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# Importing custom rates to a payroll

# 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.

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## 📥 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:

| Employee ID | Rate Name | Units/Hours | Custom Rate Amount |
| ---- |
| 12345 | Night Shift | 18.50 |  |
| 12346 | Overtime | 25.00 | 10.30 |

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## 🧾 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.

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## 📤 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.

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## ⚠️ 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.

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## 💡 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.