. If not found, tries to find by name only

c. If not found, tries to find by code only

d. If still not found, creates a new account

Earnings Rates

This file cannot be imported.

Draft Payslip Lines

Payslip Lump Sum Lines

Column Name	Required	Valid Values	Errors If
lump_sum_type	Yes	exactly match an existing lump sum type in account	missing value lump sum not found
amount	Yes	numeric value	missing value non-numeric value
location	No (defaults to user default)	exactly match existing location for user	invalid value
department	No (defaults to user default)	exactly match existing department for user	invalid value
financial_year	Yes if lump sum is 'Type E'. Otherwise optional	date set to June 30 of financial year. Example: 2025-06-30 for FY 24/25	missing value when lump sum type is 'E' incorrectly formatted date date not set to June 30

Payslip Reimbursement Lines

Column Name	Required	Valid Values	Errors If
account	Yes	exactly match an existing payroll account	missing value account not found
amount	Yes	numeric value	missing value non-numeric value
reason	No	any text	N/A

Payslip Deduction Lines

Column Name	Required	Valid Values	Errors If
deduction_type	Yes	exadctly match an existing deduction type in account	missing value deduction type not found
account	Yes	exactly match an existing payroll account	missing value account not found
amount	Yes	numeric value	missing value non-numeric value
pay_child_support_in_aba	No (defaults to false)	true, false	invalid value
aba_child_support_reference	No (required only if pay_child_support_in_aba set to true)	text string	N/A
location	No	exactly match an existing location for user	invalid value
department	No	exactly match an existing department for user	invalid value

Payslip Earnings Lines

Column Name	Required	Valid Values	Errors If
earnings_rate	Yes	exactly match an existing earnings rate name in account	missing value earnings rate not found
rate	No (defaults to 0)	numeric value (whole numbers, negatives and decimals)	non-numeric spaces/special characters such as commas and '$' symbols
units	No (defaults to 0)	numeric value (whole numbers, negatives and decimals)	non-numeric spaces/special characters such as commas and '$' symbols
account	yes	exactly match an existing payroll account	missing value account not found
location	No	exactly match an existing location for user	invalid value
department	No	exactly match an existing department for user	invalid value

Payslip Back Payment Lines

Column Name	Required	Valid Values	Errors If
earnings_rate	Yes	exactly match an existing earnings rate name in account	missing value earnings rate not found
rate	Yes	numeric value (whole numbers, negatives and decimals)	non-numeric spaces/special characters such as commas and '$' symbols
units	Yes	numeric value (whole numbers, negatives and decimals)	non-numeric spaces/special characters such as commas and '$' symbols
account	Yes	exactly match an existing payroll account	missing value account not found
location	No	exactly match an existing location for user	invalid value
department	No	exactly match an existing department for user	invalid value

Payslip Super Accrual Lines

Column Name	Required	Valid Values	Errors If
fund_name	Yes	exactly match an existing super fund in account	missing value super fund not found
contribution_type	No (defaults to mandatory_contribution)	mandatory_contribution additional_employer_resc salary_sacrifice_resc post_tax_contribution	invalid value
amount	Yes (blank rows are skipped on import)	numeric value > 0	non-numeric value
expense_account	Yes	exactly match an existing payroll account	missing value account not found
location	No	exactly match an existing location for user	invalid value
department	No	exactly match an existing department for user	invalid value

Xero (AUS): Payroll integration checklist

Configuring Tanda's Organisational Settings

Automatically sync employee information with Access MicrOpay

Public Holiday Checklist and FAQs+

Configure cost centres & tracking categories for detailed payroll journals

Bulk update payroll & employee payroll details