File Formats for Timesheets, Leave and Payslips (NZ & UK)

File Formats for Timesheets, Leave and Payslips (NZ & UK)

Overview

UpSheets allows you to upload the following transactions to Xero:

  • Timesheets
  • Leave (Approved)
  • Payslips NZ only – not available in UK
    • Earnings
    • Reimbursements
    • Deductions
    • Leave Accruals

Payslips are not available for United Kingdom Xero organisations.

File Formats

This document describes the requirements with a single row for each employee/date/type/hours. A common alternative format contains multiple columns for each type (pay item/earnings rate). These can be imported directly by configuring your pay items.

You may include any or all of the supported transaction types in the same file. Provide correct data in the appropriate columns and select them when uploading. See File Formats for Combined Timesheets, Leave and Payslips in a Single File (NZ & UK) for examples.

Selecting Options

After connecting to Xero, select the appropriate options on the Import screen.

Notes on file format

  • Clicking the Download Sample button on the Import screen will download a file with your Xero data in it and is the easiest way to get started.
  • A header row is not required, but it will save you time as UpSheets matches the headings automatically where possible and saves you from selecting them individually.
  • The order of the columns in your file does not matter.
  • Extra columns will be ignored, but it is faster if they are removed.

Full name field

In all of the examples, you may use a single full_name column instead of first_name and last_name.

Timesheets

(Download Sample)

Heading Description Format Notes
first_name The first name of the employee. Text Required
last_name The last name of the employee. Text Required
date The date the employee worked. Date Required
hours The number of hours the employee worked. Number (max 2DP) Required - You may optionally provide a Start Time and End Time column instead
type The Earnings Rate for the hours worked. Must match the text of the Earnings Rate in Xero. Text Optional, but if not in the file a default or the employee default must be selected at import or by using multiple pay items.
tracking_code The Tracking Code for the hours worked. Must match the text of the Tracking Code in Xero. Text Optional, but if not in the file a default must be selected at import.

Leave

(Download Sample)

Heading Description Format Notes
first_name The first name of the employee. Text Required
last_name The last name of the employee. Text Required
date The date the leave started. Date Required
end_date The date the leave ended. Date Required
hours The number of hours leave for the employee. Number (max 2DP) Required - You may optionally provide a Start Time and End Time column instead
type The type of leave taken. Must match the text of the Leave Type in Xero. Text Required. Or use using multiple pay items.
description A description of the leave taken. Text Required

Payslips

(Download Sample)

Payslips are available for New Zealand organisations only.

Heading Description Format Notes
first_name The first name of the employee. Text Required
last_name The last name of the employee. Text Required
date The transaction date. The specific date is not assigned in Xero. UpSheets will apply the line to the draft payslip it finds for the employee. Date Required
hours The number of hours to be adjusted. Number (max 2DP) Required - See below - You may optionally provide a Start Time and End Time column instead
type The Pay Item type. Must match the text of an active Pay Item defined in Xero. Text Required
rate The amount or rate of the transaction. The calculation type determines how this is used. Number (max 2DP) Required - See below
hours The number of hours for the transaction. The calculation type determines how this is used. Number (max 2DP) Required - See below
description A description of the reimbursement that will appear on the payslip. Used for reimbursements and Kiwisaver superannuation pay item lines only Text Optional For Kiwisaver Superannuation set description to SUPER and complete fields as per a STAT_DEDUCTION

Rate and Hours by Pay Item Type

The field values required in an upload file depend on the type of pay item being uploaded as described in the table below.

All payslip lines use the same file format and ALL fields must be included in the file, even if left blank. This enables you to upload multiple pay item types in a single file and process them at once.

For example, the Hours column is required even when loading a deduction or reimbursement but the value should be left blank as per the table below. Likewise, Earnings still require the Calculation Type column, even though the value would be left blank.

Pay Item Type Rate Hours
DEDUCTION The total amount to be deducted in dollars. Value must be greater than 0 OR leave blank to use the amount defined on the pay item in Xero Leave blank
REIMBURSEMENT The total amount to be reimbursed in dollars Leave blank
OR the rate per unit. Note – Xero only allows the upload of Reimbursements defined as Fixed Amount. If both Rate and Hours are provided, UpSheets will calculate the total and upload it as a fixed amount and add the Rate and Units as the description. You may need to define a new pay item as Fixed Amount in Xero to allow this. The number of units
EARNINGS If the pay item in Xero is set as FIXED_AMOUNT: The total amount in dollars Leave blank
If the pay item in Xero is NOT set as FIXED_AMOUNT: The rate per unit earnings. OR leave blank if a Rate Per Unit value is set in Xero. The number of units worked
LEAVE ACCRUAL Leave blank The number of hours to be accrued
STAT_DEDUCTION The total amount in dollars Leave blank
SUPER The total amount in dollars Leave blank. Set Description field to SUPER

Full name field

In all of the examples, you may use a single full_name column instead of first_name and last_name.

You may optionally provide a Start Time and End Time column instead of the Hours column.

For information on saving spreadsheets as CSV files see here