---
title: "Bulk import one-off payments and deductions"
slug: "bulk-import-one-off-payments-and-deductions"
updated: 2026-06-23T07:45:50Z
published: 2026-06-23T07:45:50Z
canonical: "help.cintra.co.uk/bulk-import-one-off-payments-and-deductions"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.cintra.co.uk/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Bulk import one-off payments and deductions

Use the bulk import feature to add one-off payments or deductions for multiple employees in a single operation.

### Importing one-off payments and deductions

1. Open a payroll and select the **One-off payments & deductions** tile.
2. Select **Add One-off Payments & Deductions**.
3. Select the **Bulk import** tab.
4. Select **Download Template**. It will save in your downloads folder.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/image(630).png)

1. [Complete the checklist](/docs/bulk-import-one-off-payments-and-deductions#completing-the-bulk-import-template).
2. Upload the saved template in the area below. See validation errors.

### **Completing the bulk import template**

1. Open the downloaded template in Excel or other spreadsheet program.
  - You may have to select **Enable Editing** to make changes.
2. For each payment or deduction, you must add information for each column into a new row.
  - When you select any cell, a tooltip provides more information about any validation rules:

![](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/image(715).png)

1. Do not change the column heading names: this will cause the import to fail.
2. The mandatory columns depend on your payroll setup and the type of payment. The following sets of columns apply:
  - **Employment ID**, **First Name**, **Surname**.
  - **Header**: Select the type of payment / deduction from the drop-down list. This list is maintained in Cintra iQ.
  - **Units**: Either enter the number of hours worked, or to transfer a single amount of money, enter “1”
  - **Rate / Amount**: Either enter the hourly rate, or to transfer a single amount of money, enter the amount to be paid. If your payroll team manages these rates, you can leave this field blank.
  - **From Date** / **To Date**: If payments relate to a previous period, enter the actual **From** and **To date** so that employee payments are calculated correctly for hourly rates (e.g. overtime rates). If the **From date** is left blank, the current period is used.
  - **Post**: If the employee has more than one position, enter which position this payment / deduction relates to. Otherwise, leave blank.
  - **Notes**: Free text field
  - **Cost Code(s)**: Where applicable, select suitable cost-codes from the drop-down list.
3. If there are any errors, select **Cancel Import**, fix the errors, then upload again. See [Validation errors](/docs/bulk-import-one-off-payments-and-deductions#validation-errors).
4. If there are no errors, a summary of the validate rows will be displayed. Click **Complete Import** to finish.
5. Click **Recalculate** to recalculate the payroll.

### Validation errors

When you upload your completed checklist, the system will check that all data is correct and valid. You must fix any problems before completing the upload. Common errors / solutions include:

| Problem | Solution |
| --- | --- |
| *Field name* is required | Enter valid data into the field |
| *Employee ID does not exist in payroll* | Ensure that the payroll ID exactly matches an employee for that payroll. |
| *This header type requires units to be 1.00-10* | Ensure that the number of units falls within the acceptable range. |
| *ToDate field is required* | If you enter a From Date, you must enter a To Date as well. |