How to Import Custom Rates into a Payroll

Custom rates let you assign specific pay rates (e.g., overtime, night shifts, commissions) to employees for a given number of hours or units.

📥 Step 1: Download the Custom Rates Template

1. From the Run Payroll screen, click Import Data → select Import Custom Rates.
2. Click Download Template.

Your CSV should include the following columns:

🧾 Step 2: Fill in the File

• Employee ID: The employee’s unique identifier in FreePayroll.
• Rate Name: Must match an existing reusable rate in your company’s setup.
• Units/Hours: The number of hours or units worked under this rate.
• *Custom Rate: If you want to use a custom rate amount instead of using the default one.

⚠️ If the rate name doesn’t exist, the import will skip that row and show an error message.

📤 Step 3: Upload the File

1. Drag your file into the drop zone or click Select File.
2. Click Import to start processing.
3. Wait for confirmation once the import completes.

⚠️ Step 4: Reviewing Partial Imports

If any entries fail (for example, because of incorrect rate names or missing employees):

• You’ll see a summary of errors.

💡 Tips

• Always ensure your rate names match your reusable rates exactly (case-sensitive).
• Keep rate amounts in numeric format (no currency symbols).
• You can import multiple rate types for the same employee in one file.

Updated on: 17/11/2025